A web-based Decision Support System (DSS) for preliminary risk assessment of Brownfield sites

Reusing brownfield sites always raises concern for the health and safety of site workers involved in site renovations and redevelopments and, subsequently, for the residents or occupants of the sites. As a minimum, a preliminary risk assessment is necessary to determine whether a brownfield site is contaminated and, if so, ensure any redevelopment is safe and suitable for its intended use. For instance, a developer may decide to redevelop brownfield site based on a preliminary risk assessment alone without any further investigation and detailed quantitative risk assessment, provided the developer is confident that any hazards present can be addressed using appropriate measures, and the acquisition brings broad commercial benefits. Despite growing interest in the progression of risk assessment tools, there are limited instruments available to brownfield site assessors to consult when conducting investigations at the preliminary risk assessment stage. This research seeks to bridge this gap and provide a Decision Support System (DSS) PRAofBS (Preliminary Risk Assessment of Brownfield sites) Tool to assist investigators and different stakeholders by identifying potential hazards associated with brownfield sites at the preliminary stage. As a result, a clear and comprehensive conceptual framework was developed to guide research in this field and shape the DSS Tool development. Experts validated the framework through a questionnaire survey. While the validation of the DSS Tool was facilitated by two approaches, firstly the DSS was uploaded to the internet, which involved testing tool by experts in terms of a graphical user interface (GUI), level of information, quality of data. The second approach was carried out by functional testing, which involved testing the tool’s outputs against real–life case studies to confirm information agreement. The framework validation results can be divided into two parts. Firstly, the statistical analyses revealed that the top information to identify the source of hazards is site history, made ground, invasive species, previous mining, storage of materials and old tanks, presence of radon, underground services and buildings and other structures. Furthermore, site geology, site hydrology, site hydrogeology, and site topography were rated as top information to identify the contaminants' pathway movement. At the same time, future site use scenario is critical to identify the critical receptor of the population most likely to be exposed and/or susceptible to soil contamination. Secondly, the likelihood of potential hazards was calculated by using a Voting Analytic Hierarchy Process (VAHP), which was useful for prioritizing and generally distinguishing potential hazards from more likely to least likely threats. On the subject of DSS validation, most of the participants reported that they found DSS easy to use. They were also positive about the level and quality of information and knowledge provided by the decision support system. In particular, they found it to be helpful for the preliminary risk assessment process of brownfield site. Finally, it is anticipated that, with some modifications, the DSS Tool could become a commercially viable interface

A critical review of developers’ decision criteria for Brownfield regeneration: development of the BRIC index

© 2023 The Authors. Published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097105The complexity of processes and constraints associated with redevelopment of brownfield lands calls for provision of relevant, adequate, sufficient, up-to-date, and easily accessible information on brownfield lands to enable developers make an informed decision when navigating the hurdles of brownfield redevelopment. Furthermore, the various obstacles and barriers that developers encounter during decision making for brownfield redevelopment has continued to contribute to the limited uptake of brownfield lands in England by developers for redevelopment and regeneration. This study was conducted to explore the factors that developers consider when redeveloping brownfield lands and to present a decision criterion that will support brownfield site selection and subsequent regeneration. A mixed methodology using qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted to investigate the factors, criteria, and information that developers consider when making decisions for brownfield redevelopment. Data collection was carried out using a literature review and interviews with brownfield experts. Using a purposeful sampling approach, a total of 11 brownfield stakeholders, which cut across key experts involved in brownfield redevelopment within the Black Country region of England, was interviewed. Each expert interviewed holds a stakeholder critical role in regulatory organisations and construction industry organisations, including local authorities, geo-environmental organisations, land remediators and consultants, housing developers, etc. A comparative analysis of evidence obtained from developer interview responses, the literature review, and the brownfield register showed that 57% of factors, criteria, and information such as cost/capital expenses, funding, contamination level, infrastructure, water risk, neighbours, connectivity (digital, energy networks/grid), and access and transport, which developers require for decision making relating to redevelopment of brownfield sites, are not available on a standard local authority’s brownfield land register. To address the identified information gaps, this study developed “The BRIC Index”, a decision-making tool that incorporates a GIS-based system to facilitate screening of brownfield sites based on specified criteria and to help identify risks, contamination, and remediation costs of brownfield development. The effectiveness of the BRIC Index was validated through successful usage for site selection by various SMEs in the Black Country.The BRIC University of Wolverhampton is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). BRIC project reference is 01R17P01468.Published versio

Towards the creation of a decision support system tool for the preliminary risk assessment of brownfield sites

Brownfield sites always raise concern for the health and safety of site workers involved in site renovations and developments and, subsequently, for the residents or occupants of the sites. As a minimum, a preliminary risk assessment is necessary to determine whether a brownfield site is contaminated and, if so, ensuring any redevelopment is safe and suitable for its proposed use. Despite growing interest in the progression of risk assessment tools, there are limited instruments available for brownfield site assessors to consult when conducting investigations at the preliminary risk assessment stage. This study presents a conceptual framework that ultimately aims to create a web-based decision support system (DSS) for the preliminary risk assessment of brownfield sites. This is based on a pollutant linkage model (Source–Pathway–Receptor). The proposed framework aids the identification of health and safety hazards and, in doing so, it addresses the challenges facing those persons dealing with the decision-making on brownfield site developments. Moreover, the framework enables them to determine the most appropriate remediation strategy(ies) to halt pollutant linkages, promote safer developments and minimise the risks to future occupants of brownfield sites and neighbouring lands

Criteria for Preliminary Risk Assessment of Brownfield Site: An International Survey of Experts

Comprehensive risk assessment of brownfield sites requires a broad range of knowledge and multi-disciplinary expertise. Whilst the identification of criteria requirements for preliminary risk assessment has received some attention, there appears to be no studies that have specifically examined professional perspectives relating to these requirements. Yet, variations in professional practitioners’ assessments may have significant consequences for the assessment of risks, and how the criteria are imparted to stakeholders. This study aims to identify the criteria requirements for preliminary risk assessment, using the pollutant linkage model (Source–Pathway–Receptor), and explores cross-disciplinary professional perspectives related to these requirements. To this end, this study commenced with a systematic review to identify various criteria streams required for the preliminary risk assessment of brownfield sites. Thereafter, a questionnaire survey was design and shared with brownfield site professionals. Quantitative analysis of the survey responses (n = 76) reveals disciplines have markedly different priorities relating to the same hazard. For instance, geophysicists, geochemists, and hydrologists do not raise concerns regarding ground movement that can result from the removal of storage and tanks, whilst the same hazard was considered as having a high importance by other professions (such as geologists and geotechnical engineers). This example, amongst others revealed in the study, underpins potential issues and implications for various stakeholders compiling and/or using preliminary risk assessment criteria. This study clarifies both the key criteria requirements for the preliminary risk assessment of brownfield sites, as well as the importance of recognising how variation in professionals’ perceptions plays in the risk assessment process. Although, specialist knowledge is essential for brownfield site investigation, so is the maintaining a broad-based view of other experts coming from different backgrounds, as this renders holistic risk assessment insights

Criteria for preliminary risk assessment of Brownfield site: An international survey of experts

Comprehensive risk assessment of brownfield sites requires a broad range of knowledge and multi-disciplinary expertise. Whilst the identification of criteria requirements for preliminary risk assessment has received some attention, there appears to be no studies that have specifically examined professional perspectives relating to these requirements. Yet, variations in professional practitioners' assessments may have significant consequences for the assessment of risks, and how the criteria are imparted to stakeholders. This study aims to identify the criteria requirements for preliminary risk assessment, using the pollutant linkage model (Source-Pathway-Receptor), and explores cross-disciplinary professional perspectives related to these requirements. To this end, this study commenced with a systematic review to identify various criteria streams required for the preliminary risk assessment of brownfield sites. Thereafter, a questionnaire survey was design and shared with brownfield site professionals. Quantitative analysis of the survey responses (n = 76) reveals disciplines have markedly different priorities relating to the same hazard. For instance, geophysicists, geochemists, and hydrologists do not raise concerns regarding ground movement that can result from the removal of storage and tanks, whilst the same hazard was considered as having a high importance by other professions (such as geologists and geotechnical engineers). This example, amongst others revealed in the study, underpins potential issues and implications for various stakeholders compiling and/or using preliminary risk assessment criteria. This study clarifies both the key criteria requirements for the preliminary risk assessment of brownfield sites, as well as the importance of recognising how variation in professionals' perceptions plays in the risk assessment process. Although, specialist knowledge is essential for brownfield site investigation, so is the maintaining a broad-based view of other experts coming from different backgrounds, as this renders holistic risk assessment insights