“The use of underground space is seen to be vital in a world where more than half of the population now lives in urban areas.
Further concentration in mega-cities is a trend which cannot be stopped.

The use of underground space can contribute to sustainable development, maintaining liveability and preparing the world for the impact of climate change. Creating awareness on the use of underground space in this respect is vital.” *abstract of ITACUS goal

Increasing awareness on the multiple benefits to go underground, especially in urban environment is one

of the main goal of the ITA Committee on Underground Space (ITACUS ) and its sister organization, Associated research Centers for the Urban Underground Space (ACUUS).

The training session “Underground Space Use” was co-organized by the ITACET Foundation and the WTC2016, San Francisco.

The program has been developed by ITACUS and ITACET committee.

Prof. Ray Sterling, ACUUS co-founder and coordinator of the Training session.

Four lecturers were present, in the order of their intervention: Messrs Han Admiraal, Enprodes and chairman of the ITACUS committee, Prof. Ray Sterling, Louisiana Tech. University and co- founder of ACUUS, Antonia Cornaro, Amberg Group Ltd. and Monique Labbé, les ateliers Monique Labbé.

The aim of the course was to give information to engineers, architects, planners and public administrators on the advantages of underground space and structures in urban areas.

The training program was divided in four sessions:

-Introduction and Overview

-Cost and Risks Issues / Advantages and Disadvantages

-Architectural, planning and cost-benefit issues for broad-scale underground space use

-Guidance for planning and design of underground spaces

All along the training, several cases history were presented and their respective key issues highlighted.
Advantages and disadvantages of the solutions or methods used in these cases were discussed.

The presentation were of a very high level although still very comprehensive.