Deep Shanghai project – A strategy of infrastructure integration for megacities

Abstract

Urban Underground Infrastructures (UUI) are crucial for megacities that are suffering weak adaptabilities of environmental threats while facing fast economic growth from highly concentrated urban developments. Because of the urbanization and densification of cities globally, Metropolitan Authorities must prioritize the use of shallow and deep Urban Underground Space (UUS). Effective management of such space requires specifications of use for the varying levels within these. The specifications are defined as “Vertical zoning” (namely “Depth-scape”). This paper suggests a strategy for an economic development plan for Shanghai in China. Its specific focus is that of Deep Underground Space (DUS). The authors also suggest that this strategy may be transferable to other cities experiencing similar urbanization and densification, globally.In urban centers, surface buildings and facilities have been connected through shallow tunnel transport systems for pedestrian, utility, vehicle, metro, train, at a micro scale. For a larger urban territory, Special transport systems ensuring city’s security, resiliency and sustainability are usually built in the deep underground, such as: disaster evacuators, flood drainers (“sponge city creators”), terminal freight deliveries, waste movers, energy transmitters, cavern connecters and deep shaft elevators. A strategy proposed in this paper will incorporate these macro scale deep infrastructures into the economic development plan of Shanghai city. Methods applied in this paper include: Resources potential evaluation framework, Strategic benchmarking model, Conceptual infrastructure planning and Investment project appraisal scheme.Integration between municipal infrastructures and underground infrastructures is beneficial for the long-term operation of megacities, where utility systems and municipal facilities keep sizing up to meet future demand. Infrastructure integration becomes a must rather than an option. Developing Special Transport Systems in the Deep Underground Space (DUS) will allow a megacity to scale up its infrastructure stock, save surface land resources, protect societal assets, mitigate calamity losses, sustain operability and improve livability.