The Development Timeline Framework: A Tool for Engendering Sustainable Use of Underground Space

This paper explores the variety and timing of choices available to decision-makers during a redevelopment project for underground infrastructure space for utility services. The issues are explored using the Development Timeline Framework (DTF), a simple tool that makes explicit the importance of the timing of decisions and highlights when choices are locked-out or locked-in. It addresses the complex issues of trade-offs in decision making between various sustainable choices above ground and their requirement for underground space. The DTF enables the practitioner to optimize decision-making so as ultimately to mitigate future impacts, e.g. the potential effects of climate change and provide sustainable utility management practices, whilst enhancing community resiliency.