A GIS-BASED URBAN ECONOMY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOROPTIMIZING UNDERGROUND SPACE UTILIZATION IN YEREVAN

The rapid urbanization of modern cities has intensified the need for efficient utilization of underground spaces as a strategic resource for sustainable development. While subsurface infrastructure offers solutions to land scarcity and urban congestion, its urban planning faces unique challenges due to invisibility, multidisciplinary risks, and complex regulatory frameworks. This study examines the critical role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in addressing these challenges through integrated 3D modeling and spatial analysis. Focusing on Yerevan's ongoing underground development initiatives, the research focuses on the initial phase of the design process—the collection of preliminary data and parameters—with the aim of proposing a GIS-based management model. This model seeks to accelerate and automate the aforementioned processes while reducing the likelihood of errors. The findings contribute to urban planning practices in developing contexts by establishing standardized protocols for subsurface development that balance infrastructure needs with geological, cultural, and legal constraints.