STRATEGIC STUDY ON THE UTILIZATION OF UNDERGROUND SPACE IN THE NETHERLANDS

In the Netherlands, interest in utilization of underground space has b een increasing over the past decade. To examine the potential for subs urface space use, a national ''Strategic Study on the Utilization of U nderground Space'' was carried out by the Centre for Underground Const ruction (Centrum Ondergronds Bouwen, COB) and Delft University of Tech nology (TUD), on the initiative of the National Physical Planning Serv ice (Rijksplanologische Dienst, RPD) of the Ministry of Housing, Spati al Planning and the Environment. The paper describes the objectives of the study, the characteristics of underground space use in the Nether lands, positive and negative influences on the potential use of such s pace, and conclusions of the Strategic Study, including likely prospec tive applications of subsurface space in the Netherlands. (C) 1998 Pub lished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.