Understanding Urban Subsurfaces: Identifying, Integrating, & Operationalizing Relevant Data…

Catalog description

While aboveground urban areas are extensively zoned, examined, and explored, equivalent conditions are rarely found in urban subsurface spaces. The lack of knowledge about what lies below ground and its location (1) poses significant obstacles to the cost-effective management of cities, (2) aggravates existing challenges to improve resilience, and (3) risks the loss of irreplaceable heritage. This course utilizes New York City as an evolving testbed to examine how historical perspectives, domain expertise, modern mapping, and advanced data analysis can help bridge critical knowledge gaps. It also explores how having more interoperable datasets can lead to reduced utility and construction costs, fewer service interruptions, and a fundamental rethinking of how subsurface space is utilized and regulated. This assignment-based course will challenge students to uncover and operationalize datasets and demonstrate their added value in addressing urban asset issues management.