Underground space in the Alexanderplatz area, Berlin: Research into the quantification of urban underground space use

Abstract

The paper presents a case study of urban underground space (UUS) use in an area of Alexanderplatz in Berlin, Germany. The study analyses data on underground structures, as well as water supply, communications and sewerage. The focus of the study is quantification of UUS: volumes and depth of underground infrastructure, as well as functional use of underground structures. Data on UUS and land use has been collected in two case study areas, both of them include Alexanderplatz. The big case study area covers about half of a square kilometer and has about 700 thousand cubic meters of developed UUS. Main results are presented as diagrams: UUS use by function, distribution of underground infrastructure by depth, and volume of developed underground space per land area. Transport is the main function of underground structures in the area, and accounts for about 60% of UUS volume. Density of underground structures in the area is about 2–3 m.