Linking underground space development with sustainable urban futures: Research trends and knowledge framework

• A review of 576 articles in urban underground space (UUS) domain is conducted. • Academic trend, subjects, leading scholars & institutions, and hotspots are identified. • Knowledge map of 5 areas, 19 sub-areas, 75 topics and key issues for UUS is portrayed. • UUS is identified as a critical spatial asset in environmental, ecological, and social agendas. • UUS integration reflects a shift towards multi-scalar, sustainable urbanization model. In the face of global challenges such as climate change and resource depletion, urban underground space (UUS) is increasingly recognized as a multifunctional natural asset that supports critical ecosystem services, including spatial provision, energy storage, material circulation, and habitat formation. In recent decades, the scale and complexity of human activities in the subsurface have grown significantly, prompting heightened attention to the sustainable utilization of UUS. This study conducts a systematic review of 576 publications to explore the evolving body of knowledge of UUS planning and management from sustainable development perspectives. Key publication trends, institutional collaborations, influential authors and works, and shifts in academic focuses in this field are identified. Content studies recap insights across 19 core topics grouped into five research domains: (i) new concepts of using urban underground, (ii) approaches to underground planning and management, (iii) multi-scale assessment of UUS, (iv) sustainable underground building and operations, and (v) innovative practice of UUS. Challenges, knowledge gaps, and future research directions are finally outlined to better align UUS practice with the broader agenda to achieve sustainable development goals. This work underscores the imperative of incorporating social, ecological, and technological concerns into UUS management, revealing potential ways to use advanced theories and approaches to navigate underground space industries towards sustainable urbanization and regional sustainability.