Should we be building down instead of up?

Growing cities around the world sometimes encourage development of taller and taller buildings as a strategy for alleviating urban congestion and sprawl. Are  they overlooking what in many cases may be a more effective solution: building down instead of building up?

Arizona State University professor Samuel Ariaratnam talks about the possible advantages of developing our underground “real estate” in an extensive discussion broadcast recently on the Australia Radio National network.

Ariaratnam is a chair of the construction engineering program for the Del E. Webb School of Construction Programs in the School of Sustainable Engineering the Built Environment, one of ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.

On the program Future Tense, Ariaratnam joins a group of experts to examine what underground construction could provide in not only reining in urban congestion but in public safety, efficient land use, environmental sustainability and  protection from extreme heat, cold and  natural disasters.