The roots of this publication lie in a lecture I gave in 2009 at the World Tunnel Congress in Budapest, Hungary. Following this, the theme has kept me lecturing around the world, mostly in the Far East. Using the City of Helsinki, a forerunner in the field, as a prime example, I have written several papers, given numerous interviews, completed many questionnaires and helped to arrange several site visits to give inspiration and encouragement to other cities and decision makers on the possibilities of Underground Space Use.
Since Budapest, the paper has been elaborated and widened to cover the development of underground space in the urban environment. After that was completed, it was time to release the first edition of this paper to a wider audience in October 2014.
This non-commercial publication has been updated and is now available as an independent online publication on the City of Helsinki’s website.
In my view, the close cooperation that the City of Helsinki has established with the numerous ‘partners’ involved in the planning, financing, and designing as well as the actual construction and maintenance of tunnels and underground spaces has perhaps been the crucial factor in sustainable underground property development. As much of this work is also carried out unofficially, trust between the parties is central, particularly when developing processes and sharing risks.
I am extremely grateful for the demanding work that so many people have done in the field of Urban Underground Space. My role during the past ten years has been more like an ‘ambassador’ who has strived to advance the long-term sustainable use of underground space.
The countless questions, presentations, and discussions with colleagues from different countries and cultures have inspired me to write and update this paper ‘Urban Underground Space – Sustainable Property Development in Helsinki’.
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