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Underground space and resilience

Building resilience into urban planning and investements (part3)

There is a need for more levels of urbanization and more room for crowded towns. Using underground space is an option that should be better discussed and considered. Just like skyscrapers, it contributes to use more efficiently land available. However, unlike constructions build on the surface, the use of underground space reduces ugly buildings on the surface. Also, it logically reduces costs in external structures, painting on outside walls are useless. Above all, underground buildings or semi-underground buildings save significantly energy thank to geothermal energy use.

For the general public it might be unknown, but underground spaces offer a relatively good level of protection against disasters happening on the surface. For example, underground parking could be used as water storage in case of heavy rain or floods. When Sendai, Japan, was hit by the tsunami underground spaces were less damaged than the infrastructures on the surface. Actually, water supply and sewerage systems remain unaffected or were restored quickly. Kuala Lumpur has also constructed a tunnel called SMART storm management to prevent floods, especially during monsoon season.

World population is expected to grow at an explosive rate; by 2030 two-third of the population will be living in cities. Overpopulation and unplanned urbanization in metropolises expose its inhabitants to man-made or natural disaster. It makes cities less liveable too. To address this issue, actors involved in urban planning must be very creative. More ideas are needed and all ideas must explore. Underground space should not be forgotten even if it implies more regulations on underground land, building standards and more studies on underground natural bio- environment.

Reported by Vanessa Esteves

Follow-up on the underground topic:
- The World Tunnel Congress 2013 is going to be held in CICG. http://www.wtc2013.ch/home.html