How can soil remediation and stabilization enhance urban resilience and sustainability?

3 How to reduce environmental impacts of soil remediation and stabilization?

Soil remediation and stabilization can have positive effects on urban resilience and sustainability, but they can also generate environmental impacts. To minimize or mitigate these impacts, it’s important to conduct a comprehensive site assessment and risk analysis to identify the most appropriate and effective methods for each case. Additionally, green remediation principles should be applied to reduce energy use, emissions, water use, waste generation, and ecological footprint. Furthermore, sustainable soil management concepts should be incorporated to conserve and enhance soil functions and services such as nutrient cycling, water regulation, carbon sequestration, and habitat provision. This can be done by using organic amendments, enhancing soil biodiversity, preventing soil compaction and erosion, and promoting soil education and awareness.

4 How to integrate soil remediation and stabilization into urban planning and development?

Soil remediation and stabilization form an integral part of urban planning and development, and as such should not be treated as isolated or one-time interventions. To ensure successful integration into urban policies, strategies, and actions, a holistic and participatory approach involving multiple stakeholders should be adopted. This approach should ensure transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. Additionally, objectives and outcomes of soil remediation and stabilization should be aligned with global and local frameworks for sustainable development, as well as national and municipal plans and regulations. Furthermore, opportunities for synergy with other urban initiatives and sectors, such as urban regeneration, climate action, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, and social justice should be leveraged to create co-benefits and trade-offs.

5 What are some examples of soil remediation and stabilization in practice?

Examples of soil remediation and stabilization projects around the world demonstrate how these processes can enhance urban resilience and sustainability. For instance, the Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City, USA is a 34-hectare waterfront park that was built on former industrial land contaminated with lead, petroleum, and other pollutants. A combination of physical and biological methods were used to remediate and stabilize the soil, such as excavation, capping, phytoremediation, and bioswales. This park now provides recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities for the public, as well as ecological services like stormwater management, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. Beijing's Shougang Park is an 8.6-square-kilometer urban renewal project that transformed a former steel mill site into a mixed-use development with residential, commercial, cultural, and sports facilities. Chemical and thermal methods were used to remediate and stabilize the soil, such as soil washing, thermal desorption, and solidification. The project also included green infrastructure like wetlands, green roofs, and solar panels to improve environmental quality and energy efficiency. The Moravia Green Corridor in Medellin, Colombia is a 1.5-kilometer linear park created on top of a former garbage dump contaminated with methane, leachate, and pathogens. A combination of physical and biological methods were used to remediate and stabilize the soil such as landfill gas extraction, geomembranes, composting, and vegetation. This park now provides a public space for recreation, education, and social interaction for surrounding low-income communities while also providing air purification, noise reduction, and urban cooling benefits.