An integrated planning concept for the emerging underground urbanism: Deep City Method Part 2 case study for resource supply and project valuation

•Integrated planning process for sustainable underground development.•Macro scale development potential appraisal (deep city applicability scores).•City scale policy formulation for underground urbanism (case study: Geneva city).•Large urban scale potential zoning and development forecast (case study: Suzhou city).•Micro scale economic premium index assessment and building project marketability. Four underground resources have been seen as having long-term potential to support sustainable urban development: underground space, groundwater, geomaterials and geothermal energy. Utilization of these resources proposes a new paradigm of economic development: underground urbanism. The new management approach named “Deep City Method” is put forward to aid decision-makers to integrate global potential of the urban underground into city-scale strategic planning. The research output will be presented in form of two papers each with a different focus. Part 1 aims to introduce the concept, process and initial application in Switzerland; Part 2 is devoted to show methodological insight for a new zoning policy in China and investment scenarios for project cost viability. The Part 2 paper will demonstrate a comprehensive evaluation methodology for underground resources beneath the municipality of Suzhou in China, in order to formulate 3D land zoning. Strategic districts in Suzhou city of China are selected for feasibility outlook and policy instrument proposition. Finally, a new economic index “Underground cost efficiency premium” has been proposed to aid project developers to justify competitiveness of underground development.