Unprecedented rates of urbanisation and city growth has created many challenges such as the ability to address the impacts of climate change, manage large-scale population increases and cope with resource insecurity. As a result, cities are becoming increasingly reliant on geo-resources to support their everyday services and development. Geo-resources – naturally occurring assets of the Earth that can be harnessed to create something functional for our consumption – include; geo-materials, sub-surface space, groundwater and geothermal energy. The enhanced utilisation of geo-resources can be seen to contribute to wider policy goals of building sustainable and resilient cities.

Within this context, this study assesses the geo-resource potential of three UK case study sites by developing and implementing a novel geo-resources mapping tool. Alongside this, key stakeholder interviews were conducted, and a detailed examination of urban planning and design documentation undertaken to establish the enablers and barriers to geo-resource use in situ.

The case studies revealed that the geo-resources-potential mapping tool provided an indication of the suitability of a site for utilising a specific geo-resource, which was supplemented by an urban design geo-resource (UDG) matrix to connect the mapping results with geo-resources infrastructure and site-specific urban design guidance and planning policy information. The interview series and document examinations further identified clear factors supporting and preventing the use of geo-resources in specific urban settings. In particular, the study revealed that: costs and finance mechanisms, risks and unknowns, communication, policy, and multiple benefits are the key factors impacting geo-resource uptake.

In operationalising this research, this work provides a starting point to engage urban stakeholders with geological resource expertise and demonstrates how their utilisation can enhance the sustainability and resilience of urban settings as a whole.