Utilization of Underground Space in China

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.