Utilization of Underground Space in China
Document
Description
This thesis provides evidence that China has maximized building infrastructure byseeking new ways to utilize underground space. China is a shining example of how
integrating underground space will improve quality of life, transportation, entertainment
centers, and national safety. China is rethinking how they develop its cities by creating
tunnels, commercial buildings, parking lots, subways, utility service tunnels, military
defense bunkers, and storage facilities underground. Hundreds of kilometers of tunnels
alleviate China’s growing traffic congestion problem, to help with vehicle congestion,
other means of transportation are created like subway systems that sprawl underneath the
city. Commercial buildings can be built underground to maximize the vertical growth of
businesses in a city. A high number of personal vehicles means cities have to increase the
availability of parking spaces, with underground parking garages, space can be maximized
to hold hundreds of cars underground while maintaining commercial buildings above
ground. The ease of having a central utility tunnel that houses all the utilities in one place
is how China is forward-thinking of the maintenance of their future cities. As China grows,
they must be prepared to protect their citizens and leaders so they store their most important
military equipment underground so they can keep them secure. As a way of reusing old
dried-up oil wells, natural gas is stored underground to mitigate risk and cut down on costs
for storage facilities. China has made significant strides to ensure a bright future for its
citizens, with the utilization of underground space, China maximizes productivity and
quality of life for its people.