More critical infrastructure must go underground, both for safety and to free up areas above ground. In addition, the debate about shelters is highly topical.

On May 28, SINTEF (an independent research organization in Norway) will organize a breakfast meeting in Trondheim with the theme "Preparedness in secret - How can we use the underground in future urban planning to ensure good preparedness".

Climate crisis, energy crisis, scarcity of minerals and resources, food and water security, noise and pollution, urbanization, land scarcity and a sharper geopolitical situation. These are some of the challenges the world is facing today.

- The common denominator for all these societal challenges is that smarter and more sustainable use of the underground will be part of the solution, says Chief Scientist Eivind Grøv at SINTEF.

But to succeed, the entire value chain and public actors must cooperate. Therefore, SINTEF invites you to a broad discussion.

Grøv says that much of our critical infrastructure is built in a way that makes it extremely vulnerable in crisis situations. This can threaten services such as electricity, water and sewage.

– Therefore, we should put more of the critical infrastructure underground, and we must do it in a smart way.
Great potential under Trondheim

Oslo is a city that already has a fairly extensive use of the underground, but the facilities often lie in each other's way. They are built without a comprehensive plan.

Other cities, including Trondheim, have not developed the underground in the same way.

– Trondheim and other cities should therefore take the opportunity and think differently about land development, that is, to create master plans with the underground as the fourth dimension in urban planning, says Grøv.

For example, one can imagine that the railway tunnel between Stavne and Leangen will have multiple uses. The freight terminal, which currently occupies valuable areas above ground, could be put underground, combined with, for example, a sports hall. This would free up attractive land for urban development.

The tunnel and construction industry will be central to achieving this, and needs a technological boost.

-Sustainable utilization of the underground will also be a topic when the international tunnel industry gathers in Stockholm on May 9–15, says Research Manager Sindre Log at SINTEF.

With this also as a backdrop, SINTEF invites project owners, authorities, designers and contractors to discuss how we can develop the Norwegian tunnel and construction industry, for increased safety and sustainable solutions in cities.

Does this sound interesting? Join us for a breakfast meeting in Trondheim on May 28.

SINTEF press release.