Impact of Underground Construction n Urban-Built Environments

Underground infrastructures are an integral part of modern cities as they serve to counter problems of surface congestion and environmental degradation. The problems of ground vibrations, vibration induced noise and ground movements that arise during construction and operation of underground activities are parameters that must be incorporated during the design stage of underground structures. Control measures must be put in place to minimize these negative impacts so that the urban-built environment remains undisturbed.

S. K. Singh, Senior Principal Scientist, Shatadru Kundu, Project Assistant CSIR, Roorkee, Utkarsh Singh, Deptt. of Civil Engg., Manipal University of Jaipur.

The underground space provides provisions for sewage systems, rapid mass transportation, groundwater and geothermal energy (Bobylev, 2016) and protection from adverse weather conditions and natural hazards. The space is useful for the urban-built environment in various ways as it provides space for land usage and construction of essential and useful structures such as car parks, recreational facilities, museums and aquariums, protective structures, pipeline systems, water lines, etc. In hills and mountains, underground tunnels serve as a passageway and give protection against landslides.