New Soil Assessment Portfolio Aims to support Soil inclusive Spatial Planning Across Europe
Researchers from the SPADES project are developing a portfolio of tools designed to integrate soil health into spatial planning practices. Led by a research team from Chalmers University of Technology, the initiative has produced a systematized inventory of 323 instruments—ranging methods and tools to databases and guidelines—tailored to assess soil functions and ecosystem services. The systematized inventory of soil tools consists of contributions from SPADES consortium countries, with an equal number of representatives from soil experts and planners. In total, 323 publicly available tools and methods have been identified that can support the assessment of soil functions and ecosystem services, addressing diverse urban, peri-urban, and rural challenges.
These 323 instruments are currently evaluated to identify the ones with the most potential for planning.
The tools in the portfolio are categorized by their scale, data requirements, user expertise, and relevance to soil quality, quantity, and performance. They tackle pressing issues such as land degradation, soil sealing, climate adaptation, and biodiversity loss. Examples include the GEOSYSTEM SERVICES - method for supporting planning and management of the subsurface, LANDSUPPORT - platform for soil degradation assessment, the Digital Twin Klagenfurt - for 3D urban simulations, and the RMQS - network for soil quality monitoring.
The portfolio is also a key output from SPADES, supporting the project in its ambition to redefine soil as a three-dimensional resource critical to sustainable land use. By acknowledging soil’s depth, structure, and multifunctionality, SPADES supports more accurate land suitability assessments and promotes soil-inclusive planning strategies.
A key innovation from SPADES is the introduction of “soil performance” as a new category, bridging soil quality and quantity with planning outcomes like climate resilience and food production. The portfolio of tools and methods also addresses data challenges, including heterogeneity, accessibility, and user competence, and will be integrated into the SPADES Navigator online platform to guide users through the tools.
This initiative marks the first collection of standardized metadata resource of its kind, offering practical guidance to planners, policymakers, and land managers and will be publicly available this summer 2026 on notion (SPADES | Inspiration Portfolio) as a short-list of soil assessment instruments with highest potential of application in spatial planning and design.
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