Growing cities around the world sometimes encourage development of taller and taller buildings as a strategy for alleviating urban congestion and sprawl. Are they overlooking what in many cases may be a more effective solution: building down instead of building up?
Arizona State University professor and Senior Sustainability Scientist Samuel Ariaratnam talks about the possible advantages of developing our underground “real estate” in an extensive discussion broadcast recently on the Australia Radio National network.
On the program Future Tense, Ariaratnam joins a group of experts to examine what underground construction could provide in not only reining in urban congestion but in public safety, efficient land use, environmental sustainability, and protection from extreme heat, cold, and natural disasters.