TIMBRE

"An Integrated Framework of Methods, Technologies, Tools and Policies for Improvement of Brownfield Regeneration in Europe"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Brownfield regeneration is essential for sustainable land management in European Member States. Currently, the success in brownfield regeneration is unsatisfying in terms of financial and eco-efficiency or social acceptance. Many useful and innovative technologies site clean-up as well as methods to support decision making processes exist, but they are only rarely applied using their full potential. An immense diversification of tools with little connection to each other as well as a lack of consideration of regional and cultural specificities deters end-users from application. Sometimes the non-visibility of tools is the reason that problem owners, managers, local authorities and other stakeholders do not regenerate brownfields using the best technology available. Additionally, emerging challenges, such as the urgent demand for soil remediation and the reuse of on-site infrastructures, call for the development of new and integrated solutions.

This project will overcome existing barriers to brownfield regeneration by developing and providing customised problem- and target-oriented packages of approaches, technologies and tools. As a unique asset, these packages deliberately include the cultural and administrative characteristics and their regionally distinctive features. By providing a customisable toolbox specifically addressing the diverse processes that have to be dealt with during the course of a regeneration project, end-users will be enabled to find best practice based solutions. Improvement of existing means to support brownfield regeneration will be further accomplished by filling methodological core topics such as intelligent remediation in terms of technological advancements with regard to phytoremediation and partial source removal technologies. The project will deliver a tailored training and dissemination programme as part of an information centre that will transfer existing and emerging knowledge to the scientific community and end-users.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A recently completed project has developed and tested hands-on tools to help regenerate derelict and contaminated urban land in Europe.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Contaminated land poses health and environmental risks. In a densely populated area like Europe, soil has become a scarce resource. Poor management, rubble, and soil and groundwater contamination of derelict land are a burden for the development in many European municipalities. Such urban brownfields should be seen as an opportunity to prevent sealing of fertile soils.

Many tools for site clean-up and better management are available. But, they are often too diverse, don't consider regional or cultural specificities, or stakeholders simply don't know about them. http://www.timbre-project.eu/ (TIMBRE) was an EU-funded initiative to overcome these limitations by integrating new and existing regeneration technologies as well as management solutions and developing hands-on tools.

Several online tools were created that give stakeholders access to the project results and tailored support measures. These include an information system, a prioritization tool and a site assessment tool for an efficient and sustainable re-use planning. Moreover, the project presents best practice cases of brownfield sites in Europe that have been regenerated. Together, these tools can assist managers of brownfield regeneration projects in planning, management and stakeholder engagement.

The tools were tested in collaboration with stakeholders at a number of brownfield sites in the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and Romania. Applications of the tools demonstrated, TIMBRE offers useful instruments for brownfield regeneration projects.

TIMBRE also investigated how different technologies for site characterization and remediation can be applied most efficiently, highlighting the use of plants to screen for contaminants in soil and groundwater in a process called phytoinvestigation.

Finally, the project produced guides to make regeneration projects more eco-friendly and cost effective, as well as safer for all participants. By boosting the efficiency of brownfield regeneration, TIMBRE outcomes will help stimulate economic recovery, competitiveness and urban environmental management.