This chapter describes measures and presents details related to the soil and subsurface beneath public space. Despite what the term ‘soil’ suggests, these measures do not focus on the quality of soil but more on the subsurface space in which cables and pipes run and also forms the foundations for the design of public space. But interest in the microbial life in soil, as the basis of the food network, is steadily growing. However, this publication does not include measures aimed at microbial life, although that could be the case in a future edition.
As outlined in Amstel-Stad Case Study, Amsterdam the increasing number of spatial claims on the soil and subsurface space create difficulties in all compact urban networks. A large portion of public space is made up of existing streets (of fixed width) in which space needs to be found for extra cables and pipes alongside those already in place. Just think, for example, of heat and cold pipes, new data and electricity cables, underground automated waste collection systems and all sorts of ducts, pipes and gutters for climate adaptation in a neighbourhood.
In many places, that space for additional cables and pipes simply doesn’t exist, especially if enough space needs to be created (or preserved) for tree roots. That is why the energy measures focus in particular on innovative space-saving methods of laying cables and pipes, such as the clever stacking of pipes. But there are also more advanced solutions with casing pipes and pipe tunnels (utility duct). Moreover, routing piping packages beneath trees turns out to be less complicated than often imagined.
Some measures are also included in which pipes for energy, waste and/or new sanitation come together in ‘collecting stations’. Such stations are there to supply heat (heat-transfer stations) and are therefore presented under the theme Energy.
English version can be downloaded below.
Table of content:
Whole Area / WA
S-WA1 New sanitation
S-WA2 U nderground automated waste collection system for neighbourhood
Network / NE
S-NE1 Laying cables and pipes
S-NE2 Laying space-saving cables and pipes
S-NE3 Transport pipe under vegetation
S-NE4 Other cables and pipes under tree
S-NE5 (Traditional) sewer
S-NE6 Underground automated waste collection system in network
Public Space / PS
S-PS1 Integral pipe tunnel (IPT) in public space
S-PS2 Casing pipe / inspection manhole
S-PS3 U tility duct in public space
S-PS4 Waste container
Building / BD
S-BD1 Integral pipe tunnel (IPT) in building
S-BD2 Heating pipes
S-BD3 Utility duct in building
S-BD4 Underground automated waste collection system in building