A framework for the future of urban underground engineering

• Published in: Tunnelling and underground space technology 2016-05, Vol.55, p.32-39
• Main Author: Nelson, Priscilla P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Construction; Construction costs; Cost engineering; Exploration; Geologic risk; Human; Infrastructure; Resilience; System performance; Underground; Underground construction; Urban
• ISSN: 0886-7798; 1878-4364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2015.10.023

•A framework to model complex urban infrastructure functionality is presented.•Reasons for above- and below-ground integrated urban planning are studied.•Economic metrics important for resilience of cities are presented.•Steps required to reduce cost and risk of underground construction are identified. A special and holistic approach is needed that captures aggregate attributes and emergent behaviors of the complex system of infrastructure systems in a region. Effective management of the impacts of future population growth, urbanization, and risks arising from continued evolution of our natural, physical and human/societal systems will require a systematic exploration and characterization of the urban subsurface, including much improved understanding and assessment of geologic risks. With recent cost escalations for underground construction projects, incentives are needed for the underground construction industry to develop and implement innovations in methods and technology, and smart integrated planning is needed to reduce costs both during construction and with life-cycle engineered design and operation of our subsurface facilities. The needed framework requires investigation of potential metrics that reflect the performance of aggregate functions of an urban environment so that we can holistically study system performance response under “normal” and “stressed” operation. Such a metric can support a cross-disciplinary exploration of urban resilience, and build knowledge as we develop and test theory and models that explore resilience of complex socio-technical systems. Econometrics with spatial and temporal granularity will help to understand the integrated functionality of our cities and to establish appropriate policies that will drive continuous improvement in the quality of urban life while providing natural, human, and physical urban environmental resilience. The underground in urban regions can become an important component of managing the increasing complexity of our physical systems, and can also make more significant contributions to improving the robustness and resilience of our future cities.