The only way is down

Culture is replete with the concept of civilisations living underground. It crops  up in everything from HG Wells to Elizabeth Beresford. Of course, Wells’ underground dwellers were mutated cannibals and Beresford’s were pointy-nosed mammals with an excellent grasp of English and an ecological bent, but the exploration and exploitation  of the realm below the surface has been a trope for decades.

Now, the lure of subterranean space is growing, especially in cities where land is at a premium and building becomes ever-more difficult. And while travelling underground is part of everyday life for millions in cities around the world, other uses for underground space are becoming ever-more innovative; and more may well be to come. The challenge for engineers will be how to construct these underground spaces, make them suitable for the uses earmarked for them and maintain the conditions inside them to keep their contents and users safe and comfortable.