Secondary utilizations and perspectives of mined underground space.

• An overview of utilization of mined underground space over the world is presented. • Classification, development, advantages and identification of mined underground space are explored. • Future demands for mined underground space and directions of development and utilization are discussed. The mined underground space is formed by the exploitation of resources and minerals. On the basis of review analysis of experiences of utilization of mined underground space over the world, suitable conditions of surrounding rocks for mined underground space are clarified to various functions of development and utilization of mined underground space. A method is proposed for identifying and estimating the scale of mined underground space, and this is used to obtain an estimate of the volume of available underground space in mines in China and to construct distribution maps of mined underground space available in the country. In order to improve comprehensive utilization of mined underground space, combined with current foundation of underground space utilization and future strategic demands, nine types of functional utilization are proposed systematically, including underground pumped-storage power stations, deep underground medicine and rehabilitation, the storage of strategic energy and resource reserves, underground data centers, domestic and industrial waste disposal, intelligent vertical parking systems, cutting-edge scientific facilities, underground agriculture, and underground ecological cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]