Construction and technical aspects of Brownfield Regeneration Barbara Vojvodíková, Filip Khestl, Tereza Murínová „This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.“

Awareness Which technical aspects we should pay attention to? What can be read up from various map data and why it is necessary to know it? Which information we need to get for objects on brownfields and why? Why we have to pay attention to the ownership structure?

Goals of the teaching unit Present various technical aspects of regeneration Explain what can be encountered on a brownfield site Explain how to mitigate risk of unpleasant surprises by choosing the right approach Which types of objects we may find on brownfields How to can we assess or diagnose them What is potential future utilization of these sites

Content What buildings can be found on brownfield sites What information we should collect to get a complete view of a site. Construction types and their diagnostics Why it is important to consider ownership issues

Types of buildings on brownfields Office buildings Production plants and factory buildings Special buildings - heating plant, waste water treatment plant... Towers and chimneys Roads and railway siding Networks - sewerage, electricity, water...

Office building – coal mine Odra – Ostrava (CZ) Photos by B. Vojvodíková

Office building – coal mine Heřmanice Ostrava (CZ) Photos by B. Vojvodíková

Production halls and buildings Figure 2 – Ostrava – Přívoz, CZ Figure 1 Ostrava Trojice valley Figure 3- Volos, Greek Photos by B. Vojvodíková

Towers and chimneys Figure 1- Bismarc. Gelsenkirchen Germany 2011 Figure 2 – Alexander, Ostrava. CZ Figure 3 – Zlaté Hory - CZ 2011 Photos by B. Vojvodíková

Pros and cons of keeping a dominant object on a site Pros (+) Object which is architectonically interesting can serve as a symbol of the place Tourist attraction Landmark Cons (-) Expensive maintenance Difficult to find meaningful reuse

Roads and railway siding Figure 1 – Třinec steelworks, CZ, 2011 Figure 2 - Vitkovice steelworks, CZ, 2009 Photos by B. Vojvodíková Area of former railway

Networks - sewerage, electricity, water Figure 1 - Schwartze Pumpe, Germany Figure 2 - Horní Suchá, CZ, 2008 Photo by B. Vojvodíková Photos by J. Lipner

What should be assessed to get enough information about a site (1) General maps Historical maps Town plan, local map Plan of distribution networks and grids Land-use limits scheme, Flood plans GIS resources, Ortophoto maps Cadastral map

Picture by J. Novosák Significance of cadastral map for identification of ownership Owners of former coal mine Heřmanice

What should be assessed to get enough information about a site (2) Specific maps Map of rainfall (rainfall – runoff relationships) Culmination flow rates of nearby streams Nearby boreholes and their interpretation Environmental audits.

Information to seek about objects (1) General information – focused on construction Details about the construction of the object Project documentation Foundation bearing capacity Disposition, dimensions, spans – gaps Materials used Building services, distribution networks. Cultural and historical technical heritage

Further information lowering the risk of unpleasant surprises Record of usage Ways of use, processes, modes of productions, technologies used Volumes, frequencies Used substances Changes in use, end of use (dates) Accidents, emergencies, sudden deaths, fires, leaks.

Absolutely essential part of evaluation potential for future use Information from the site Walk over Site visit – assessment of the situation State of vegetation, animals, colours, smells Every photograph available Communication with (former) employees, employers, neighbours, witnesses Quality of water in nearby wells.

Assessment of building constructions RULE NO. 1: Existing older building should always be supposed that its state is worse than it looks at first glance. This opinion we can change only on the basis of assessment results.

Examples of old constructions (even this can be a brownfield) Old church in Ústí nad Labem Předlice – CZ Photos by B. Vojvodíková

Examples of old constructions Old castle – Český Rudolec- CZ exterior interior Photos by B. Vojvodíková

Diagnostic methods Destructive methods impact on construction precise methods (compactness characteristics, cut probes, etc.) Photos by F. Khestl Diagnostics is carried out using destructive or non- destructive methods

Diagnostic methods Non-destructive methods None or only minimal construction damage Less precise methods, it is necessary to precise them by destructive methods (correlation coefficient) Recommended for objects of historical value (visual methods, firmness measuring, electric, radiation or electromagnetic methods, tensometric tests)

Ultrasonic impulse method Sound relay measurement on constructions (propagation speed is being measured) Photo by F. Khestl

Demolition Positive effects it removes the stigma of past use; it reduces the structural risks; it reduces contamination risks; it may help speed up the development process; it may prove to be more cost effective (cheaper then a complex reconstruction); it may produce higher development values for the site

Demolition Negative effects: it uproots the historical connections of the location; it is a costly process, especially where there is a large amount of material to be dumped; it is a less sustainable option regarding material use or reuse (material is carried away and new materials need to be brought on to the site); it is a less sustainable with regard to transport; there are increased accident risks to workers and the public.

Why it is necessary to pay attention to ownership Single ownership is usually the most favourable situation. Usually with an increased number of owners the chance for successful reclamation decreases. Shared development objectives are very difficult to realize in the case of a complicated ownership structure.

Conclusions Before start of the planning projects on brownfields an assessment has to be made. Various building types represent various risks for their future use It is necessary to take into account state of existing constructions and make rational decission about their eventual demolition Special attention has to be paid to ownership issues

Thank you for your attention „This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.“