The Concept of System Approach to Mastering Underground Space of Large Cities

The concept of a system approach to developing the urban underground construction is unfolded. Types of systems specifying the control of this development process are considered. A natural-technical system “geourbanism—geological environment” is suggested, encompassing various structural and functional, engineering, and natural factors, and their interrelations, for an integrated study of the surface and underground urban space. The components and elements, and the hierarchical levels of this system are considered. A technique is proposed for typification of the geological environment during the mastering of underground space, with the corresponding zoning of the urbanized territories; an example for testing construction sites using this technique is presented. The method of reserving tunnel reliability by controlling bracing parameters is described as a way of taking into account the geological environment variance along the tunnel track in the construction process.