Resource-saving urban development through smart land recycling

2014

This chapter handles the issue of the underused or vacant urbanized land, commonly known as brownfields. It introduces a shared definition of brownfield at European level and it deals with problems connected with brownfields emergence, recognition, monitoring and identification. It identifies the connection between sustainable use of soil and reuse of brownfields, and discusses which elements limit and which ones promote brownfield reuse chances. Lastly it looks into governance conditions that can support their reuse.

2001

Book description: There is considerable current academic interest in the interface between geographical information systems (GIS) and the environment. This new monograph explores the process from start to finish. It begins with information acquisition in the environment and moves on to tool and techniques for manipulating the information, visualisation and navigation methods for exploring it, and computation and modelling techniques for its analysis. It then concludes with a survey of decision support, for its application.

Brownfields IV, 2008

Belgium was one of the first European countries to become industrialised. The initial industrialisation has caused numerous soil and groundwater contaminations. Almost 70 years later, these contaminations became a major issue of concern for the redevelopment of former industrial areas. Real-estate developers are familiar with the costs for demolishing and redeveloping industrial areas, but less with the cost due to soil contamination. Two types of costs associated with the contamination can be identified: (1) the cost for the remediation (removing risks) and (2) the cost for treatment of the less contaminated soil during construction works (redevelopment). Due to these important cost factors, the need to assess them more reliably becomes more important. To address this issue the GEMS (Geographic Environmental/Economical Management System) tool was developed. This GIS based programme allows the designation of different types of land use to different areas (e.g. housing, industry, roads, green areas…) of the redevelopment area. For each drawn land use specific parameters need to be added (depth of underground constructions, percentage of surface area excavated for underground lines…). The model then determines which volume of soil will need to be remediated based on the selected land use and parameters. This is automatically done for a risk-based and reference value remediation target. It also determines the remaining volume of soil that needs to be excavated based on the planned infrastructure and that which needs further treatment before it can be reused. For these volumes of soil a cost is calculated based upon the type of contamination and the contamination levels. The basis of the model is a geo-statistical 3D contamination map for different types of contaminant groups (BTEX, TPH, PAH, heavy metals, cyanides…). These maps are calculated from site measurements. A first working example of the GEMS tool was developed for the Watersite Brownfield project (Novovil) in the city of Vilvoorde. In the past a large portion of Vilvoorde city was used for heavy industry. It also incorporated some major traffic lines, some scattered housing and a railway. The GEMS tool allowed the Watersite Brownfield developers to model different urban planning scenarios in order to determine the most ideal scenario for the future redevelopment.

Urban renewal and reconstruction of underused sites within a city are one of the most highlighted principles of sustainable development. This paper deals with identification and proper evaluation of brownfield sites and theirs potential in the case of Nis (Serbia). By analysis of the urban city structure, historical context as well as adopted strategies for future development, different types of brownfield sites identified and classified. The aim is to investigate the potential of brownfield regeneration to secure land for sustainable urban development. Essential principles of the proper land management were explored in the context of sustainable redevelopment of brownfield sites. At the end, it would open the way for unification of evaluation method and principles.

PARAMETRICISM VS. MATERIALISM Evolution of Digital Technologies for Development, 2016

The task of geography is to establish a critical system which embraces the phenomenology of space in order to grasp all of its meaning in the varied terrestrial scene (Sauer 1925). Brownfields are a global geographic concern that have been considerably researched within the universal discourse. Computer Aided Design (CAD) and its tools have been widely used to enhance and optimize urban plans during both design and implementation phases. Nonetheless, the connection between the two is often broken. While greenfield development enjoys the employment and implementation of a wide array of CAD tools, brownfield redevelopment projects are still struggling with traditional planning and management methods. Looking at the association between sustainable brownfield redevelopment and the optimization of CAD tools and software in the city of Amman, Jordan, the paper attempts to shed light on the unfulfilled potentials of advancement the spatial tools have to offer to the ongoing quest for sustainable urban development on the local scale and the global debate around the urban paradox on the wider scheme. Using empirical data collected and processed in response to the problem posed, the results indicate a CAD-based model could streamline sustainable brownfield development and save substantial time and resources which would otherwise be required using traditional methods. The paper therefore argues that the need for a comprehensive computer aided intervention for the development and management of marginal and overlooked geographies of brownfields in the city of Amman is long overdue.

2008

Paper concerns a long-term research which built-up a Decision Support System for sustainable urban conservation based upon ArcGIS framework coordinated with several tools: mapping, cost forecast, CAD, spreadsheet, regression, as well as energy-climate valuation and control. Sustainability is a core goal in mankind agenda, given the empirical evidence of ecological disaster hanging over Earth. Urban conservation is a partial strategy in avoiding further destruction of natural soil and additional energy consumption in building construction and management. It is out of ecological framework and green tools to solve-up the energy\efficiency issue in restoring large urban areas. Case Study presents a survey of an almost urban neighborhood and a focus on restoration of buildings with two alternative conservation designs: usual versus sustainable with high energy efficiency materials. GIS tools for cost estimate give empirical evidence of superior results got by sustainable conservation on ...

Environmental Sciences, 2006

Brownfield regeneration, involving the reintegration of derelict and abandoned sites into their economic environments, is a key element of sustainable urban development. To realize the full potential brownfield regeneration offers to sustainable urban development, the parameters that influence the degree of sustainability within brownfield regeneration itself have to be understood. An analysis of eight sites in four European countries identified strengths and weaknesses in current brownfield regeneration practice. Among other outcomes, criteria for sustainable brownfield projects and the ''Sustainability Assessment Tool for brownfield regeneration projects'' (SAT) were developed. The tool is based on a framework of objectives, indicators and best practices that reflect the multidimensional and multi-stakeholder complexity that characterizes brownfield regeneration. The SAT would be one option to implement sustainability criteria without waiving the local and regional context. The SAT offers one way for brownfield projects being put forward for public and specifically European Union, funding to be evaluated. This would be a remarkable innovation, leading to not only more efficient use of public money but also an increase in quality of brownfield regeneration.

The Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe suggests that by 2050 there should be no net land take sealed by built development. This will only be possible with effective “recycling” of formerly used land for buildings and infrastructure (“hard development”) and unsealed uses (“soft development”). Of course across Europe a large amount of land recycling already takes place under the influence or normal market forces. However, in some cases the recycling of formerly used land is stalled for a variety of environmental, economic and/or social reasons, and these “Brownfield” sites are often in or near urban areas. The dynamics of land use are cyclic, where site developments are planned, realised and then utilised and maintained until the site is decommissioned or simply abandoned, after which a new cycle for site re-development starts. The land use cycle basically consists of periods of beneficial use alternated by periods of transition. Brownfields reflect periods of stagnation and parti...

Academia Materials Science, 2024

Adhesive bonding plays a fundamental role in various industries, including aerospace, aeronautics, and automotive sectors. Unlike traditional mechanical joints, adhesive joints offer an efficient approach with fewer components, leading to weight reduction in the final structure. Additionally, these joints facilitate the joining of dissimilar materials while distributing applied loads more uniformly, resulting in better stress distributions compared to conventional joining techniques. Within this context, the integration of adhesive bonds in joggle tubular structures presents a viable alternative to join tubes with identical diameter. The bi-adhesive technique involves using a brittle adhesive in the inner overlap region, and a ductile adhesive at the overlap edges, aiming to improve load transfer. The objective of this study is to conduct a numerical analysis using cohesive zone modelling (CZM) to investigate the tensile behavior of joggle tubular adhesive joints between composite adherends and bonded by the bi-adhesive technique. Initially, the proposed CZM approach is validated against experimental data. Subsequently, the focus is on numerically assessing the tensile strength of the joints and testing different bi-adhesive joint options, aiming to improve the maximum load (Pm), displacement at Pm (dPm), and energy absorbed at failure (Ef). Validation of the cohesive models has been successfully achieved. In conclusion, it was found that, depending on the bi-adhesive conditions, improvements are possible to obtain over single adhesive joints.

Sir John Marshall was astonished by the classical form of a small male torso carved in the imported red jasper found by M.S. Vats in Harappa. Only Egyptian skill and technology give such high polish and breathe life into naturalistic forms in intractable stone sculptures as early as the Old Kingdom spanning c. 2700-2200 BCE. Jasper was available only to royals; the Egyptians associated the red jasper with vitality and endurance, drawing power and protection from the fiery sun god and the blood of the goddess Isis. The circled dot shouldered by the headless torso is odd, but the circumpunct is an Egyptian hieroglyph for the Sun and the alchemical symbol for the incorruptible gold. The realistic modulation of the shoulder on the rear confirms that the display of symmetrical Sun Spots repeated by the soft depressions of drilled nipples and the navel on the front was an intentional sigil. This emblematic circle with a dot at the center, repeated on the headless neck, represents more than the yearly orbit of the Earth around the Sun; the solar sign in the precious gemstone signifies eternity and rebirth conveyed by the daily journey of the celestial orb. The votive offering of the jasper torso in the mysterious world of traditional religion demonstrates that the generosity of the divine spirit is transactional.