Strategic path for high-quality development of urban underground space in the Yangtze River Delta region under geological safety constraints

Authors

Weiya GE, Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China; Engineering Innovation Center for Urban Underground Space Exploration and Evaluation, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing 210016, ChinaFollow
Rui WANG, Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China; Engineering Innovation Center for Urban Underground Space Exploration and Evaluation, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing 210016, ChinaFollow
Yunfeng LI, Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China; Engineering Innovation Center for Urban Underground Space Exploration and Evaluation, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing 210016, China
Jian HUA, Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China; Engineering Innovation Center for Urban Underground Space Exploration and Evaluation, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing 210016, China
Yang YANG, Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China; Engineering Innovation Center for Urban Underground Space Exploration and Evaluation, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing 210016, China

Keywords

Yangtze River Delta, underground space, geological safety, land subsidence, karst collapse, urban resilience, coordinated planning, risk prevention and control

Document Type

Underground Space Development Strategy

Abstract

As one of China’s most dynamic economic regions, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) has approached the upper limit of surface land development, making underground space a critical strategic resource for urban renewal, compact spatial restructuring, and resilient city construction. Nevertheless, rapid expansion of underground development, combined with increasingly tight surface constraints, has led to the superposition of multiple geological hazards, which has become a key bottleneck restricting high-quality underground space utilization in the YRD. Based on comprehensive geological safety assessments of YRD cities, this study identifies six major geological risks, namely, land subsidence, karst collapse, landslides and debris flows, mining-induced subsidence, earthquakes, and road ground collapse, and analyzes their impacts on underground space planning, construction, and operation. Key challenges include insufficient understanding of deep geological structures, inadequate risk assessment systems, significant engineering-induced disturbances, and weak regional coordination. Correspondingly, this study proposes a set of policy recommendations: establishing multi-scale geological survey systems for underground space, developing resource evaluation and access mechanisms under geological safety constraints, enhancing region-wide collaborative planning and regulation, improving risk monitoring and early-warning capabilities, and fostering technological innovation. These strategies will support the YRD in becoming a national demonstration zone for high-quality underground space development and contribute to the modernization of China’s urban spatial governance.

First page

260

Last Page

275

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

References

1. 彭芳乐. 高质量推动城市地下空间开发利用. 国家治理, 2025, (19): 70-76. Peng F L. High-quality promotion of urban underground space development and utilization. Governance, 2025, (19): 70-76. (in Chinese)

2. 中央城市工作会议在北京举行 习近平发表重要讲话 李强作总结讲话 赵乐际王沪宁蔡奇丁薛祥李希出席会议. 人民日报, 2025-07-16(01). The central urban work conference was held in Beijing, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, Li Qiang gave a concluding speech, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the conference. People’s Daily, 2025-07-16(01). (in Chinese)

3. 孙兰, 张琪, 陈瑜婷. 长三角地区城市经济韧性水平测度及空间特征分析. 江苏科技信息, 2025, 42(19): 121-125. Sun L, Zhang Q, Chen Y T. Measurement of urban economic resilience level and spatial characteristics analysis in the Yangtze River Delta region. Jiangsu Science and Technology Information, 2025, 42(19): 121-125. (in Chinese)

4. 易荣, 刘俊卿. 我国城市地下空间开发利用存在的问题及应对建议. 新华智库研究, 2024, (3): 68-71. Yi R, Liu J Q. Challenges in urban underground space development and utilization in China and countermeasures. Xinhua Institute Research, 2024, (3): 68-71. (in Chinese)

5. 王睿, 窦帆帆, 李云峰, 等. 城市地下空间地质安全风险三维评价方法与实践. 地质与勘探, 2024, 60(1): 185-196. Wang R, Dou F F, Li Y F, et al. 3D evaluation method and practice of geological safety risk for urban underground space. Geology and Exploration, 2024, 60(1): 185-196. (in Chinese)

6. 钟茂华. 发展地下空间安全科学， 构筑重大工程安全屏障. 清华大学学报（自然科学版）, 2025, 65(3): 413. Zhong M H. Develop safety science for underground space, construct safety barrier for major engineering project. Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology), 2025, 65(3): 413. (in Chinese)

7. 田聪, 苏晶文, 倪化勇, 等. 城市地下空间资源评价进展与展望. 华东地质, 2021, 42(2): 147-156. Tian C, Su J W, Ni H Y, et al. Progress and prospect of urban underground space resources evaluation. East China Geology, 2021, 42(2): 147-156. (in Chinese)

8. 王威, 朱峻佚, 王国盛, 等. 城市地下空间“平急两用”规划建设思路与路径研究. 中国工程科学, 2025, 27(4): 82-94. Wang W, Zhu J Y, Wang G S, et al. Urban underground space planning idea and path based on a “dual-use” concept. Strategic Study of CAE, 2025, 27(4): 82-94. (in Chinese)

9. 于伟, 折学森. 长江三角洲区域性软土路基沉降特性研究. 安全与环境学报, 2016, 16(6): 102-108. Yu W, Zhe X S. On the particular settlement features of the soft soil subgrade in the area of Yangtze River Delta. Journal of Safety and Environment, 2016, 16(6): 102-108. (in Chinese)

10. 胡志平, 彭建兵, 张飞, 等. 浅谈城市地下空间开发中的关键科学问题与创新思路. 地学前缘, 2019, 26(3): 76-84. Hu Z P, Peng J B, Zhang F, et al. The critical issues and creative concepts in the development of urban underground space. Earth Science Frontiers, 2019, 26(3): 76-84. (in Chinese)

11. 郑刚. 软土地区基坑工程变形控制方法及工程应用. 岩土工程学报, 2022, 44(1): 1-36. Zheng G. Method and application of deformation control of excavations in soft ground. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2022, 44(1): 1-36. (in Chinese)

12. 王卫东. 软土深基坑变形及环境影响分析方法与控制技术. 岩土工程学报, 2024, 46(1): 1-25. Wang W D. Analytical methods and controlling techniques for deformation and environmental influence of deep excavations in soft soils. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2024, 46(1): 1-25. (in Chinese)

13. 冷建, 叶冠林, 刘学增, 等. 循环荷载对上海软土动力特性影响规律的试验研究. 地震工程学报, 2015, 37(4): 1049-1052. Leng J, Ye G L, Liu X Z, et al. Experimental study on the dynamic characteristics of Shanghai soft clay subjected to cyclic loading. China Earthquake Engineering Journal, 2015, 37(4): 1049-1052. (in Chinese)

14. 孙立飞, 周凌安. 城市深层排水隧道工程适用性研究 //第四届防汛抗旱抢险新技术、新产品应用研讨会论文集. 北京: 中国防汛抗旱, 2025: 85-90. Sun L F, Zhou L A. Research on the applicability of urban deep drainage tunnel engineering //Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on the Application of New Technologies and Products for Flood Control and Drought Relief. Beijing: China Flood & Drought Management, 2025: 85-90. (in Chinese)

15. 彭伟. 水文地质和工程地质在地质灾害防治工程中的应用. 城市建设, 2025, (25): 92-94. Peng W. Application of hydrogeology and engineering geology in geological disaster prevention engineering. City Construction, 2025, (25): 92-94. (in Chinese)

16. 宋小刚. 煤矿地质测量空间信息系统及关键技术的研究. 能源与节能, 2025, (5): 42-45. Song X G. Coal mine geological survey spatial information system and key technologies. Energy and Energy Conservation, 2025, (5): 42-45. (in Chinese)

17. 许晓旭, 任思远, 殷世旭. 大数据统计分析在城市规划建设中的应用. 科技与创新, 2025, (21): 226-229. Xu X X, Ren S Y, Yin S X. Application of big data statistical analysis in urban planning and construction. Science and Technology & Innovation, 2025, (21): 226-229. (in Chinese)

18. 陈云鹏, 吴比. 乌东德水电站库尾水环境监测预警系统构建研究 //《水资源保护》 创刊40周年学术交流会暨2025（第十三届）水生态大会论文集. 南京: 河海大学, 2025: 783-789. Chen Y P, Wu B. Research on the construction of water environment monitoring and early warning system at the tail reservoir area of Wudongde Hydropower Station // Academic Exchange Conference for the 40th Anniversary of Water Resources Protection and the 13th Water Ecology Conference(2025). Nanjing: Hohai University, 2025: 783-789. (in Chinese)

19. 李鹏, 罗玉钦, 田有, 等. 深部地质资源地球物理探测技术研究发展. 地球物理学进展, 2021, 36(5): 2011-2033. Li P, Luo Y Q, Tian Y, et al. Research progress of geophysical exploration technology for deep geological resources. Progress in Geophysics, 2021, 36(5): 2011-2033. (in Chinese)

20. 钮强. 基于三维地质建模技术的煤矿隐蔽致灾因素透明化实现方法. 凿岩机械气动工具, 2025, 51(11): 213-215. Niu Q. Realization methods for transparency of hidden disaster-causing factors in coal mine based on 3D geological modeling technology. Rock Drilling Machinery & Pneumatic Tools, 2025, 51(11): 213-215. (in Chinese)

21. 曾仕琪, 苏栋, 龚浩锋, 等. 数字孪生技术在城市地下空间运维阶段的应用与研究进展. 隧道建设（中英文）, 2025, 45(1): 57-76. Zeng S Q, Su D, Gong H F, et al. Application of digital twin technology in operation and maintenance of urban underground space and its research progress. Tunnel Construction, 2025, 45(1): 57-76. (in Chinese)

22. 韩凯航, 黎俊轩, 陈湘生, 等. 超大城市地下空间系统智慧韧性发展策略研究. 中国工程科学, 2025, 27(4): 95-105. Han K H, Li J X, Chen X S, et al. Development strategy for intelligent resilience of underground space system in megacities. Strategic Study of CAE, 2025, 27(4): 95-105. (in Chinese)

23. 朱合华, 丁文其, 乔亚飞, 等. 简析我国城市地下空间开发利用的问题与挑战. 地学前缘, 2019, 26(3): 22-31. Zhu H H, Ding W Q, Qiao Y F, et al. Issues and challenges in urban underground space utilization in China. Earth Science Frontiers, 2019, 26(3): 22-31. (in Chinese)

24. 吴立新, 刘帝旭, 杨洋, 等. 论城市地下空间资源评价：现状与未来. 地下空间与工程学报, 2022, 18(1): 35-49. Wu L X, Liu D X, Yang Y, et al. On the assessment of urban underground space resources:Actuality and future. Chinese Journal of Underground Space and Engineering, 2022, 18(1): 35-49. (in Chinese)

25. 葛伟亚, 王睿, 张庆, 等. 城市地下空间资源综合利用评价工作构想. 地质通报, 2021, 40(10): 1601-1608. Ge W Y, Wang R, Zhang Q, et al. Conception of comprehensive utilization evaluation of urban underground space resources. Geological Bulletin of China, 2021, 40(10): 1601-1608. (in Chinese)

Recommended Citation

GE, Weiya; WANG, Rui; LI, Yunfeng; HUA, Jian; and YANG, Yang (2026) "Strategic path for high-quality development of urban underground space in the Yangtze River Delta region under geological safety constraints," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 41 : Iss. 2 , Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3724/j.issn.1000-3045.20251216009
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol41/iss2/3