The management of derelict, polluted and contaminated land

Abstract

Twenty-six papers submitted to the theme of 'Dereliction, Pollution and Contaminated Land' at the 10th IAEG Congress were reviewed as the basis for this topical summary. Despite the theme subject of abandoned or derelict land, most of the papers addressed chemical damage associated with historically contaminated land. Important contributions to this multidisciplinary field are being made by engineering geologists mainly in three domains: (1) provision of a 'geotechnical' characterization of contaminated geological media; (2) characterization of the fate and transport of contaminants through complex geological pathways; (3) the development of in situ and ex situ treatment-based remediation options that provide sustainable alternatives to 'dig-and-dump'. Several papers also indicated that engineering geology has an important role to play in the prevention of future pollution at the source, as opposed to traditional 'end-of-pipe' methods of pollution control.