Search Results (72)

Brownfields are abundant, widely dispersed, and subject to complex contamination, resulting in waste land, ecological degradation, and barriers to economic growth. The accurate identification of brownfield sites is key to formulating effective remediation and reuse strategies. However, the heterogeneity of surface features poses significant challenges for identifying various types of brownfields across entire urban areas. To address these challenges, this study proposes a “Target–Classification–Modification” (TCM) method for brownfield identification, which was applied to Tangshan City, China. This method consists of a three-stage process: target area localization, visual interpretation and classification, and site-level modification. It leverages integrated multi-source open-access data and clear rules for subtype classification and the determination of spatial boundaries and abandonment status. The results for Tangshan show that (1) the overall accuracy of the TCM method reached 84.9%; (2) a total of 1706 brownfield sites were identified, including 422 raw-material mining sites, 576 raw-material manufacturing sites, and 708 non-raw-material manufacturing sites; (3) subtype analysis revealed distinct spatial distribution and morphological patterns, driven by resource endowments, transportation networks, and industrial space organization. The TCM method improved the identification efficiency by 34.7% through precise target-area localization. It offers well-defined criteria to distinguish different brownfield subtypes. In addition, it employs a multi-approach strategy to determine the abandonment status, further enhancing accuracy. This method is scalable and widely applicable, providing support for urban-scale brownfield research and practice. Full article

Ecological restoration and brownfield reuse are important issues in the current field of urban sustainable development and environmental protection. This paper adopts bibliometric and network analysis methods, using more than 600 literature from Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases as research objects, to analyze the research trends, main researchers, contributions of different disciplines, and research hotspots in ecological restoration and brownfield reuse. Based on the results of quantitative analysis, this paper reviews the main research theories, methods, and technologies of ecological restoration and brownfield reuse at home and abroad, as well as response strategies in different regions and future prospects under challenges. Among the top 10 disciplines in terms of disciplinary contribution, the discipline with the highest relevance in the research articles of CNKI is “Environmental Science and Technology”, accounting for approximately 47.24%. The discipline with the highest relevance in the research articles of WOS is “Building Science and Engineering”, accounting for approximately 61.21%. In terms of research theories and methods, emphasis is placed on the application of ecological engineering, landscape ecology, land economics, and sustainable development methods. At the same time, adaptive management methods are emphasized, aiming to achieve a balance between ecological protection and urban development. In terms of response strategies for different regions, the main strategies for ecological restoration and brownfield reuse are proposed from five main aspects: reducing soil erosion and controlling water pollution, restoring ecological communities and enhancing biodiversity, landscape reshaping and spatial transformation, tourism development, and leisure space design. Based on the current challenges in technology, law, funding, management, and society, research prospects for strengthening interdisciplinary integration, digital drive, interdisciplinary collaboration, and multi-party cooperation in the future are proposed. It can be seen that research in this field is no longer just a simple ecological issue, but a comprehensive social problem. Full article

Post-industrial and post-mining areas are an important element of cities historically associated with industrial activity. The transformation of degraded areas is a challenge for spatial policy, which is characterized by a substantial impact on the cultural heritage of mining and industry. The case of Piekary Śląskie shows the consequences of deindustrialization, which leads to the degradation of urban space and requires innovative revitalization strategies considering the principles of sustainable development and the concept of blue–green infrastructure. Archived topographic maps and current interactive maps of the study city were used in a spatial data analysis. The aim was to determine the directions of the spatial development of post-industrial and post-mining areas using the example of a medium-sized city located in the core of the Katowice conurbation, while considering the role of blue–green infrastructure in the revitalization process. Integrating blue–green infrastructure into the city’s planning documents may serve as a model for other urban areas, highlighting the synergy benefits between urban development and environmental protection. Such solutions support the development of a green economy to improve residents’ living conditions and increase the city’s competitiveness in the region. The specific examples of the revitalization of the areas in the Andaluzja and Julian mines and the reclamation of the brickyard in the area of Kozłowa Góra in Piekary Śląskie show that a multifunctional approach to revitalization contributes to the harmonious development of urban spaces. Full article

Urban voids, such as vacant lots, brownfields, fallow land, wasteland, and the spaces between buildings, have the potential to serve as habitats for a diverse range of plants. However, their value for plant conservation remains understudied because of their informal and neglected nature. The aim of this systematic review is to consider the potential for urban voids to contribute to urban plant biodiversity. A total of 55 studies from 14 countries were analysed for geographical trends, factors influencing plant biodiversity, research methods, and relevant environmental parameters. The results of this study show that the factors influencing the plant diversity of urban voids can be divided into three main categories: biophysical, temporal, and landscape factors. Biophysical factors, such as size, age, soil, and vegetation structure, as well as temporal factors, including site management and human interventions, are the most important at the site-level scale. In contrast, landscape factors, such as the location and distance from other green spaces, are more dominant at the larger urban scale. The review has identified a significant limitation in the available literature, with relatively few studies examining the influence of urban voids’ shape, ownership, and microclimate on biodiversity. With respect to research methods, the results suggest a recent increase in the use of GIS-based and remote sensing techniques to investigate the plant diversity of urban voids. The findings discussed in this paper indicate the need for further research to comprehensively understand the factors that promote urban vegetation diversity in urban voids. Full article

Urban sprawl and brownfields are recognized as the main challenges for sustainable land use in post-industrial cities. Using a mixed methodology (GIS and interviews), this research aimed to examine the relationship between the redevelopment process of former Soviet military brownfields and urban sprawl in Hungary. Research findings highlighted the overall importance of the regeneration of military brownfields in urban development; however, not all the assessed projects appeared to be beneficial to densification objectives. We could identify two groups of brownfields lying within the boundaries of the compact city and outside the boundaries. The regeneration of military brownfields embedded in the built-up areas of cities can contribute to densification objectives and attract new functions and residents to abandoned areas. They can also support wider regeneration strategies of local governments, especially in run-down neighborhoods. However, a large number of military brownfields are located on the peripheries of metropolitan areas. The regeneration of such sites, as demonstrated by the case studies, can play a catalyst role in urban sprawl. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that local municipalities should make a careful strategic selection of military brownfield sites for redevelopment based upon their characteristics and location, as supported by the typology presented in this study, together with locally perceived socio-economic and risk factors. Full article

Numerous research studies have long established the causes and consequences of the depopulation of certain regions in Europe, but it seems that there are no systematic approaches to implementing the policy of managing abandoned areas. Following years of demographic decline in settlements, the 2022 census revealed depopulated clusters in Serbia—regions with 20 or fewer residents or even no inhabitants at all. The areas of depopulated settlements are growing territorially from the south towards the north. This paper adopts a broader interpretation of brownfield land, defining it as any previously used land that is no longer employed for commercial purposes, serving as the theoretical foundation. Although they seem economically hopeless, some depopulated clusters have become the subject of research for the exploitation of mineral resources such as gold, copper, zinc, uranium, lithium and coal. The main problem is that depopulated clusters have acquired an ecological stability that would be disrupted by the opening of mines and massive construction. The changes in land use were analyzed using time series data and a formal database of natural resources from these communities. The primary methodological framework was based on the correlation between population size, utilized areas, and the ecological stability coefficient. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the proportion of arable land within a spatial unit and its depopulation rate while also examining how arable land and mineral resources could influence the potential revitalization of rural wastelands in Serbia’s depopulated areas. The primary findings indicate a significant correlation between population decline and changes in the natural environment of abandoned clusters, as well as the significant potential of clusters as rural brownfields. While it is natural to continue with ecological and green space projects, the current liberal and centralized mining management policy can create major problems for the remaining population. Full article

Vegetation cover in urban and peri-urban areas is threatened by urban sprawl, through habitat fragmentation, loss of green space, biodiversity reduction, and the urban heat island effect intensifying. The intrusion of cities into natural landscapes reduces vital ecosystem services provided by vegetation. Hence, sustainable and integrated urban planning practices are required. Our study aims to investigate the dynamics of the urban and peri-urban fabric by exploring the relationship between the green fabric distribution and recent trends in urban expansion, focusing specifically on the peri-urban areas of Iași Municipality, Romania. We designed a mixed-method approach combining a multivariate analysis of four critical indicators (vegetation cover, built-up space, land surface temperature, and population density), emerging hot-spots, and space-time cubes in a GIS environment to achieve our research aims. Our results demonstrate that uncontrolled urban expansion has manifested in diverse patterns, impacting territories next to road transport networks and with construction-suitable topography. Concurrently, the development of green spaces prevails in forests and unexpected locations such as brownfields, railway corridors, and old industrial zones, through the growth of urban greenery. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of how urban sprawl impacts the environment and how different land types are prone to this transformation, creating a path towards sustainability, resilience, and equitable development. Full article

Brownfields, abandoned or underutilized lands having the potential for contamination due to industrial activities, pose health risks to nearby residents and raise environmental justice (EJ) concerns. This study examines the relationship between brownfield distribution and socioeconomic factors in New Jersey, a state with over 700 brownfield sites, using correlation, spatial autoregression, and instrumental variable regression methods. Results show that brownfields are associated with higher combined EJ stressors, indicating compounding environmental pollution and health risks in affected areas. Brownfields are disproportionately correlated with lower household income, higher rates of uninsured individuals, lower educational attainment, and a greater percentage of people of color. When accounting for spatial autocorrelation, relationships between income, education, and brownfield distributions are reduced, reflecting New Jersey’s historical, environmental, and social contexts. Overall, the presence of people of color maintains the strongest association with brownfield distribution. This study highlights ongoing EJ challenges faced by disadvantaged groups and emphasizes the need for targeted mitigation measures to enhance sustainability and equity. New Jersey serves as a critical case study given its ethnic diversity, growing urban population, and status as the state with the highest population density in the United States, illustrating broader trends of disproportionate exposure to environmental pollution among marginalized communities. Full article

With societal progress, urban brownfields have become restrictive, and redevelopment studies have become an important part of urban renewal. In this work, we developed a two-step model for urban brownfield redevelopment, while considering the Wangping brownfield as the study area. Site suitability evaluation models for brownfield parks, agricultural picking gardens, and creative industrial centers were developed based on the elevation, slope, and surface runoff, and the evaluation results were categorized into five levels. The redevelopment plan was formulated based on these evaluation results. To study the effect of the plan, a transition matrix of land use was assessed using satellite images and the cellular automata (CA)–Markov model; based on the analysis, we predicted the land use situation of the Wangping brownfield, with respect to natural development, for 2030. A comparison of the redevelopment planning with the forecasted results revealed that the proportions of grassland, construction, and unused land decreased by 25.68, 3.12, and 2.38% and those of plowland and forest land increased by 6.61 and 24.57%. This confirms the advantages of redevelopment planning for restoring plowland and increasing biological carbon sinks. Notably, our two-step urban brownfield redevelopment model can enrich the current research on urban brownfields and guide similar urban renewal projects. Full article

To move towards a circular economy and to meet the upcoming EU soil health legislation, both contaminated land and contaminated soil should be acknowledged as fragile and valuable resources to be restored and recycled to provide essential ecosystem services to humans. Underused, often contaminated land can be returned to beneficial use as urban greenspace (UGS) with the help of gentle remediation options (GROs). GROs are plant-, fungi-, bacteria-, and soil amendments-based risk management mechanisms that can also simultaneously improve soil functions and the provision of ecosystem services. This study (i) presents a framework including tools and methods for exploring opportunities for transforming brownfields to UGS using GROs to deal with soil contamination, (ii) demonstrates its application for a case study site in Gothenburg, Sweden, and (iii) presents stakeholders’ views on the suggested framework. This framework can support the transition of brownfields to UGS while recycling both land and soil and increasing the market value of the site and its surroundings. Stakeholders found the suggested framework useful but identified some challenges for its practical implementation, mainly associated with financial aspects and the existing practice and level of knowledge. Stakeholders also identified the need for additional practical tools to (a) make predictions about the time required for GROs to reach acceptable risk levels, (b) monetize non-market benefits such as ecosystem services for communicating benefits to decision-makers, and (c) provide support for plant and soil amendment selection for various GROs and contaminants. Full article

At the end of the 20th century, most industrial cities faced a massive phase of de-industrialisation, resulting in abandoned areas. However, these areas, rich in history and heritage, can represent significant resources for the regeneration of entire territories. Adaptive Reuse (AR) is one of the most appropriate strategies for the sustainable regeneration of brownfield sites: it gives new life to a ‘dead’ land, extending its use value so that it can continue to be enjoyed both by present and future generations. Decision-making processes concerning Industrial Heritage Adaptive Reuse (IHAR) cannot ignore the role that ‘intrinsic value’ plays in orienting development choices in such areas. Adopting participatory decision-making processes enables the inclusion of different values and interests of the stakeholders and, at the same time, increasing their awareness about the decision-making problem, thus reducing conflicts. This contribution intends to propose an evaluation framework to assess the multidimensional impacts of IHAR, considering the different values characterising them, and to support decision-making processes for the identification of the ‘preferable’ transformation scenario. This evaluation framework is applied, through the use of the TOPSIS multi-criteria evaluation method, in the case study of the ex-Italsider area in Bagnoli district (Naples, Italy), an industrial steel plant decommissioned in the early 1990s. Full article

This article seeks to provide an improved and more comprehensive understanding of the concept and theories on wasteland. It achieves this by focusing on the Indian context, allowing us to unpack the importance of including multiple perspectives of wasteland narratives; this means including more positive narratives of the potential of wasteland to inform and improve prospects for land policies in the Global South. Wasteland is commonly recognized as an underutilized category of land that may transform into a valuable resource base with proper management measures. The term waste has multiple angles that carry different notions ranging from fallow to agroforestry land in the Global South and brownfield to green space in the Global North. We conduct a narrative review approach to qualitatively analyze the concept of wastelands, which has been studied in the pre-existing literature from 1970 to the present. This unsystematic literature review approach incorporates multiple elements of wasteland discourse, like understanding the meaning of the term on a global scale, setting out the meaning of the term waste into multiple perspectives explicitly in the Indian context, along with different classes and management approaches to wasteland from a national perspective. The multiple perspectives of wasteland not only generate misconceptions of land resources but spawn difficulties in land-use policy, particularly for the Indian scenario. For sustainable land-use policy, reclaiming wasteland would be the best possible way for India and other countries in the Global South, which requires a comprehensive methodological overview on wasteland narrative. Full article

Miscanthus × giganteus (M × g) is a promising energy crop in phytotechnology with biomass production. Despite considerable vegetation and harvest under varying climate conditions and across different soils, field-scale studies on utilising M × g remain scarce. Analysing the literature and our own findings, this study intends to highlight the potential of M × g phytotechnology for revitalising non-agricultural lands (NAL), including brownfields, and illustrate the expediency of applying biochar to enhance biomass yield, energy efficiency, and economic feasibility. To validate the feasibility of M × g production on brownfields, two scenarios within the value chain “biomass–biogas–electricity” for green harvest were examined. The assumptions were as follows: (1) a methane yield of 5134 m³ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, and (2) substrate-specific methane yields of 247 and 283 mL (g oDM)⁻¹ for the first and subsequent years, respectively. The findings suggest that Scenario 2 is better suited for cultivating M × g on brownfields/NAL, being more sensitive and eliminating inaccuracies and the generalisations of results. From the third year onward, the revenue of M × g production on biochar-amended brownfields showed greater potential for future profitability. Future research should confirm the positive trend in the energy efficiency ratio of M × g phytotechnology on a larger scale, particularly in real brownfield applications. Full article

Feeding nine billion people by 2050 will be a challenge due to climate change. There is a significant portion of abandoned and unused marginal lands across the nation and in the Puglia region, in Southern Italy. Innovative techniques and practices in the frame of climate-smart agriculture can help rehabilitate marginal lands into productive and profitable areas. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on marginal areas in Puglia, responding to the lack of information in this context and evaluate their revitalization potential. We systematically reviewed the literature on unused/marginal areas and identified related studies dealing with different types of marginal areas and their potential for sustainable rural development. Marginal areas in Puglia represent a range of historical rural landscapes that support biodiversity, the economy, and ecological services. However, the analysis of the current situation in Puglia’s marginal areas indicates a lack of infrastructure and scarce resources, which led to land abandonment and the migration of local residents, resulting in the deterioration of the ecological system. Therefore, establishing a sustainable policy is crucial for preserving the local heritage and economy of the region. However, policymakers should carefully study the challenges and opportunities arising from local contexts before embarking on ambitious place-based innovation strategies. The analysis indicates that both biophysical and socio-economic factors are strategic elements for improving the revitalization potential of marginal areas for sustainable development. This review provides useful information regarding the revitalization potential of marginal areas for food, feed, and non-food production, which is crucial in the implementation of a sustainable development strategy for rural communities in Puglia but can also be applied to similar areas in other countries. However, the success of the sustainable development strategy in Puglia’s marginal areas should consider the vital function of farmers’ self-organization and social capital as key factors in the adoption of agricultural innovations for the revitalization of these areas. Full article

Vacant land in residual urban areas is a crucial resource to tackle the current climate and housing crises. In this study, we present the development of a geodatabase to determine the occurrence of vacant land in the urban core of Oklahoma City, USA (OKC), and assess its potential for infill housing. As a starting point, we define urban vacant land through a literature review. We present a description of the case study’s social and urbanistic context by highlighting its relevance to this study. We explain the methodology for the development of the geodatabase to quantify residual urban land in OKC’s urban core. We examine the spatial distribution and recurring characteristics of vacant parcels using QGIS, Python scripting for Rhinoceros 3D, and aerial imagery. We find that small parcels have higher vacancy rates than average-sized parcels and there is a correlation between higher vacancy rates and proximity to downtown and brownfields. Finally, we discuss the implications of the findings by assessing the urban vacant land potential for residential development and its contribution to OKC’s housing provision. Under all the proposed scenarios, the considered developable vacant land in the urban core could entirely fulfill the need for new housing units for the entire city. Full article