The future of underground construction looks promising as cities and municipalities around the world strive to improve their infrastructure and better prepare for the challenges of extreme weather events. With advances in technology and a growing awareness of the benefits of underground utilities, we can expect to see more projects that make use of underground space in the coming years.
One of the most pressing issues facing Florida communities today is the impact of hurricanes and the accompanying tornados and floods. Extreme weather events and other weather-related phenomena are causing significant disruptions to our infrastructure and way of life. In response, many cities and utility companies are investing in underground infrastructure as a way to better protect their communities from these risks.
Since 2017 when Hurricane Irma swept through Florida causing the fourth largest blackout in US history and $50 billion in damage, utility companies and cities have been discussing the vulnerability of their infrastructure to extreme weather events.
If utilities fail to improve their resilience to extreme weather events, they expose themselves to unnecessary physical and financial risks. It can be costly and traumatic to repair storm damage and upgrade infrastructure after the fact. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina led Entergy New Orleans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. While environmental and social reasons make investing in mitigation efforts essential, there are also economic justifications. Power utilities must invest based on the fact that the present is already riskier than anticipated, and the future will be even more unpredictable.
For example, underground power lines and fiber optics can be less vulnerable to damage from high winds wild fires by being placed underground. By investing in these types of underground utilities, cities can ensure that they are better equipped to withstand the effects of extreme weather.
Another key factor driving the future of underground construction is the cost of updating existing infrastructure. Many cities around the state of Florida have aging infrastructure that is in need of repairs or upgrades, but the cost of doing so can be prohibitively expensive. Utility companies frequently run risk-cost analyses after extreme weather damages their infrastructure. Though the risk of infrastructure damage from extreme weather events lowers significantly with underground utilities, the cost of placing lines underground is expensive and companies rarely want to pass on those costs to their customers, nor do they want to take on the cost themselves. By building new infrastructure underground, however, cities can avoid many of the costs associated with repairing or replacing existing above-ground infrastructure after a significant storm.
A typical utility saw $1.4 billion in storm-damage costs and lost revenues due to outages caused by storms over a 20-year period.–
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This is because underground infrastructure can often be built more efficiently and with less disruption to surrounding areas than traditional above-ground infrastructure. Additionally, underground infrastructure can often last longer and require less maintenance than above-ground infrastructure, which can help to reduce long-term costs.
Ultimately, there are several benefits to using underground utilities. For one, they can help to reduce visual clutter and improve the overall aesthetic of a community. Additionally, they can reduce the risk of power outages and other disruptions by protecting vital infrastructure from damage caused by extreme weather or other events.
Overall, the future of underground construction looks bright. As cities and municipalities around the state of Florida continue to face challenges related to extreme weather events and aging infrastructure, underground utilities will become an increasingly important tool for building more resilient, sustainable communities. By investing in underground infrastructure now, cities can better prepare for the challenges of the future and ensure that they are equipped to meet the needs of their residents for years to come.