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 for different scenarios
   - Visualisation of some of the dataseries used to derive the different remediation indices through graphs and tables

Please feel free to share your feedback with us!

Step 1 and 2: Scenario description for the Moldova Nouă site

Four different restorative remediation scenarios will be compared in this dashboard for the Moldova Nouă site:

1. Business as usual: This scenario represents a low-cost, low-intervention approach, relying on natural attenuation while maintaining current socio-economic activities. It emphasizes monitoring and adaptive management to balance environmental safety (Disposal of tailing dumps and Covering) with the community’s ongoing way of life.

   Remediation approaches: No remediation conducted

2. Industrial development: The closure of the mining industry after 1990 led to significant job losses and a sharp decline in local income. However, advancements in mining technology and the growing focus on sustainable urban development present a renewed opportunity. Revitalizing the mining sector under modern, sustainable practices could ensure a stable local economy while aligning with contemporary environmental standards (2024 Dragan et al.).

   Remediation approach: The remediation approach involves reducing dust emissions from the site through the use of sprinkler systems, establishing vegetation barriers along the pond boundaries, and partially covering the ponds to minimize wind erosion and dust dispersion.

3. Residential and Touristic development: Moldova Nouă’s geographical location and natural assets present a unique opportunity for tourism development. The Ostrov is earmarked for partial preservation as a natural reserve, while the section facing Moldova Veche is designated for recreational and touristic purposes. This balanced approach ensures the protection of natural habitats while promoting sustainable tourism.

   The remediation approach involves removing contaminated tailing ponds and soil from the site, followed by recreational redevelopment. In areas affected by dust dispersion, the topsoil layer is removed and treated using soil washing. Stabilization and contamination reduction are achieved through phytoremediation techniques.

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.The establishment of a national park aims to safeguard biodiversity, support ecological functions, and promote conservation efforts.

   The remediation approach involves removing contaminated tailing ponds and soil from the site, followed by recreational redevelopment.

Step 1 and 2: Spatial Mapping and Scenario definition

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 and Soil samples taken in the ARAGRON Project

• Land cover data: is based on the CORINE Land Cover data with an 100m raster resolution (2018).

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

Step 3: Impact and Risk assessments

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 4: 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:

• Business as Usual: Overall no improvement

• Industrial development: Highly beneficial for the private sector with little improvement on social and environmental benefits

• Residential and touristic development: Beneficial for the private sector and generating social and environmental benefits with the creation of residential and recreational areas and the remediation of most pollutated areas.

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

Conclusion: The “Residential and touristic development” scenario judged as most beneficial

Step 4: Tier 2 Quantified Assessment (partly monetized)

The four scenarios were evaluated on the increase or decrease in values for the private sector (private) and the social and environmental impacts, which were rated on their overall benefits and costs. The impacts are hereby dependant on the spatial expansion of each scenario. For hotspot areas and dust polluted areas different weighing factors were used.

Step 4: Tier 3 All impacts quantified and monetized (Plot)

Show Table with values in table