Urban Exploration
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(often shortened as urbex or UE) is the exploration of man-made
structures, usually abandoned ruins or not usually seen components of
the man-made environment. Photography and historical
interest/documentation are heavily featured in the hobby and, although
it may sometimes involve trespass onto private property, this
is not always the case and is of innocent intention. Urban exploration
is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people
consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration
of active or inhabited sites. It may also be referred to as draining
(when exploring drains) urban spelunking, urban rock climbing, urban
caving, or building hacking.
- Philosophical and psychological aspects:
Several writers on urbex have discussed the personal meaning of such
acts of "infiltration" - or "invasions". Simon Cornwell, in his
discussions of the Cane Hill Cult (in Croydon, South London), has
emphasized the element of danger in recording the experiences -
physically, emotionally and photographically. This element of danger
serves to heighten the existential anxiety of exploration. Here, the
task is akin to psychological recovery, and the mental hospital, so long
a refuge for the discarded and the dispossessed, is now itself
discarded. In this context, the work of the explorers is akin to that of
psychotherapists in their exploration of psychological structures
excited by historic traumas.
- Abandonments:
Ventures into
abandoned structures are perhaps the most common example of urban
exploration. At times, sites are entered first by locals and may sport
large amounts of graffiti and other acts of vandalism. Explorers face
various risks in abandoned structures including collapsing roofs and
floors, broken glass, guard dogs, the presence of chemicals and other
harmful substances (most notably asbestos), hostile squatters and motion
detectors. Some explorers wear respirators to protect their airways and
proper attire to protect their bodies.
Although targets of
exploration vary from one country to another, high-profile abandonments
include amusement parks, grain elevators, factories, power plants,
missile silos, fallout shelters, hospitals, asylums, schools, poor
houses, and sanatoriums.
In Japan, ruins are known as haikyo
(廃虚?), (literally "abandoned place") but the term is synonymous with the
practice of urban exploration. Haikyo are particularly common in Japan
because of its rapid industrialization (e.g., Hashima Island), damage
during World War II, the 1980s real estate bubble and the 2011 Tōhoku
earthquake and tsunami.
Many explorers find decay of
uninhabited space to be profoundly beautiful and some are also
proficient freelance photographers. Abandoned locations can be, at
times, heavily guarded with motion sensors and active security. Others
are more easily accessible and carry less risk of discovery. Abandoned
sites are also popular among historians, preservationists, architects,
archaeologists, industrial archaeologists, and ghost hunters.
- Active buildings:
Another aspect of urban exploration is the practice of exploring active
or in use buildings which includes gaining access to secured or
"member-only" areas, mechanical rooms, roofs, elevator rooms, abandoned
floors and other normally unseen parts of working buildings. The term
"infiltration" is often associated with the exploration of active
structures. People entering restricted areas may be committing trespass
and civil prosecution may result.
- Catacombs:
Catacombs
such as those found in Paris, Rome, Odessa and Naples have been
investigated by urban explorers. The Mines of Paris, comprising much of
the underground tunnels that are not open to public tourism like the
catacombs, have been considered the "Holy Grail" by some due to their
extensive nature and history. Explorers of these are known as
cataphiles.
- Sewers and storm drains:
Entry into storm
drains, or draining, is another common form of urban exploration. Groups
devoted to the task have arisen, such as the Cave Clan in Australia.
Draining has a specialized set of guidelines, the foremost of which is
"When it rains, no drains!" The dangers of becoming entrapped, washed
away, or killed increase dramatically during a heavy rainfall.
A
small subset of explorers enter sanitary sewers. Sometimes they are the
only connection to caves or other subterranean features. Sewers are
among the most dangerous locations to explore owing to risk of poisoning
by buildups of toxic gas (commonly methane and hydrogen sulfide). There
have been numerous fatalities around the world[citation needed] where
people are overcome by toxic gas from sewers.
- Transit tunnels:
Exploring active and abandoned subway and underground railway tunnels,
bores and stations is often considered to be trespassing and can result
in civil prosecution. As a result, this type of exploration is rarely
publicized. One important exception to this is the abandoned subway of
Rochester, NY, the only American city to have an abandoned, formerly
used, subway system. (The Cincinnati subway is also abandoned, but was
never completed.)
- Utility tunnels:
Universities and other
large institutions, such as hospitals, often distribute steam for
heating buildings and autoclaves from a central heating plant. These
high pressure steam pipes are generally run through utility tunnels,
which are often accessible solely for the purposes of maintenance. Many
of these steam tunnels, such as those on college campuses, often also
have a tradition of exploration by its students. This was once called
vadding at MIT, though students there now refer to it as roof and tunnel
hacking.
Steam tunnels, in general, have been secured heavily
in recent years, due to their use for carrying network backbones and
perceived risk of their use in terrorist activities, safety and
liability.
Some steam tunnels have dirt floors, no efficient
lighting and have temperatures upwards of 45 °C (113 °F). Others have
concrete floors, bright light, and feature a cool low-grade temperature.
Most steam tunnels have large intake fans to bring in fresh air and
push the hot air out the back. Most active steam tunnels do not contain
airborne asbestos but proper breathing protection may be required for
other hazards. It is wise to take proper care inside active utility
tunnels, since pipes can spew boiling hot water from leaky valves,
puddles pool at your feet, and forceful steam may leak inward resulting
in burns and slips.
