In Singapore, almost all utilities are buried underground to free up valuable above ground space for more liveable environment. These underground assets which consist of power cables, telecommunication lines, water pipes, gas pipes and wastewater networks are critical infrastructure that keep our city functioning.  

Most cities have not been able to keep reliable, complete, and up-to-date maps of their underground utilities due to several reasons such as the use of different standards and technologies over time; records are kept in silo by different asset owners and lack of quality control.

However, reliable maps of subsurface features are critically needed in Singapore because of the increase use of underground space. The underground space will become more congested, and the planning, development and administration of underground space will be becoming an increasingly challenging task. 

Digital Underground project was initiated to investigate into current practices and propose the way forward in the development of a utility mapping ecosystem in Singapore. A phased approach was taken towards development of a national subsurface digital twin.