A study on the current status, challenges, and development trends of underground space development and utilization

With the acceleration of urbanization and the increasingly severe shortage of land resources in China, the development of underground space has emerged as a key strategy to alleviate urban development conflicts. It plays a vital role in mitigating the metropolitan maladies and optimizing the spatial layout of national territory. However, various issues in underground space development have become increasingly prominent, including inadequate planning systems, poor functional coordination, pronounced safety risks, and fragmented management mechanisms. Moreover, China's urban underground space development remains at an early stage, with a low degree of integration between above-ground and underground spaces, and a relatively weak resilient disaster prevention system. This study analyzes key factors affecting the effectiveness of underground space development and proposes targeted strategies to enhance overall outcomes. These include improving institutional frameworks, promoting the integrated application of BIM and GIS technologies, constructing digital platforms, and facilitating green and low-carbon transitions. The research also offers theoretical insights to support the refinement of the Regulations on the Development and Utilization of Urban Underground Space. In the future, technical approaches can be further validated through integration with smart city pilot initiatives.