There’s a very interesting concept making the rounds about using the more metropolitan sewage systems as ways of actual transit for packages in bigger cities such as New York and Chicago. The concept isn’t anything new if you’re a Jetsons fan or even a fan of practical use: it’s basically using the already set pipes as a way to relieve congestion for the hundreds of daily deliveries made day in and day out. The project is called “Urban Mole” and is currently being proposed by designer Phillip Hermes.
Think about it this way: instead of going to the UPS store or what have you and having the truck drive everywhere, you go to a tube in your building or on your block, pay the however much it is, and it’d get sent via a tube inside the sewage tube. A picture of the concept is below, but what do you guys think?
Comments
saturday22
August 2nd, 2009 - 4:28:07 PM
i don't see this working well at all.
1
Brent
August 3rd, 2009 - 10:58:34 AM
maybe ... but, i mean, is there really a solution to the smell? can't imagine your box of cookies coming out on the other end tasting all that great - "Ooo, these cookies are EXTRA chocolately! Yum!" and even if they could make it smell proof, it'd still be a hard sell. you'd never be completely sure, but you'd always have a sneaking suspicion that you're opening up a letter full of shit. and really, who could blame you. not me
2
david
August 4th, 2009 - 10:31:26 PM
Great idea! With the underling structure already there for the project this would keep the projected cost low and less likely for large over costs. This would be a sealed system protecting your shipment and you wouldn't have a need for worrying about your cookies. They would be as good when they come out as they were when they went in the system. Overall the pluses probably would outweigh any potential problems you might could think of happening by faster service, less lost or delayed deliveries, environmentally safer, etc.
3
Scott
October 21st, 2009 - 8:08:12 AM
This is a no brainer if they can get it implemented cost effectively. Realize that sewers are not full top-to-bottom with sewage. Except during flooding the upper 2/3 (or more) of the pipe is open air. And of course the delivery units would be air/water tight.
4