Elsevier Science has recently prepared a set of three special issues that trace the development of underground space research over the past 40 years. The first piece “The Emergence of Underground Space Use Planning and Design” is a “virtual” special issue with key papers selected from the journal Underground Space which was a forerunner of TUST. This previous special issue currently can be accessed without cost on the TUST homepage http://www.journals.elsevier.com/tunnelling-and-underground-space-technology and the editorial for that issue provides a review of the publishing history of both journals. The second special issue also is a virtual special issue available on the above website and is entitled “Improvements in Underground Space Utilization and Planning.” It captures key contributions from Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology over the years 1986 to 2014. The third piece “Underground Space Use: A Growing Imperative” is just being finalized and is a conventional special issue with a mixture of submitted and invited papers that cover many of the key current activities and research topics in the field. Most of the individual papers are already online and can be accessed viawww.sciencedirect.com. The full printed special issue is expected to be available by April 2016.