Such conditions may already exist below the surface.

There are likely plenty of subsurface caves and hollows and channels and so forth over a fairly large area. We see some of the surface expressions of these subsurface features in Meridiani as Opportunity goes about its business. There are areas similar to Meridiani elsewhere on Mars.

But there are are other areas, like Tharsis, where we see lots of surface expression of subsurface voids and hollows, not subtle at all. It's possible that what we see at the surface reflects only a minor proportion of what's actually there.

Large areas of the Northern Lowlands show the action of ice being forced up from below. There must be sources for this ice, and it has long been theorised that water -- or some fluid -- is flowing, ponding, etc. below the surface.

Creating similar conditions at the surface is possible, but it may not be necessary if we can reach and utilize subsurface analogues. Of course the absence of sunlight is a problem. ;)

On the other hand, there are some who insist that there can be no such fluid resources near the surface, and that if such there be, they could only occur very deep in the interior, many kilometers deep -- and essentially impossible to reach.

It would help if we had a better idea how recently volcanic activity has occurred at the surface, and where. That would give a better idea where the planet's interior heat reserves come near the surface and where they break through. That in turn gives some clues to where to explore for present day reservoirs.

So far there has been no sign of any current volcanic activity at the surface, nor apparently of any other kind of heat release from the interior. Yet vast areas of the surface appear to be very fresh.

It's a puzzlement.