The 12th International Forum on Underground Space Development (IFUS 2025), part of the World Cities Day series of events, was grandly held in Shanghai from September 25 to 26. Centered on the theme “Innovation, Resilience, Intelligence,” the conference actively responded to the Central Urban Work Conference's call for building modern people-oriented cities. It gathered over 100 leading experts and scholars from China, France, Singapore, Russia, the Netherlands, Japan, and other countries to jointly explore future trends, technological innovations, and sustainable development in underground space utilization. The conference attracted over 400 in-person attendees and surpassed 50,000 online views. It received continuous coverage and reports from mainstream media outlets including People's Daily Online, China Science and Technology Network, China News Service, China Construction News, and Construction Times, generating enthusiastic responses both within and beyond the industry. As one of the organizers, our institute demonstrated cutting-edge research achievements in conference organization, academic leadership, and technological exhibitions.

Our institute played a pivotal role in organizing the conference, designing its themes, and providing academic leadership. As the conference chair for five consecutive sessions, Academician Chen Xiangsheng's address garnered widespread attention. In media interviews, he pointed out that the greatest challenge in current underground space development lies in the “disconnect between above-ground, ground-level, and underground planning.” He emphasized that “old cities require old approaches, new cities require new approaches, and integrated approaches should be used for combined old and new cities,” calling for the establishment of a comprehensive management system tailored to local conditions.

The Shenzhen University team organized multiple thematic forums and technical workshops during the conference, showcasing the latest research achievements in intelligent construction and green low-carbon development for underground spaces. This fully demonstrates Shenzhen University's academic strength and innovative leadership in the fields of intelligent urban infrastructure and sustainable development.

The successful convening of this conference has not only further elevated Shenzhen University's influence in the international field of underground space research but also provided a “Chinese solution” for the scientific planning and intelligent development of urban underground spaces in the future. Moving forward, our institute will continue to align with major national strategic needs, deepen international cooperation, and advance the high-quality, intelligent development of urban underground spaces, contributing “Shenzhen University wisdom” to the construction of modern people-oriented cities.

Contributed by | Hong Chengyu

First Review | Hong Chengyu

Second Review | Bao Xiaohua

Third Review | Yang Lei