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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 20

NYC Launches $10 Million 3D

Underground Mapping Platform to Boost

Safety and Speed Up Construction

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY

ew York City Mayor Eric Ad-
ams has announced a first-in-
Nthe-nation initiative to map
and digitally integrate the city’s vast
underground infrastructure, unveil-
ing a $10 million program that will
allow city agencies and utility compa-
nies to securely share three-dimen-
sional data of what lies beneath the
streets. The platform — known as
3D Underground, or 3DU — aims
to prevent infrastructure failures, im-
prove emergency response, stream-
line construction and bring New York
City in line with global leaders like
Singapore and Tokyo.

The new system will visualize
and consolidate information
ranging from water and sew-
er lines to electrical conduits,
gas pipes, fiber cables and
soil composition. For the first
time, all this critical data will
be accessible across agencies
and utilities, helping planners build and maintain critical infrastruc- gency response. Engineering.
State and international partners
Columbia University professor
avoid costly delays and giving ture starts with knowing what’s be- George Deodatis said the collabora- welcomed the announcement. Rory
neath our feet.”
emergency responders a more The concept for 3DU dates back tion will turn decades of soil data into Christian, CEO of the New York State
complete picture of the terrain to the immediate aftermath of the “actionable knowledge,” strengthen- Department of Public Service, said the
during crises. September 11 attacks, when recovery ing the resilience of infrastructure, effort would improve coordination
teams struggled to locate and moni- transportation networks and future and benefit both taxpayers and utility
tor hazards such as large freon tanks development. ratepayers. Carsten Roensdorf of the
“Keeping New Yorkers safe buried under Lower Manhattan. The The goals of the 3DU project in- United Kingdom’s National Under-
doesn’t just mean knowing what’s new platform is designed to integrate clude improving emergency response, ground Asset Register called the proj-
above ground — it means understand- mapping advances made since then modernizing capital project planning, ect a “crucial enabler” for safer ex-
ing what’s below,” Mayor Adams said. and provide a unified, secure tool that reducing cost overruns, boosting cli- cavation and resilient infrastructure.
“For too long, the city hasn’t had a agencies can rely on during emergen- mate resilience and minimizing dis- The initiative also aligns with
complete picture of how our under- cies and large-scale capital projects. ruptions to residents, businesses and Mayor Adams’ “Getting Stuff Built”
ground systems work together. Today A major part of the initiative in- transit systems. The initiative is fund- agenda, aimed at modernizing project
we’re launching a groundbreaking ini- volves developing a detailed 3D soil ed by a $10 million U.S. Housing and delivery, cutting red tape and upgrad-
tiative that will help us respond fast- map of the city. The Office of Tech- Urban Development grant allocated ing infrastructure citywide.
er to emergencies, eliminate delays nology and Innovation will digitize after Hurricane Ida. With 3DU, New York becomes the
in construction, and build a smarter, geotechnical reports submitted to the New York City expects to make first city in the United States to launch
more coordinated and resilient New Department of Buildings and partner the platform available to agencies a comprehensive, citywide data-shar-
York City.” with Columbia University to estimate and utilities by early 2028. The proj- ing platform for underground mapping
Deputy Mayor for Operations soil conditions in areas lacking direct ect builds on earlier underground — a move officials say will strengthen
Jeff Roth said the program will trans- data. This information will support scanning work conducted by the city safety, accelerate development and
form how the city maintains and better planning for construction, in partnership with utility compa- position the city as a global leader
builds infrastructure: “Our ability to stormwater management and emer- nies and NYU’s Tandon School of in next-generation urban planning.

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