Deep planning: improving underground developments through inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration on geosystem services

Journal article, 2024

The rapid urbanisation and global need for resources have led to an increased use of the underground, resulting in conflicting interests and an urgent need for subsurface planning. The concept of geosystem services is suggested for communicating the diverse values of the subsurface, and to support subsurface planning for ensuring sustainable and equitable underground developments. The UNDER project explores this concept, involving researchers from academia, governmental and municipal authorities, and consultancies, to open conversations about sustainable underground management, collaborate with municipal authorities, and contribute to new theoretical knowledge for societal use. The transdisciplinary approach aims to provide a better understanding of geosystem services in Swedish planning practices, involving multiple levels of governance and different geographies.