Geosystem Services to Support Planning and Management of the Subsurface

The subsurface is a critical yet often overlooked component of resilient societies. Despite its importance, the subsurface is often subject to fragmented and poorly coordinated use and management. This thesis explores the concept of geosystem services as a framework for recognising the subsurface’s contributions to human welfare and integrating them into spatial planning. The thesis makes four key contributions: (1) it reviews existing definitions of geosystem services and their relevance to subsurface planning; (2) it reviews various methods for valuing these services and presents a framework for systematically including them when assessing the effects of subsurface projects; (3) it proposes a set of indicators for spatially assessing geosystem service potential; and (4) it develops a framework for creating thematic maps to visualise these services. The concepts, methods, and frameworks presented in this thesis have been tested across various spatial scales and contexts to evaluate their applicability. The results offer insights into how subsurface planning could benefit from a systematic integration of geosystem services. Collectively, the studies represent an initial step towards establishing common standards and procedures essential for operationalising this emerging field.