Integration of the subsurface and the surface sectors for a more holistic approach for sustainable redevelopment of urban brownfields

Abstract

This paper presents a holistic approach to sustainable urban brownfield redevelopment where specific focus is put on the integration of a multitude of subsurface qualities in the early phases of the urban redevelopment process, i.e. in the initiative and plan phases. Achieving sustainability in brownfield redevelopment projects may be constrained by a failure of engagement between two key expert constituencies: urban planners/designers and subsurface engineers, leading to missed opportunities and unintended outcomes in the plan realisation phase. A more integrated approach delivers greater benefits. Three case studies in the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden were used to test different sustainability assessment instruments in terms of the possibility for knowledge exchange between the subsurface and the surface sectors and in terms of cooperative learning among experts and stakeholders. Based on the lessons learned from the case studies, a generic decision process framework is suggested that supports holistic decision making. The suggested framework focuses on stakeholder involvement, communication, knowledge exchange and learning and provides an inventory of instruments that can support these processes.

The significance of the subsurface in urban renewal

“…The four categories previously mentioned, their subsurface qualities and links to urban planning and design are described in the following section as well as analysis based on literature reviews and results from the two research projects "Design with Subsurface" and "Balance4P" (Hooimeijer andMaring 2013, 2015;Hooimeijer and Tummers 2017;Norrman et al 2015). …”

“…Knowledge exchange is crucial to the improved integration of the subsurface in surface urban development, and it has the potential to generate new knowledge since it supports and enhances interdisciplinary cooperation (Norrman et al 2015). Furthermore, with knowledge management, it is possible to handle uncertainties in a qualitative manner.…”

TOPSIS optimization for the choice of soil remediation contractor in Serbia

“…Pod remedijacijom podrazumevamo skup različitih intervencija u pogledu tretiranja tla i uklanjanja zagađujućih materija iz njega, kako bi se zagađenje u potpunosti odstranilo ili svelo na minimum štetnog uticaja po okolinu i ljude [4]. Na ovaj način pored urbanista, planera, arhitekata i konzervatora, inženjeri geotehnike su takođe aktivno uključeni u proces obnove braunfilda [5]. Polje geotehnike nudi danas veliki izbor remedijacionih tehnologija koje se prema karakteru dele na termičke, fizičko-hemijske i biološke metode [6,7].…”

Integrating subsurface management into spatial planning in the Netherlands, Sweden and Flanders

“…Considering Table 4. Potential for mainstreaming subsurface in existing planning topics (Norrman et al, 2016) Topics the subsurface as part of this natural system is a small step, but opens up the possibility for strong connections with existing nature-related laws and regulations. The benefit is mutual because the quality of the natural areas depends heavily on water and soil conditions.…”

“…To understand in the ways in which a planning system can include subsurface management, a study 'Balance4P: Balancing decisions for urban brownfield regenerationpeople, planet, profit and processes' was conducted into the planning contexts of the three participating countries: the Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium (Norrman et al, 2016). The main research question was 'how to integrate the subsurface better into urban development?'…”