Advantages and Disadvantages in Environmental Aspects through

Underground Uses

Shigeyuki KOHNO

“Environmental aspects” broadly include

1. influences upon surrounding nature to be protectedsuch as water table and quality

2. influences upon Scenery and View

3. physical influences upon lives and traffic situations on surface such as noise and vibration

4. securities of public safety in underground

5. psychological aspects of people such as anxiety feeling

and others

1. Introduction of Underground uses in Japan

2. Challenge toward Great Depth

3. Advantages in Environmental Aspects

4. Disadvantages in Environmental Aspects

5. Future Plans of Underground Uses

6. Future Challenging Themes

Contents of Discussions

Discussions may be proceeded mainly focusing upon environmental aspects, but other aspects may be also included since those are interacted

each other in advantages and disadvantages of underground uses.

1.Introdoction of Underground Uses in Japan

Why Underground Uses in Urban Areas ?

Increase of demands of new traffic such as highways and

railways

Increase of demands of additional lifelines required

⇒Lack of space of new infrastructures on surface

Frequent occurrences of natural disasters such as

earthquake and flood

⇒ Protection of human lives and infra-structures

Explore Underground ！！

Look at the Underground world in urban area !!Look at the Underground world in urban area !!

railroad

Gas pipeline

Undergr. river

Power cables

Highway

Transition of maximum depth of Tokyo subway

Underground pipes under national roads in Tokyo

1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1994 1998 2000 2002Opening year

(HP of Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport)

32.55,239.4Total

1.9311.2Sewage

2.3367.2Water

2.0325.7Gas

9.31,498.5Power cable

17.02736.8Telephone

Length of Undergr pipes /1km of road (km)

Total length (km)

CentralCircular

Shinagawa Route(Planning stage)

The Metropolitan Expressway NetworkThe Metropolitan Expressway Networkin urban area ( As of May, 1998 )in urban area ( As of May, 1998 )

１００ ５Ｋｍ

Circular Route of Metropolitan ExpresswayCircular Route of Metropolitan Expressway

Central Circular Shinjyuku Route of Central Circular Shinjyuku Route of Metropolitan ExpresswayMetropolitan Expressway

Semi-underground section of the old moat , Metropolitan Expressway Route 1

Integration of Roads and Building Complexes in Tokyo Outer Ring Road

Underground mall in Underground mall in YaesuYaesu, Tokyo station, Tokyo station

Photos sourced from Yaesu Parking Lot Company and Obayashi Corporation

Subway systems consisting of several lines in vicinity of Subway systems consisting of several lines in vicinity of IidabashiIidabashi stationstation

Metropolitan Expressway

Tozai Line

Yurakucho LineNanboku Line

Kanda River

Station of JR west ---East-west Line in Osaka

Underground parking facility in Underground parking facility in Izumi-cho

International Conference Center Hiroshima and Peace Memorial ParInternational Conference Center Hiroshima and Peace Memorial Parkk

Underground passage in snowy country

2.Challenge toward Great Depth

Special Low was issued to regulate the use of Great-Depth Underground （2001）.

Great-depth space may be used for public purposes.

Definition of Great-Depth Underground

40m

10m

Case of shallow bed layer Case of deep bed

layer

Great-depth

Whichever deeper is defined as

Great-depth

Great-depth

Why Great Deep Underground ?

Such depth Not Normally used

Use of such depth for public purpose Does Not generate the monetary loss to be compensated.

Right of use may be established without prior compensation.

(HP of Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport)

normal depth

railway

highway

Multi-purpose utility tunnel

pilessewagesubway

mall

river

great-depth

Effective uses of Great Deep Underground

Under planningunknownRailwayLinear chuo express

Under planning４０ｍHighwayTokyo Outer Circular Highway

Under planningMore than ３０ｍHighwayYokohama Circular North Route of Metropolitan Expressway

Under construction４２ｍElectricityHibiya-Tsukiji utility tunnel

Under construction４５ｍFlood control reservoir

Circular No.7. drainage basin

Under construction４０ｍHighwayCentral Circular Shinjuku Route of Metropolitan Expressway

Under operation８５ｍFlood control reservoir

Imai river drainage basin

Under operation４９ｍRailwayO-edo subwayline

Ref.Cover depth (max.)PurposeProject name

Actual examples of great depth uses before issue of law

Purpose: Flood control reservoir

Owner：Yokohama city

Shield outer diameter：φ12.14m

Maximum cover depth：85m

Imai-river underground retarding basin

Highway projects in great depth planned within 5 years

Central Circular Shinjuku Route of Metropolitan Expressway

Central Circular Shinagawa Route of Metropolitan Expressway

Yokohama Circular North Route of Metropolitan Expressway

Tokyo Outer Ring Road

Central Circular Shinjuku Route of Metropolitan Expressway (under const)

Cross-section of Tokyo Outer Ring Road(5 lanes at Junction)

Main line

Joining tunnel

Entering shield tunnel with 2 lanes join into main shield tunnel with 3 lanes.

3. Advantages in Environmental Aspects

Security of Safety

Undergr. retarding basinDisaster prevention

Museum, church, amusement facility

Effective use of mysterious feeling

Psychological Effects

Huge openings such as LPG and crude oil storage tank and power plant

Structural safetyInfrastruc, LNG storage tankPublic safetyMuseum, music hallSound and light insulationHigh InsulationFacilities in scenic areaRegional regulation

Drainage treatment plant, waste disposal plant

Prevention of bad smells, noise and dust

Hall, gym, libraryScenery protectionPreservation of Surrounding Environments

Shopping mall, parking placeEffective spatial usesRailway, highwayTraffic ImprovementsMulti-purpose common ductLayout of new lifelinesImprovement of

Function

ExamplesDetailsAdvantages

Overall Advantages through Underground Uses

Traffic Improvements⇒ Reduction of Trip Time and Traffic Congestion

⇒ Improvement of Surrounding Environments

Ａ

Ｂ

Shortcut in underground

Road

Trip on surface

Improvement of function

(HP of Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport)

Improvement of functionMulti-purpose common duct

Before After

Common Duct

Underground mall in Underground mall in YaesuYaesu, Tokyo station, Tokyo station

Improvement of function33--dimensional effective spatial usesdimensional effective spatial uses

5th Shaft

Otoshi Frutone River

4th Shaft

Kuramatsu River

3rd Shaft

Naka River

Saitama Pref.

2nd Shaft

1st Shaft

Drainage Plant

Edo River

Chiba Pref.

Underground spillway for flood control-- Longitudinal View of the Metropolitan Area Outer discharge Channel –

⇒Possibility of flood in urban area may largely reduced.

Improvement of function

Improvement of function

Kanda-river underground retarding basin project

Treatment capacity 500 thousand m３／day corresponding to design population of 1 million

Treatment plantPumping facility

Prevention of bad smells and noise⇒Underground Sewage treatment facility

Preservation of Surrounding Environments

High ability in earthquake resistance

Surface

67m below surface

27m below surface

Acc

el.(G

al)

Acc

el.(G

al)

Acc

el.(G

al)

(HP of Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport)

Security of Public Safety

Decrease of Acceleration with Depth at Earthquake

Standardized acceleration

Dep

th (m

)

(Data by Japan Underground Oil Storage Co. Ltd.)

Serious damage to railways

Serious damage to viaducts

(before)

(after)

Damages of Structures on Surface at Great Earthquake of Hanshin-Awaji (1995)

Damaged shopping area on ground(San-nomiya, Kobe)

Damaged building on ground(near San-nomiya sta., Kobe)

Railroad sta. underground(San-nomiya sta., Kobe)

Underground shopping mall(San-nomiya, Kobe)

On

GR

OU

ND

UN

DE

RG

RO

UN

D

Damages of Structures at great earthquake of Hanshin-awaji (1995)

Underground tank Embedded tankOnground tank

Example: LNG storage plant

Security of Public Safety

Much safer

Effective use on top

Scenery improvement

Small possibility of LNG （-162 C） leakage to surface at failure of tank on emergency

Ground Water

Oil

Water Bed

Underground crude oil storage facilities in hard rockUnderground crude oil storage facilities in hard rock

KushikinoKushikino PlantPlant

One tunnel

W 18m x H 22m x L 555m

-> 10 tunnels

Security of Structural Safety

KazunogawaKazunogawa Underground Power Station (Underground Power Station (Yamanashi Prefecture))

Power generation output: 1,600,000 kw(400,000 kw x 4 units)Facility scale: Height 54 mWidth 34 mLength 210 mExcavation capacity 256,000m3Cavern shape: Egg-shapedStart of operation: In 1999(800,000kw)In 2001 (remaining 800,000 kw)

Underground pumped-storage power station in hard rock

Security of Structural Safety

TakayamaTakayama Festival Art MuseumFestival Art Museum

Takayama in Hida district

Mysterious atmosphere!!Mysterious atmosphere!!Psychological Effect

Psychological Effect

Kushikino Gold park (old gold mine)

Tourist train ride inside mine

Exhibition of gold !!

4. Disadvantages in Environmental Aspects

Special cares neededChange in water level & quality, chemical reaction of reducing ground

Environmental Influence upon surrounding nature

Special cares neededNoise, dust, smell, vibration, Ground Settlement, Traffic congestion

Physical Influence upon people and traffic

Secure safetyEquipments and Escape measures

Accidents such as collapse of tunnelNatural disaster such as flood, fire , earthquake, explosion

Accidents in narrow spaceand difficult evacuation

Construction phase

MeasuresProblemsItemsPhase

Overall Disadvantages through Underground Uses

Low frequency air vibration at Vibrating screen at shield tunnel project site

(1)Vibrating screen surrounded by thick concrete wall

(2)Treatment plant covered with special material made of glass wool and

light weight cellular concrete

Noise and vibration at blasting of rock tunnel

(1) Use of non explosive demolition agent

Air pollution at rock tunnel excavation

(1)Use of advanced electrostatic precipitator

Water pollution from tunnel project site

(1) Use of high-performance turbid water treatment facility

Physical Influence upon people and traffic

non explosive demolition agent

Examples are

After ExcavationBefore Excavation

Illustrative example of influence upon water table

Environmental influence upon surrounding nature

Upper side:

Water level Rises

Lower side:

Water level Declines

Impermeable layer

Permeable layer

Water Flow

Before Excavation

Environmental influence upon surrounding nature

Impermeable layer

Permeable layer

Water Flow

After Excavation

Effective use of drain pipes to connect both walls

Secure safety equipments, emergency escape measures

Terrorism, fire, explosion, earthquake, flood, blackout

Accidents in narrow space and difficult evacuation

Operational Phase

Enough lighting, secure escape route, sufficient space

Anxiety feelingPsychological influences

Air conditioning, natural lighting, barrier-free

Darkness, uncomfortable temperature and humidity, unsafe condition for handicapped

Physical unpleasantness and inconvenience

Special cares neededChange in water level & quality, air pollution, vibration, noise

Environmental Influence upon surrounding nature

MeasuresProblemsItemsPhase

Overall Disadvantages through Underground Uses

Rapid Water flow into Underground shopping mall during large rainfall

Accidents in narrow space and difficult evacuation

Gate to prevent inflow of water

Fire prevention shutter Fire prevention screen

Structural countermeasures in facilities

Example of underground mall in Hiroshima

Countermeasures in evacuation manners

Voice-guided

evacuation system

Light blinking to

notify evacuation direction

Removal of exhaust gas from underground highway is needed.⇒Air with dust may be blown out from high ventilation tower.

(brochures from Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation)

Environmental influence upon surrounding nature

Tower may be designed so that it fits to surrounding scenery and psychological pressure is minimum.

Introduction of Natural Lighting

35m in depth

Mirror is used to collect natural light

Mirror automatically follows the Sun

Photo: example of Minesota univ. (USA)

Physical unpleasantness

Automatic Control System of Lighting, Sound, Air flow and Smell

Physical unpleasantness

Two doors open and wheel chair is not needed to rotate.

Sound-guided system is introduced. Parking space only for handicapped person

Voice-guided escalator Restroom with baby bed

Example of barrier-free shopping mall

Physical inconvenience

Psychological influence

Anxiety feeling must be removed !!

RecommendsKind layout and deign of exits to reduce anxiety feeling

Introduction of natural light

Air conditioning and ventilation

Introduction of universal design

Advanced disaster prevention facilities and staff trainings

Example of Shinjuku-west sta. of O-edo subway lineSeveral designs to ease anxiety feeling

Relaxing space : symbol of water, green and sun

Planned to give the relaxing feeling Resting space

Relaxing space :

Crystal stream--bottom of ocean

Inclined wall and column give accents to stair area to concourse

4. Future Plans of Underground Uses

Super geo-cross highway Plan

Two underground routes to cross Tokyo

Super geo-cross highway

Underground freight transportation plan

Urban geo-grid plan

Urban geo-grid plan

5. Future Challenging Themes

More difficulties in maintenance and rehabilitation

Security of permanent safety under huge water and ground pressures

More kind facilities to elderly people

Correct understandings of long-term environmental influences

Securities of public safety under multi-purpose uses upon emergency

Future demands for Underground: Deeper, Longer and Bigger

Themes to be considered in the future are

Dank U wel !!