Overview
ISO 37175:2024 - Smart community infrastructures - Operation and maintenance of utility tunnels provides a framework of requirements and recommendations for the safe, sustainable and cost‑effective operation and maintenance (O&M) of utility tunnels. Applicable to communities of any size, the standard addresses application, safety, energy conservation, advanced technology and economic rationality to ensure stable, long‑term performance of underground utility corridors.
Keywords: ISO 37175, utility tunnels, operation and maintenance, smart community infrastructures, underground assets, OMMP
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 37175 organizes practical O&M activities and management around core areas found in the document:
- Scope and terms: clear definitions for “utility tunnel”, “utility tunnel body”, ancillary facilities and pipelines to support consistent use.
- Stakeholder benefits: guidance tailored for authorities, investors, developers, operation and maintenance providers, pipeline operators and citizens.
- Basic elements and requirements: expectations for tunnel body, ancillary systems (firefighting, ventilation, lighting, monitoring), pipelines and the Operation and Maintenance Management Platform (OMMP).
- Operations: duties, detection and monitoring, routine inspections, safety procedures and financial management.
- Maintenance: maintenance principles, requirements and methods to preserve service life and reliability.
- Management: emergency management, data management, space management, and strategies for energy savings and emissions reduction.
- Evaluation and improvement: sustainability evaluation, continuous improvement, technology and management upgrades.
- Digital tools: application of BIM, GIS and CIM in OMMP (see Annex B) to support digitalization, mapping and asset management.
Note: the standard contains no normative references; it was developed by ISO/TC 268 (Sustainable cities and communities).
Practical applications and users
ISO 37175 is intended for organizations responsible for the lifecycle of underground utility corridors:
- Municipal authorities and urban planners seeking consistent O&M policies for underground infrastructure.
- Owners, investors and developers evaluating economic rationality and sustainability of utility tunnel projects.
- Operation and maintenance providers implementing monitoring, inspection and emergency response programs.
- Pipeline and cable operators requiring standardized procedures for safe access and asset management.
- Smart city integrators using OMMP, BIM/GIS/CIM for digital twin, mapping and data-driven decision making.
Practical uses include drafting O&M contracts, setting inspection schedules, defining emergency procedures, implementing digital asset registers (e.g., NUAR, BYDA‑style systems) and targeting energy/emissions reductions.
Related guidance
- Prepared by ISO/TC 268 (Sustainable cities and communities).
- The standard supports integration with national underground asset registers and digital platforms for safe excavation and shared asset data.
For organizations managing underground utility assets, ISO 37175:2024 offers a structured, technology‑aware approach to improve safety, sustainability and operational efficiency.