End of 2012 ISOCARP and ITA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the objective to strengthen the relationship between participants in the field of underground space planning and underground space use. The first intention of this cooperation was to produce up to five case studies illustrating how underground space is being used in different cities across the world, showing the advantages of utilizing underground space as well as key planning and implementation issues and challenges faced.

In May 2015 the result was published under the title: Think Deep: Planning, development and use of underground space in cities (ISBN: 978-94-90354-34-3). During the ITA-AITES World Tunnel Congress in Dubrovnik from May 22-28, 2015, the ITA Committee on Underground Space (ITACUS) organised a special event on the planning of cities and their underground space. During this occasion the book was presented and handed over to ITA President Søren Eskesen. One of the authors, Elizabeth Reynolds, gave a keynote speech.

“This joint publication by ISOCARP and ITACUS hopes to stimulate the thinking on the use of underground space. We urge planning practitioners not only to consider the possibilities, but also to think deep and to make underground space part of the planning of our future cities. In doing so we acknowledge that the time has come for new planning paradigms as we are transitioning to a new era in which our cities will continue to play an evermore important role for people; cities of the future, which are resilient, inclusive and above all liveable.” [Coordinators Han Admiraal and Shipra Narang Suri].

Download the publication FINAL_Think Deep.