Application of geophysics to underground space development for improvement of urban environments

Abstract

The history of human civilisation shows a continuous trend towards urban life as the basis for social organisation. Over the last 50 years, this trend is accelerating with the proportion of the world urban population expected to reach 61% by 2030 (Godard, 2004). Maintaining quality of urban life and creating sustainable urban environments is one the most crucial current human challenges with continuing degradation of urban environments, increasing congestion and lack of green open space of critical concern. Going underground offers solutions to many of these problems. The Epping to Chatswood Rail Line, in Sydney?s northern suburbs, is a local example of a major new shallow underground space development in an urban environment that will be completed during in 2009. This case study demonstrates the benefits of applying geophysics integrated with geotechnics and hydrogeology to a critical river crossing section of this environmentally sensitive underground space development.