On April 7, 2025, the kick-off meeting of the Chinese Academy of Engineering's strategic research and consultation project titled "Comprehensive Development, Efficient Utilization and Digital Governance of Underground Space in Megacities" was successfully held at Shenzhen University. The project is led by Shenzhen University, with Academician Chen Xiangsheng, dean of the School of Civil and Transportation Engineering and the Institute of Future Underground City at Shenzhen University, serving as the project leader. It is jointly conducted by nine leading institutions, including Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Southwest Jiaotong University, Tongji University, Army Engineering University, the Strategic Consultation Center of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, the Shenzhen Branch of China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd., and China Railway Fourth Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd., to carry out collaborative research anddevelopment.

At the kick-off meeting, a project consulting expert group was established, comprising experts including Academician He Huawei, Academician Nie Jianguo (online), Academician Ren Huiqi (online), Academician Wang Fuming (online), Academician Zhang Jianmin, Academician Yue Qingrui (online), Academician Li Shucai (online), and Professor Zhang Wengang. Zhang Song, director of the Office of the Department of Civil, Water and Construction of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, attended the meeting on behalf of the project supervising unit. Other attendees included Academician Du Yanliang and Academician Chen Xiangsheng from Shenzhen University, Academician Zhu Hua from Tongji University, Academician He Chuan from Southwest Jiaotong University, and Master Chen Zhilong from the Army Engineering University of the People's Liberation Army. Vice Dean Bao Xiaohua of the School and Research Institute, Chief Engineer Fu Yanbin of the Research Institute, as well as relevant professional teachers, associate researchers, and post-doctoral fellows participated in the kick-off meeting offline. The meeting was presided over by Academician Chen Xiangsheng.

As the project leader, Academician Chen Xiangsheng reported on the overall implementation plan of the project from the aspects of project background and basis, research objectives and tasks, research ideas and topic settings, research foundation, expected results and plans. Master Chen Zhilong of the PLA Army Engineering University, Professor Xu Fei of Shijiazhuang Railway University, Professor Feng Kun of Southwest Jiaotong University, and Professor Li Xiaojun of Tongji University respectively reported the specific implementation plans of the four projects.

Finally, on behalf of the project team, Academician Chen Xiangsheng sincerely thanked the experts for their valuable opinions and suggestions, and said that the project team will further improve the implementation plan, condense and focus on scientific issues, promote research and development work in strict accordance with the schedule and assessment nodes, and complete the project tasks with quality and quantity.

With warm applause, the kick-off meeting ended successfully, and all the participants took a group photo.