Left:
Dimotiko Theatro station, on Athens metro Line 3 extension PHOTO CREDIT: ATTIKO METRO/
PYGMALION KARATZAS
In parallel, sustainability will be at the heart of the
Plenary session on 16 May with three round tables: Building resilient infrastructures; Tunnels: part of the resilience; and, Planning the Future. NR: Tunnelling can help reduce the environmental impact of transportation by providing underground mass transit systems, which can reduce the need for individual cars and improve air quality. Additionally, tunnels can be used to provide underground utility corridors, which can reduce the need for overhead transmission lines and help protect against extreme weather events. Moreover, tunnels can provide additional space for
sustainable infrastructure, such as underground water storage and renewable energy production. Regarding the scarcity of urban space resources,
yes, planning for the use of underground space can be considered more sustainable due to the limited availability of above-ground space in urban areas. By utilising the underground space for transportation, utility corridors, and other infrastructure needs, it can help reduce the demand for above-ground space, which can help preserve green space and improve the overall liveability of urban areas. Tunnelling can play an important role in promoting
sustainability and resilience in the built environment, and the scarcity of urban space resources makes underground space planning an attractive option for
meeting infrastructure needs. However, it is important to balance the potential benefits of underground development with the need for responsible planning and management to ensure that it is sustainable and does not have negative impacts on the environment or surrounding communities.
PRECISELY, THE WTC 2023 WILL BE UNDER THE SIGN OF “EXPANDING UNDERGROUND”. IS THE UNDERGROUND SPACE UNDERVALUED AS AN ASSET? NR: There is a significant amount that can be done below the surface of our cities, and the underground space is often undervalued as an asset. There are several reasons to explain that. Firstly, there is a lack of awareness and understanding of the potential uses and benefits of underground space. Many people may not realise that the underground space can be used for more than just transportation tunnels and utility tunnels. Secondly, there are technical and logistical challenges
associated with developing underground space. Excavating and constructing underground structures can be complex and costly, and requires specialised knowledge and equipment. Thirdly, there may be regulatory and legal barriers
to developing underground space. For example, there may be restrictions on the use of underground space in certain areas or limitations on the height or depth of structures that can be built.
Left:
Maniatika station, on Athens metro Line 3 extension PHOTO CREDIT: ATTIKO METRO/
PYGMALION KARATZAS
April 2023 | 15
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