From data to decisions: Empowering brownfield redevelopment with a novel decision support system.

This research evaluates a novel decision support system (DSS) for planning brownfield redevelopment. The DSS is implemented within a web-based geographical information system that contains the spatial data informing three modules comprising land use suitability, economic viability, and ground risk. Using multi-criteria decision analysis, an evaluation was conducted on 31,942 ha of post-industrial land and around Liverpool, UK. The representativeness and credibility of the DSS outputs were evaluated through user trials with fifteen land-use planning and development stakeholders from the Liverpool City Region Comined Authority. The DSS was used to explore land use planning scenarios and it could be used to support decision making. Our research reveals that the DSS has the potential to positively inform the identification of brownfield redevelopment opportunities by offering a reliable, carefully curated, and user-driven digital evidence base. This expedites the traditionally manual process of conducting assessments of land suitability and viability. This research has important implications for assessing the impact of current and future planning policy and the potential for the use of digital tools for land use planning and sustainability in the UK and globally.

Digital tools for brownfield redevelopment: Stakeholder perspectives and opportunities.

Brownfield redevelopment is a complex process often involving a wide range of stakeholders holding differing priorities and opinions. The use of digital systems and products for decision making, modelling, and supporting discussion has been recognised throughout literature and industry. The inclusion of stakeholder preferences is an important consideration in the design and development of impactful digital tools and decision support systems. In this study, we present findings from stakeholder consultation with professionals from the UK brownfield sector with the aim of informing the design of future digital tools and systems. Our research investigates two broad themes; digitalisation and the use of digital tools across the sector; and perceptions of key brownfield challenge areas where digital tools could help better inform decision-makers. The methodology employed for this study comprises the collection of data and information using a combination of interviews and an online questionnaire. The results from these methods were evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Findings reveal a disparity in levels of digital capability between stakeholder groups including between technical stakeholder types, and that cross-discipline communication of important issues may be aided by the development of carefully designed digital tools. To this end, we present seven core principles to guide the design and implementation of future digital tools for the brownfield sector. These principles are that future digital tools should be: (1) Stakeholder driven, (2) Problem centred, (3) Visual, (4) Intuitive, (5) Interactive, (6) Interoperable, and (7) Geospatial data driven.

A critical review of decision support systems for brownfield redevelopment.

Over the past two decades, many decision support systems (DSSs) have been developed to support decision makers and facilitate the planning and redevelopment process of brownfields. Existing systems are however often siloed in their approach and do not fully capture the complexity of brownfield sites from a sustainable development point of view. This critical review provides an insight into the development and implementation of DSSs, published and emerging, together with assessment of their strengths, limitations and opportunities for future integration. Brownfields DSS applications include: remediation technology selection; and land use planning; and risk assessment. The results of this review lead the authors to identify four opportunities to improve brownfield DSSs: (i) increased use of qualitative socioeconomic criteria, particularly costs and economic variables, (ii) decision-support during the early stages of brownfield redevelopment, (iii) the integration of predictive modelling methods, and (iv) improvements of user interfaces and modern web-based functionalities.