Intro to the Spatial and Financial Planning Dashboard for Contaminated Soil for Restoration and Reuse

Welcome to ARAGORN's Spatial and financial planning dashboard for contaminated soil for restoration and reuse!

We overall aim decision support by spatially visualizing the expected positive and negative impacts of remediation and restauration strategies in relation to the remediation goal:

   - Interactive maps allowing different stakeholders to see how different remediation indices align
   - Visualisation of some of the dataseries used to derive the different remediation indices through graphs and tables

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Step 1 and 2: Scenario description for the Meza Valley site

Three different restorative remediation scenarios will be compared in this dummy dashboard for the Meza Valley site:

1. Monitored Natural Attenuation: This scenario involves allowing natural processes to gradually reduce contaminant levels in the soil and groundwater without active remediation. The focus is on carefully monitoring the site to track the progress of natural attenuation, which may include biological degradation, dilution, adsorption, and chemical reactions that stabilize contaminants over time. Monitoring is critical to ensure that contamination levels decrease as expected and do not pose a risk to human health or the environment on site or emissions off site.

2. Emission protection: In this scenario, the remediation strategy is based on stabilizing contaminants in the soil to prevent their leaching into groundwater. This is achieved through soil amendment using, for example, waste-derived biochars, activated carbon or clay minerals. The purpose of such sorbing materials is to reduce mobility, bioavailability and limit the spread to other environmental compartments, such as groundwater and surface water. Though this approach may not lower the actual concentration of contaminants, it can reduce contaminant migration and thereby help protect water quality and minimize further environmental impact.

3. Urban redevelopment: This scenario involves the “dig-and-dump” method, where contaminated soil is excavated and replaced to allow for the construction of residential and urban recreational areas. The primary focus is on protecting human health by removing contaminated soil from the area and ensuring the land is safe for residential use. Redevelopment plans may also include creating green spaces, parks, or recreational facilities that enhance urban life while addressing contamination concerns.

4. National park development: In this scenario, the focus is on promoting the natural rehabilitation of the contaminated site to preserve and enhance biodiversity. The goal is to restore the area to a more natural state, allowing ecosystems to recover and thrive. This may involve minimal human intervention, such as by reintroducing or planting native species, relying on natural processes to rehabilitate the land and protect local flora and fauna. The establishment of a national park aims to safeguard biodiversity, support ecological functions, and promote conservation efforts.

Step 1 and 2: Map of site and remediation alternatives

Layers shown in the map:

• Background maps: Users can switch between different base maps, including orthophoto imagery, a gray canvas map, and a topographic map.

• Pollution levels: The spatial distribution of pollution is displayed, based on previous research on contamination transport via dust, water, and sediments (see Chapter 2.1).

• Land use/land cover data: This includes classes such as Forest, Built Area, Rangeland, Bare Ground, and Cropland.

• Scenarios: Different layers represent the spatial extent of various restoration alternatives.

Step 3: Impact assessments of private and social costs and benefits

As an example for the applied risk assessment, the human health and the environmental impacts were quantified for each of the 4 scenarios and displayed as following:

Step 3: Tier 1 Qualitative assessment

In a qualitative assessment experts and stakeholders assess the available information and make a decision based on their judgement.

Scenario evaluation:

• Monitored Natural Attenuation: Overall no improvement

• Emission Protection: Overall some improvement, with high impacts on social and environmental benefits

• Urban Redevelopment: Beneficial for the private sector wiht the creation of residential and recreational areas

• National Park Development: Huge win for nature with the highest social and environmental benefits

Conclusion: The “Urban Redevelopment” scenario judged as most beneficial

Step 3: Tier 2 Quantified, but only partly quantified and monetized assessment

The four scenarios were evaluated on the increase or decrease in values for the private sector (private) and the social and environmental impacts (Social and Environ.), which were rated on their overall benefits and costs. The impact was assessed for pre-defined contaminated areas. For simplicity the weighing factor was set to 1.0.

Step 3: Tier 3 Plot of Quantified and monetised assessment

Show Table with values in table