Sustainability appraisal tools for soil and groundwater remediation: how is the choice of remediation alternative influenced by different sets of sustainability indicators and tool structures?
The state-of-the-science in sustainability assessment of soil and groundwater remediation is evaluated with the application of four decision support systems (DSSs) to a large-scale brownfield revitalization case study. The DSSs were used to perform sustainability appraisals of four technically feasible remediation alternatives proposed for the site. The first stage of the review compares the scope of each tool's sustainability indicators, how these indicators are measured and how the tools differ in terms of standardization and weighting procedures. The second stage of the review compares the outputs from the tools and determines the key factors that result in differing results between tools. The evaluation of indicator sets and tool structures explains why the tools generate differing results. Not all crucial impact areas, as identified by sustainable remediation forums, are thoroughly considered by the tools, particularly with regard to the social and economic aspects of sustainability. Variations in boundary conditions defined between technologies, produce distorted environmental impact results, especially when in-situ and ex-situ technologies are compared. The review draws attention to the need for end users to be aware of which aspects of sustainability are considered, how the aspects are measured and how all aspects are ultimately balanced in the evaluation of potential remediation strategies. Existing tools can be improved by considering different technologies within the same boundary conditions and by expanding indicator sets to include indicators deemed to be relevant by remediation forums.
Environmental Modelling Unit, VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; Department of Soil Management, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: alistair.beames@vito.be.
Alistair
A
Beames
Environmental Modelling Unit, VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
Steven
S
Broekx
Environmental Modelling Unit, VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
Richard
R
Lookman
Environmental Modelling Unit, VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
Kaat
K
Touchant
Environmental Modelling Unit, VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; Department of Soil Management, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
Piet
P
Seuntjens
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012987:Soil
Brownfield revitalization; Carbon footprint; Decision support; Remediation; Sustainability assessment