A method of sealing and pressurizing underground facilities in planetary bodies with atmospheric pressures or temperatures differing from that of earth may include disposing at least one prefabricated, airtight plug within the tunnel system prior to forming additional tunnels or shafts within the tunnel system. Multiple plugs may be additionally disposed within the tunnel system to create various encapsulated tunnel portions optionally having differing pressures and temperatures. The tunnel system may be airtight and sealed from external, hostile atmospheric conditions, designed to facilitate safe living and work conditions in the tunnel systems and to facilitate safe movement of people and equipment between tunnels, shafts and the surface of the planetary body. Tunnel systems are defined as any variety of man-made mines and tunnels or naturally occurring tunnels such as lava tubes or caverns and the like.

A method of sealing and pressurizing underground facilities in planetary bodies with atmospheric pressures or temperatures differing from that of earth may include disposing at least one prefabricated, airtight plug within the tunnel system prior to forming additional tunnels or shafts within the tunnel system. Multiple plugs may be additionally disposed within the tunnel system to create various encapsulated tunnel portions optionally having differing pressures and temperatures. The tunnel system may be airtight and sealed from external, hostile atmospheric conditions, designed to facilitate safe living and work conditions in the tunnel systems and to facilitate safe movement of people and equipment between tunnels, shafts and the surface of the planetary body. Tunnel systems are defined as any variety of man-made mines and tunnels or naturally occurring tunnels such as lava tubes or caverns and the like.

A method and apparatus for forming a tunnel structure at a relatively shallow depth from the surface, which tunnel can be used as a replacement or additional transport route to an existing transport route (2) which is already formed on the surface. The method comprises the steps of forming two spaced apart access tunnels, installing piles (15), installing slide tracks (17) in each of the tunnels, removing a part of the tunnels (hatched portion) to expose the tracks, introducing units (22) comprising side walls portions (26, 28) and a roof section (30) by moving the units along the tracks while excavating the soil in which the tunnel is to be formed is in advance of the leading edge of the units.

A tunnel connector for an in-ground storm shelter which allows inhabitants to enter the in-ground storm shelter from a trailer house without being exposed to external environmental factors. The tunnel connector includes a U-shaped enclosure wall, a staircase, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall. The first lateral wall and the second lateral wall are connected perpendicular to the staircase across each other to provide lateral protection. The U-shaped enclosure wall includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an interconnecting sidewall. The interconnecting sidewall is terminally connected in between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The first lateral wall is adjacently connected to the first sidewall, opposite the interconnecting sidewall. Similarly, the second lateral wall is adjacently connected to the second sidewall, opposite the interconnecting sidewall. The tunnel connector is installed in between a floorboard of the trailer house and the in-ground storm shelter.

A tunnel connector for an in-ground storm shelter which allows inhabitants to enter the in-ground storm shelter from a trailer house without being exposed to external environmental factors. The tunnel connector includes a U-shaped enclosure wall, a staircase, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall. The first lateral wall and the second lateral wall are connected perpendicular to the staircase across each other to provide lateral protection. The U-shaped enclosure wall includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an interconnecting sidewall. The interconnecting sidewall is terminally connected in between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The first lateral wall is adjacently connected to the first sidewall, opposite the interconnecting sidewall. Similarly, the second lateral wall is adjacently connected to the second sidewall, opposite the interconnecting sidewall. The tunnel connector is installed in between a floorboard of the trailer house and the in-ground storm shelter.

A roller bracket having a base, a raising and lowering mechanism, a platform, and horizontal and vertical rollers. The base is attached to the vertical face of a starter wall at a level to provide a desired height for a concrete ceiling. With the platform in the raised position, the bottom edge of a tunnel form is lowered between the vertical roller and the starter wall onto the horizontal rollers. A wedge is driven between the vertical roller and the tunnel form to seal the tunnel form against the starter wall. After concrete has been poured, retained by the seal, and cured to form the concrete walls and ceiling, the mechanism can lower the platform to strip the tunnel form from the tunnel. The tunnel form can then be rolled away on the horizontal rollers while being retained on the horizontal rollers by the vertical roller and the starter wall.

A roller bracket having a base, a raising and lowering mechanism, a platform, and horizontal and vertical rollers. The base is attached to the vertical face of a starter wall at a level to provide a desired height for a concrete ceiling. With the platform in the raised position, the bottom edge of a tunnel form is lowered between the vertical roller and the starter wall onto the horizontal rollers. A wedge is driven between the vertical roller and the tunnel form to seal the tunnel form against the starter wall. After concrete has been poured, retained by the seal, and cured to form the concrete walls and ceiling, the mechanism can lower the platform to strip the tunnel form from the tunnel. The tunnel form can then be rolled away on the horizontal rollers while being retained on the horizontal rollers by the vertical roller and the starter wall.

A method configured to be executed by a system controller. The method includes obtaining a first metric from a first sensor installed in a first underground vault of a system of interconnected underground vaults, and obtaining a second metric from a second sensor installed in a second underground vault of the system. The first and second underground vaults are in fluid communication with one another via one or more connections. The method also includes locating a gas source based at least in part on one or both of the first and second metrics, and performing an action. The action includes identifying the gas source to one or more users and/or altering a rate of atmospheric turnover in at least a portion of the system.

A method configured to be executed by a system controller. The method includes obtaining a first metric from a first sensor installed in a first underground vault of a system of interconnected underground vaults, and obtaining a second metric from a second sensor installed in a second underground vault of the system. The first and second underground vaults are in fluid communication with one another via one or more connections. The method also includes locating a gas source based at least in part on one or both of the first and second metrics, and performing an action. The action includes identifying the gas source to one or more users and/or altering a rate of atmospheric turnover in at least a portion of the system.

A water treatment device construction structure having a grating room and a method for constructing various water spaces/waterscape facilities having the same coupled thereto are disclosed. The structure relates to a buried water treatment device for treating operation water such as tap water, groundwater, rainwater, and surface water through an environment-friendly method. A water treatment device construction structure having a grating room is coupled to civil engineering/landscaping facilities, or to fish farms that are to be constructed in view of the purpose of construction and productivity. The water treatment facility having a reservoir coupled thereto is provided in a predetermined position below facilities or on the lower-end or peripheral portion thereof in a buried/underground type. Accordingly, there is no burden in site selection; a large amount of operation water can be stored without degrading the aesthetic landscape; and natural energy can be used preferentially.