Work

Strengthening urban resilience in China through underground infrastructures management: Addressing global climate challenges with technological solutions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper discusses the urgency of proactive approaches to urban resilience in the context of deepening climate change impacts and the rapid pace of urbanization. Due to the rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other challenges urban areas face today, such as aging underground infrastructure that was not built to withstand stressors such as climate change, pollution from industrial activities, which have been distorted by overdevelopment. The analysis draws attention to the contribution of intelligent grid solutions, climate‐resilient materials, and renewable energy integration in promoting urban resilience. Smart grid implementation alone is expected to reduce electricity use by 12%–15%, while self‐healing concrete (a climate‐resilient material) reduces maintenance costs by 50%–70% while extending the life spans of infrastructure assets. Moreover, this study underscores how digital twin technology combined with artificial intelligence‐led predictive analytics to predict and avert infrastructure failures, while reducing downtime and costs by up to 30%–50%, respectively. The findings highlight the requirement for policymakers, urban planners, engineers, and communities to work together in implementing these mitigation strategies. Key enablers include public‐private partnerships to close the funding gap and hasten technology adoption. This article concludes that investing in research, development, and strategic planning is the key to creating resilient, sustainable urban environments.

Source: Deep Underground Science and Engineering

DOI: 10.1002/dug2.70069