Preface ‘The high costs of underground construction are a major concern of both the general public and the agencies (federal, state, and local) that build or provide funds for a variety of projects. ‘the U.S. National Committee on Tunneling Technology (1974; 1978) has issued recommenda-. tions addressing certain aspects of underground construction that con tribute to its high risk and high cost. However, underground construc~ tion continues to be expensive, with project costs rising rapidly and often significantly exceeding the preconstruction estimate. At a time when the desirability of constructing underground rather than surface facilities is becoming increasingly apparent, this escala~ tion in costs detracts from the most advantageous use of the subsurface. ‘The emphasis on underground construction for various purposes is growing in proportion to a variety of needs: to conserve surface space as our population arows; to conserve eneray required for heating and cooling to provide refuge from, and mitigate the effects of, both natural and man-nade hazards; to permit economical storage of food, water, and stra~ tegic goods; to provide for safe disposal of toxic and radioactive wastes; and to make possible subsurface energy-proauction projects. Improvements in cost-effectiveness, however, will be required to spur the growth of underground construction, Considering the advantages of using underground space, it is desir- able to find ways to improve the economic feasibility of underground construction. One promising avenue is examination of the geotechnical site investigation process for proposed construction sites. Of all large construction efforts, underground projects are among the most com- plicated. They are particularly sensitive to geotechnical considerations U.S. National Committee on Tunneling Technology. 1974. Better Con- tracting for Underground Construction. Washington, D.C.: National. Academy of Sciences. u ment of Major Underground Construction Project: National Academy of Sciences. National Committee on Tunneling Technology. 1978. Better Manage~ Washington, D.C.: iii