Underground Complex Research Articles

Mariette’s Newly Released Documents and the Chronology of the Apis Bulls

Summary The Louvre Museum recently placed online Mariette’s notebooks from the mid 19th century which include information on the find-spots of stelae from the Lesser Vaults of the Memphis Serapeum, the underground tomb complex of the Apis bulls at Saqqara. Some of these stelae name the reigning pharaoh and/or give dates for the bulls. The tombs had been ransacked but it seems that enough stelae remained close to their original positions to help determine the approximate location of each bull burial, a subject which has long been debated. Analysis of Mariette’s documents suggests a greater overlap between Dynasties 22 and 25 than is generally accepted.

Unveiling the Subterranean Heritage: A Case Study of the Underground City of Kukës, Albania

Abstract This paper investigates the viability of conserving and repurposing Kukës’ underground city, which was built as a system of civil defence tunnels during the communist era in Albania. Beneath contemporary Kukës, the underground complex, which houses administrative offices and hospitals, is an important but underutilized historical and architectural asset. This study assesses the architectural elements, historical value, and present state of the tunnels using an extensive methodology that includes expert interviews, public consultations, on-site inspections, and archival research. Results highlight the site’s dual significance as a historical landmark and a possible center for innovation and tourism. The research offers strategic proposals for reviving the tunnels to strengthen the local economy, maintain cultural identity, and increase tourist attraction, drawing on foreign case studies. By promoting the inclusion of Kukës’ underground city in larger regional development projects and considering both community goals and pragmatic concerns, the article adds to the current conversations in urban planning and cultural preservation. Sustaining and repurposing Kukës’ underground city has various benefits, including enhanced cultural tourism and economic resurgence that encourage sustainable growth, the paper points out. Still, challenges like deteriorating infrastructure, security concerns, and accessibility issues must be overcome. Urban planners and politicians can apply the research’s practical implications by using it to develop a model for cultural preservation that aligns with modern social and economic goals. A sense of shared identity and legacy among the local community’s members is fostered by the initiative, which has significant social implications as well. The study has some drawbacks, including the need for significant funding and the potential for opposition from groups who do not recognize the advantages of these kinds of initiatives. To summarise, this research highlights the potential of adaptive reuse to bolster the sustainability and resilience of urban ecosystems by offering useful guidance and strategies that may be used to comparable initiatives worldwide.

Perceptual Attributes Identification and Importance–Performance Alignment Assessment of Urban Underground Complex: A Case Study in Chengdu Tianfu Square

Background and objectives: The urban underground complex integrates comprehensive architecture and subterranean space, presenting physical and psychological complexities. To mitigate the negative experiences associated with this complexity, we need to explore, in depth, how the built environmental elements of underground complexes affect user perception to design a comfortable, healthy, and biophilic underground space. Methods: We selected Tianfu Square, a typical underground complex in Chengdu, China, as the empirical case. We identified 26 key environmental indicators affecting user perception and designed Kano and satisfaction questionnaires based on these indicators. A total of 476 questionnaires were distributed to collect data on users’ attitudes towards changes in element quality and their satisfaction levels. By integrating the Kano model and IPA method, we defined the perceptual attributes of elements based on their impact on user experiences and assessed the alignment between element attributes and satisfaction. Results: We categorized the elements into five perceptual types: attractive, one-dimensional, indifferent, must-be, and reverse attributes, and assigned corresponding importance levels. We then compared the importance and performance scores of these elements, evaluated their satisfaction alignment, identified elements needing optimization, and proposed improvement strategies. Implications: This research provides valuable guidance for designers on how various built environment elements in underground spaces influence user perceptions, with practical implications for urban underground complex planning and design.

A data-informed assessment method for the urban underground complex vitality

The urgent need for urban renewal and the rapid expansion of underground spaces has spurred the construction of urban underground complexes (UUCs). Vibrant UUCs are crucial for the efficient utilization of underground spaces and urban sustainability. Previous research on urban underground complex vitality (UUCV) has been primarily theoretical with limited reusability. In this study, we aimed to address this gap by focusing on underground functional facilities and spatial distribution characteristics to establish a UUCV indicator system based on walkability theory. We introduced a method based on exponential weighted mean for weight allocation to facilitate vitality calculations. Using the Wujiaochang UUC in Shanghai as a case study, we explored the spatial distribution mechanism of vitality and validated the feasibility of this research framework. The proposed assessment method and results obtained in this study offer valuable insights into underground space planning and design, particularly in the context of urban renewal.

Forensic geoscience non-invasive detection and characterisation of underground clandestine complexes, bunkers, tunnels and firing ranges

Recent events in conflict zones have emphasized that the successful detection and characterisation of buried clandestine complexes, bunkers and tunnels is vitally important for forensic investigators globally, to reduce or solve criminal activities, address national security threats and avoid potential terrorist attacks. However, this can often prove very difficult, particularly in urban areas, with potentially both below-ground non target items and above-ground infrastructures present, that can interfere with detecting target(s).Here we provide selected successful case studies where forensic geoscience techniques were used to detect and characterise buried clandestine complexes, bunkers and tunnels using different geophysical techniques. Generally, desktop studies assessing pre-existing information, including local geology, soils, historical/modern remote sensing, maps and photographs inform appropriate geophysical survey technique(s) selection. Subsequent near-surface geophysical techniques are then employed to produce accurate plans of sub-surface targets, with numerical modelling and correction for the interfering effects of above ground infrastructure, enabling the calibration of geophysical datasets to provide confidence in their respective interpretations.All forensic investigations are, of course, unique to every site, and thus require an individual approach to their respective ground conditions. Investigations should be both phased and iterative, with techniques tailored to local conditions: the selection of geophysical method(s) is crucial to improve successful detection rates of such important buried targets.

Intelligent ventilation-on-demand control system for the construction of underground tunnel complex

Intelligent ventilation-on-demand control system for the construction of underground tunnel complex

Peculiarities of urban planning organization of underground research complexes

The relevance of the construction and operation of underground research facilities specializing in the fields of astrophysics, particle physics, geophysics and biology has developed significantly over the past 30 years. Underground research facilities are able to provide the necessary conditions for conducting experimental studies of physical phenomena that go beyond the Standard Model of Physics. Among the publications devoted to the theoretical foundations of the development of underground urbanism, it is worth noting the works of E. Reynolds, R. Sterling, W. Breuer, and G. Haiko. The main aspects of the architectural and planning and volumetric-spatial structure of underground buildings and structures are outlined in the works of H. Admiral, A. Cornaro, J. Besner. The exploitation of underground space in the conditions of sustainable development of modern cities is studied in the works of L. von der Tann and S. Ritter, Fang-Le Peng, Yong-Kang Xiao. Ukrainian scientists have made a significant contribution to the theoretical issues of underground urbanism: S.V. Ryndyuk, M.A. Maksymenko. Prospects for the integrated development of underground space in Ukraine are highlighted in the works of T.O. Nishchyk. Scientific works of G.I. Gayko are devoted to the priority tasks of development of underground urbanism in Ukraine, assessment of risks of underground construction, historical development of underground space in Ukraine. The historical development of underground buildings and structures is also studied in the works of V. Biletskyi, L. Korkushko, A. Pleshkanovska. The overview of the planning structure of modern underground research complexes is presented in the articles by A. Ianni, A. Bettini, E. Coccia. The article presents a number of prerequisites that influence the choice of a site for the design of underground research complexes in Ukraine. Their brief description is presented. Based on a preliminary analysis of the world experience in designing this type of facilities, important criteria that should be used when choosing a design site are identified. A complete set of functional zones of the master plan of the above-ground territory of the underground research complex is defined. A number of basic recommendations have been formulated that should guide the designer in the development of the master plan.

О ПРОБЛЕМЕ ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИИ ВОССТАЮЩИХ ДРЕНАЖНЫХ СКВАЖИН ПРИ ОСУШЕНИИ МИХАЙЛОВСКОГО МЕСТОРОЖДЕНИЯ (КУРСКАЯ МАГНИТНАЯ АНОМАЛИЯ)

The results of a study of the functioning of the drainage complex of the Mikhailovsky iron ore deposit at the KMA are presented. Due to the significant size of the quarry field, as well as to reduce the volume of overburden, its drainage is carried out using a combined surface and underground method. It has been established that currently the average annual inflow to the mine drainage varies within the range of 2150...2830 m3/h, of which most of the drainage water comes from the Bathonian aquifer (the main water supply reservoir - more than 70 % of the water inflow) along with watering by precipitation, the supra-Callovian aquifer complex and ore-crys talline fractured waters. The relative stabilization of the regime of aquifer complexes and the volume of water inflows into the MGOK quarry over the past decades has been established. The negative impact of the mining enterprise is shown, which led to the formation of depressions on a regional scale and a significant depletion of groundwater reserves in the lower aquifer complex. The main production problems in the operation of the underground drainage complex have been identified, related to the difficulties associated with the operation of the quarry, as well as periodic disruptions to the normal operation of rising drainage wells, up to the complete failure of some of them. For the first time, field studies (downhole video recording) revealed previously unstudied deformations of the casing columns of raised drainage wells. The causes of deformations have been established, and specific measures have been developed to improve the reliability of raised drainage wells. Directions for the development of further research are outlined. The research results can be used for drainage by rising drainage wells not only in the KMA, but also in other fields with similar geological and hydrogeological conditions.

ОПЫТ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ ПОДЗЕМНОЙ ГИДРАВЛИЧЕСКОЙ ДОБЫЧИ УГЛЯ В СССР И РОССИИ

The article provides an analysis of the mining and geological conditions and the experience of coal mines in the USSR and Russia, in which hydraulic mining technology was used. The applied technical solutions and technological schemes of mining are also considered. The preferred mining and geological conditions for the use of hydrotechnology have been determined. Promising areas of hydro extraction research have been identified, such as the development of efficient underground dehydration complexes and automation of basic technological processes. The results of the research can be useful for further improving the efficiency, safety and realization of the potential of hydromechanization of coal mining and other minerals.

Method of Redevelopment of Underground Mining Facilities

Mining is a set of industrial branches engaged in exploration, extraction, primary processing and obtaining the initial semi-finished product of elements related to minerals. Deposits are ore, non-metallic and alluvial. These deposits are mined by open pit and closed pit methods. After the end of underground operations, empty mine fields remain, which on the surface are labeled as exclusion zones. The problem of cave-in zones, under which the waste mine fields of the mining industry are located, has been particularly acute for decades. These mines are located not only under the industrial zones of populated areas, but also under residential and public areas and cause irreversible transformation of the natural environment, which leads to catastrophic consequences. Transformation of underground space is the main task of redevelopment of industrial areas of this kind. It is possible to build underground structures for other purposes in worked-out mines. Due to the fact that these structures will be maintained and operated, the change in the secondary stress fields in the mountain massif will not have such catastrophic consequences as in the case of alienation-collapse zones. Besides, the reuse of worked-out workings is economically more favorable due to the fact that sinking will be minimal. In this paper only underground mining complexes and the possibility of their reuse will be considered.

Response Displacement Method for Seismic Calculation of Subway Station Complex Structure of TOD Mode

The TOD mode with rail transit stations as the center has become an important direction of future central city construction. However, at present, there is still a lack of simplified calculation methods for the seismic design of a subway station complex structure of TOD mode. Based on the load-structure model of the classic response displacement method and the seismic deformation characteristics of the underground complex structure, an improved response displacement method for seismic calculation of the subway station complex structure considering the influence of the upper frame structure was proposed in this paper. Then, based on the actual engineering case, the applicability of the improved reaction displacement method was verified through investigating the influencing factors such as seismic wave type, ground motion intensity, building position, structure form, structure stiffness, and stratum stiffness. Furthermore, a series of numerical simulation experiments were conducted to verify the simplified method and further evaluate its computational accuracy. The result shows that the error in calculating the internal force and deformation response of a station complex structure by using the improved reaction displacement method can be controlled at about 10%. The improved response deformation method is proved to be a highly practical pseudo-static method.

Post-occupancy evaluation of user satisfaction: Case studies of 10 urban underground complexes in China

The urban underground complex (UUC) is an effective approach to solve urban problems, such as space shortage and traffic congestion. In China, there is a large-scale UUC construction and an increasing number of people working or generating urban activities in UUCs. Accordingly, the utilization status of UUCs and whether they meet users’ needs should be evaluated. However, there is still a lack of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) for UUCs from users’ perspective to feed forward to the planning and design. Therefore, 10 typical UUCs in China were selected in this study for POE of users’ satisfaction (N = 1055), using field questionnaire surveys to collect data. Factor analysis was performed to identify five main components of user satisfaction for UUC. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the influencing factors of users’ satisfaction from the personal and environment aspects. Results revealed that users were satisfied with UUCs in China. However, they were relatively dissatisfied with the internal physical environment. In terms of personal characteristics and behavioral factors, with a longer duration of stay, the probability of users’ satisfaction increases within a certain time range. In terms of environmental factors, identity of the signage system, safety sign and broadcast effectiveness, and spatial proportions and morphology, among others, had a significant positive impact on users’ satisfaction. The results have reference value for promoting the design and utilization of UUCs.

Current tendencies of architectural and environmental organization of underground scientific and research complexes

The article provides an overview of the world experience in the design of underground laboratories. Underground research complexes must provide the necessary conditions for conducting experimental research in the scientific fields in which they specialize. An underground scientific research institution should also ensure a comfortable and safe stay of scientific and technical personnel on its territory and satisfy all their social, physiological, psychological and professional needs. Urban planning, volume-spatial and functional-planning organization are regulated by the technical requirements for conducting experiments and research in specific scientific fields: astrophysics, physics of elementary particles and others. The article examines the scientific works of world scientists and architects. The problem of the development of underground space and its urban planning organization was studied in their scientific works by G. I. Hayko, H. Admiral, A. Cornaro, A. Wright, R. Sterling. Strategies and tools for the organization of underground space, as well as the main planning systems of underground urban planning objects, are highlighted in the works of L. Von der Tann. The issue of optimization of the underground space is raised in the works of Paul H. Gilbert, P. Stones. Recommendations on the urban planning and architectural planning organization of underground spaces are found in Joanna Kozytska's doctoral dissertation. The global experience of designing underground spaces is highlighted in the works of T. Jung Heng, N. A. Bakhtadze, V. Biletskyi, N. D. Pankratova. The architectural and environmental organization of the space of underground research complexes is considered in the articles of A. Bettini, Aldo Ianni, E. Kochia. Modern trends in the development of underground buildings and structures are considered in the scientific works of G. I. Hayko and Pankratova N. D. The article presents common architectural features of the organization of complexes. The urban planning, volume-spatial, functional-planning organization of the underground environment of scientific and research complexes is analyzed. Modern trends in the design of underground scientific and research complexes are determined. Characteristic features of the urban planning, volumetric-spatial, functional-planning structure of underground scientific and research complexes are given.

The influence of factors on the architectural and environmental organization of underground scientific and research complexes

The history of development and development of the underground space is known since the time of the first settlements in cave-like structures on the territory of modern Turkey, Tunisia, and the Crimean Peninsula. In the course of the evolutionary development of science and technology, the fields of astrophysics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics reached their peak in the 20th century. Since the vast majority of scientific and experimental research carried out in the field of physics requires special laboratory conditions that are as free as possible from the influence of cosmic radiation and radioactive isotopes, the construction of underground research complexes has also achieved active development. During the research, the fundamental works of a number of scientists were analyzed. Conceptual approaches to the development of underground space are considered in the scientific works of Han Admiral and Antonia Cornaro, in the doctoral dissertation of Kenneth B. Lebs. Peculiarities of the urban planning organization of the underground space are studied in the works of: G. I. Hayko, E. Reynolds, L. von der Tann, R. Sterling, Sh. Narang Suri, A. Wright. The problems of global experience in the design of underground buildings and structures were embodied in the works of P. Stones, T. Yung Heng, G.I. Hayko, and N.D. Panktrova. Interdisciplinary issues in the use of underground space are discussed in the works of H. Braun, N.A. Bakhtadze, V. Biletskyi, P. Kh. Gilberta. The spatial and planning organization of underground and surface laboratories is considered in the works of A. Bettini, Aldo Ianni, E. Kochia, K. G. Ryzhkova The article presents groups of factors that have an impact on the structural organization of the environment of underground research complexes. The analysis of the influence of the main factors on the urban planning, spatial and functional structure of underground research complexes was carried out. It was established that the formation of the underground environment is influenced by the following groups of factors: engineering-geological, technological, natural-climatic, urban planning, constructive, economic, legislative, ecological, architectural and planning. A general description of each group of factors is given. It is proposed to consider the above factors from the point of view of a complex approach as closely interconnected structures that influence each other and the formation of the final structure of the underground research complex.

Key influence factors on the evacuation route selection for fire emergencies in urban underground complexes

PurposeThe development of urban underground complexes (UUCs) has great positive significance for improving urban safety. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the key factors of the people's behavior of evacuation route selection (BERS) for fire emergencies and UUCs’ development. This study aims to find out the factors affecting people's BERS in the evacuation process of UUCs.Design/methodology/approachThis study aims to find out the factors affecting people's BERS in the evacuation process of UUCs. To achieve this goal, the authors conducted a field experiment in F City. Furthermore, the people's BERS are obtained by using a structural equation model and compared with the field test results.FindingsThe authors found that the key factors for people's BERS are lighting conditions, route distance, flow direction guidance and indication. The results of this study contribute to the safety field by providing key factors for fire emergencies. It can also be used to improve fire safety management, evacuation strategies and assist in the development of intelligent evacuation systems.Originality/valueThe results of this study contribute to the safety field by providing key factors for fire emergencies. It can also be used to improve fire safety management, evacuation strategies and assist in the development of intelligent evacuation systems.

Evacuation-path-selection model of real-time fire diffusion in urban underground complexes

Evacuation in the event of a fire in an urban underground complexes (UUC) is a big challenge. How to conduct limited evacuation in case of a fire in UUC is a problem worthy of attention. A hexagonal grid was used to balance the timing of each move to the adjacent grid to synchronize fire diffusion and crowd evacuation. This paper proposes an improved ant colony (IACO) algorithm to determine the shortest evacuation path in the case of a fire under an UUC considering real-time fire diffusion. The proposed model was verified under various scenarios. The results show that compared with the traditional quadrilateral raster map, the hexagon raster map can ensure that the moving distance in any direction is equal. The proposed IACO contributes to the body of knowledge resulted in shorter evacuation paths and avoided detours into dangerous areas and “through the wall” errors. These findings could be used to improve fire safety management plans and select evacuation technology, while assisting in the development of intelligent emergency evacuation systems.

ЧРЕЗВЫЧАЙНЫЕ СИТУАЦИИ НА ГОРНОДОБЫВАЮЩИХ ОБЪЕКТАХ: ПРОБЛЕМЫ И ПУТИ ИХ РЕШЕНИЯ

The article calculates the required number of fire equipment, personnel of fire departments for the localization of fire foci in the warehouse of explosive materials of the underground complex of the Talitsky mining and processing complex. In the process of work, measures and technical solutions aimed at preventing the occurrence and spread of fire have been developed and proposed. The proposed technical solutions can be used at the enterprise of JSC Verkhnekamsk Potash Company.

Study on emergency evacuation in underground urban complexes.

With progressive urbanization and the development and utilization of urban underground space, underground urban complexes (UUCs) have been increasingly used. UUCs have brought much convenience to people's lives. However, due to their enclosed nature and complexity, it has been an urgent issue to avoid (or reduce) casualties and allow rapid and safe evacuation of people during an emergency. In this study, the evacuation simulation software Pathfinder was used. Based on the steering model, the variation of the total evacuation time and pedestrian flow at main exits with different simulated evacuation measures, congestion at key nodes and people's path selection were compared and analyzed. Then, the critical locations in the spatial layout of UUCs that were prone to evacuation bottleneck effects were focused on and determined. The evacuation effectiveness of UUCs in an emergency was studied to investigate the problems of emergency evacuation in UUCs. It is found that in UUCs, the bottleneck effects were likely to occur at stairway entrances and exits as well as supermarket checkout counters and caused severe congestion. These locations should be focused on during emergency evacuation. For key locations prone to evacuation bottlenecks, increasing the width of exits or setting up auxiliary evacuation channels could be an effective measure to improve evacuation efficiency. In addition, formulating rational evacuation rules can be a favorable measure for emergency evacuation. However, during the evacuation, the herd mentality in people has an uncertain (positive or negative) impact on evacuation effectiveness. Setting up diversion walls may improve evacuation efficiency and reduce congestion to a certain extent, while evacuation confusion and chaos are prone to occur after diversion. These findings in this study have significant implications for improving the emergency management of UUCs.

Assessment of the technical condition of cave complexes

The study of artificial caves and underground complexes, as well as their protection and preservation, remains a pressing problem of modern scientific research. Ancient dungeons, which are located not only in the territories of major cities (mainly in places where there were castle fortifications, trading rows, and monasteries), but also in small towns, cities, and villages, are in unsatisfactory condition. The work is devoted to the analysis of cave complexes and underground premises for historical purposes. Special attention should be paid to the operating conditions. The methods of surveying underground premises are given, in particular, attention is paid to the creation of 3D models. The results of the study of brick on water absorption result. The article pays attention to methods of strengthening damaged structures in operation conditions with modern composite materials based on basalt and carbon fibers

Frasassi Caves and Surroundings: A Special Vehicle for the Geoeducation and Dissemination of the Geological Heritage in Italy

One of the most fascinating aspects of the work of geologist lies in knowing how to read the physical landscape as an expression of the geological and geomorphological phenomena that shaped the Earth’s relief over time. The necessity to disseminate these vast areas of knowledges and skills starts from here, with the aim to enhance the concept of geodiversity and to raise awareness for its protection and promotion. This work aims to share some examples of projects realized following the subscription of agreement between different public authorities in the Apennine territory of Marche Region in Italy, such as the Geology Section of the University of Camerino (MC), “Consorzio Frasassi” (which manages the underground karst complex of Frasassi caves) and municipality of Genga (AN), where Frasassi caves are located. Thanks to this partnership, our research group realized didactic geological notebooks for school groups visiting the caves and interactive museum laboratories in 3D, showing the geological evolution of the area. This sharing of knowledge will contribute to educate communities about the importance of the geological heritage. At the same time, this project can serve as motivation to establishing the same type of collaborations in those territories where similar projects can be replicated.