Climate change has been linked to the shifting ground beneath urban areas. The phenomenon is affecting all major urban areas worldwide, causing civil structures and infrastructures to crack. As the ground heats up, it also deforms, causes building foundations and the surrounding ground to move excessively (due to expansions and contractions) and even crack, which ultimately affects structures’ long-term operational performance and durability. Past building damage may have been caused by such rising temperatures and these issues are expected to continue for years to come. By capturing the waste heat emitted underground from subterranean transportation systems, parking garages and basement facilities, urban planners could mitigate the effects of underground climate change as well as reuse the heat into an untapped thermal energy resource. Let’s hope they do it before disaster strikes.
Climate Crisis Blog
