Public Summary Shahrzad Shadman

I am pleased to submit my application for the KIVI EngD Award. As an EngD candidate in Smart Building and City at Eindhoven University of Technology, my research focuses on developing sustainable and space-efficient approaches to underground utility management through the project “Design and Performance Evaluation of the VKLS System: A Modular Approach to Organizing Underground Utilities.”

With rapid urbanization and the increasing demand for underground space, cities face severe challenges related to excavation damages, congestion, and maintenance inefficiency. The Vertical Cables and Pipes System (VKLS) addresses these issues by reorganizing underground utilities vertically within a modular rack structure. This innovative system optimizes limited subsurface space, reduces excavation-related disruptions, and improves accessibility for maintenance and expansion.

The VKLS project was developed and implemented in collaboration with TU Eindhoven, the Municipality of Leiden, and multiple utility companies. It was tested in a Living Lab environment where real-world data from sensor monitoring and field observations were used to assess its structural performance, installation efficiency, and long-term feasibility. The research resulted in the optimization of the rack design, evaluation of alternative materials, and exploration of costefficient modular solutions for large-scale implementation.

Beyond its technical achievements, VKLS demonstrates how engineering design can directly contribute to sustainable urban development. By protecting green spaces, lowering environmental impact, and enabling more efficient infrastructure planning, the system embodies the EngD mission of combining academic excellence with practical societal value.

The KIVI EngD Award represents a platform to share this work and to highlight how collaborative engineering innovation can make cities more resilient, sustainable, and future-ready. I would be deeply honoured if my project could contribute to showcasing the transformative potential of applied engineering in shaping tomorrow’s urban systems.