In 2022, the Netherlands introduced ‘water and soil’ as a guiding principle for spatial planning, aiding the country's goal for climate resilience by 2050. Applying it requires integrating subsurface data, spatial planning, and climate adaptation. Despite existing subsurface models, no cohesive approach links them to spatial planning. This paper assesses current models and identifies data requirements. Key barriers include data accessibility and standardization. To address this, plan information was standardized using a proposed Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) Part 5 climate adaptation profile. Additionally, a digital tool, CLIMACAT, was developed to make relevant subsurface data accessible for climate adaptation design.

The Netherlands aims to achieve climate resilience and water robustness by 2050, necessitating an interdisciplinary approach to spatial planning due to the complex nature of climate adaptation. A critical need exists for subsurface data, especially for interventions related to underground elements like water storage, soil infiltration, and subsurface management. This need became particularly relevant when the Dutch government adopted 'water and soil guiding' as a core principle for spatial planning in 2022 (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, 2022). Translating this principle into practical solutions is complex, requiring detailed knowledge of subsurface characteristics. The absence of such information can lead to issues like groundwater contamination and high-maintenance parks.

Despite the necessity for interdisciplinary and subsurface data, organizational, technological, and institutional barriers hinder the use of information models and standards in climate adaptation design. Currently, even though there are many subsurface models and standards available, the Netherlands lacks an integrated approach linking subsurface information models with local climate adaptation design. It also lacks an example of the use of standards to exchange planning information containing climate adaptation design interventions.

This research explores how subsurface data models can enhance urban climate adaptation design. By assessing existing models, it identifies data requirements for effective interventions based on Dutch policy documents. The paper introduces CLIMACAT, an online tool integrating subsurface information models and other crucial data in one online catalogue following FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data principles, tested in four Utrecht neighborhoods.

The findings emphasize the importance of integrating subsurface information models into urban planning to achieve more effective and context-sensitive climate adaptation interventions. Significant barriers include data accessibility and standardization. New spatial plans were standardized using Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) Part 5 (ISO 19152-5), tailoring some attributes for climate adaptation design, facilitating cross-border information exchange. This approach addresses specific challenges in the Netherlands and provides a framework for international adoption, contributing to global urban climate adaptation efforts. The research highlights the need for accessible subsurface data and interdisciplinary collaboration, supported by continuous technological and policy advancements.