The Campine Basin is a unique geological hotspot, that is increasingly
being targeted to achieve energy security and environmental objectives.
However, subsurface space is limited and competition between
subsurface usages is increasing. To review policies for planning and
managing potential resource interactions (either adverse or beneficial)
and to set priorities if needed, it is key to create methods for a detailed
hydrogeological characterization of these subsurface interactions,
accounting for associated above-ground social, environmental, and
economic impacts. Therefore, we unite expertise of (inter)national
hydrogeological research units to develop dynamic, loosely coupled
hydrogeological models that allow for large scale simulations, while
remaining accurate for a single activity, and that are able to handle
uncertain geological contexts. In addition, we will integrate this
innovative hydrogeological method to advanced methods of
Environmental Economics and Social Sciences to create an
understanding about (i) the indicators for sustainable subsurface
development, (ii) above-ground environmental, economic, and social
impacts, (iii) and how to make model results transparent. These
methods will allow to determine threshold values that must be met to
respect subsurface, environmental, economic, and social criteria for the
sustainable management of geological resources in Belgium and
beyond. Stakeholders from the public and private sector as well as local
communities are involved in the research activities to better understand
their perception on the sustainable and just development of the
subsurface. Knowledge transfer tools tailored to stakeholders’ needs
will be created allowing them (i) to come to a structural vision on the
sustainable development of the Campine basin, (ii) to manage and
regulate interacting subsurface activities for the long-term, and (iii) to
match subsurface use with aboveground sustainability objectives.