Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-178 - "Systems Engineering Approaches For Brownfield Redevelopment" ) ~ Development & Technical Services ~ Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: Development and Technical Services Committee December 11 , 2006 J. Witmer, Director of Building & Environmental Remediation (519) 741-2846 Terry Boutilier, Brownfield Coordinator and Senior Business Development Officer (519) 741-2303 J. Witmer and Terry Boutilier All November 27, 2006 DTS-06-178 "SYSTEMS ENGINEERING APPROACHES FOR BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT" RECOMMENDATION: For Information only. BACKGROUND: Earlier this year with the support of the City of Kitchener, the Universities of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier, Guelph and Ryerson submitted to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Strategic Program Grant a proposal entitled "Systems Engineering Approaches for Brownfield Redevelopment" NSERC recently advised the universities and their private and public sector partners of their acceptance of the proposal and their approval to provide grant funding for the next three years. The overall mission of the project is to develop Systems Engineering procedures and tools to help Canadian communities identify and decide upon Brownfield remediation strategies to best meet stakeholders' needs. The proposed research will develop new and creative Systems Engineering approaches to Brownfield redevelopment which will: · take into account stakeholders' requirements and value systems; · seek to obtain win/win solutions; · directly consider risk and uncertainty with respect to the environment and human health in the evaluation of alternative solutions to Brownfield remediation; · entertain less intrusive and less costly approaches to the remediation of Brownfield's; · characterize Brownfield and underutilized properties according to meaningful criteria; · enhance the management of Brownfield's; and · suggest directions in which to improve regulations and policies for Brownfield redevelopment within and across the various levels of government from municipal to international. In the development of this proposal, the proponents have worked closely with a range of Supporting Organizations representing important stakeholders. In the execution of the work plan, they will continue to cooperate with these and other partners. The City of Kitchener has endorsed the plan, and encouraged the research team to work closely with the Director of Building and Environmental Remediation and the Brownfield Coordinator and Senior Business Development Officer to test, refine, and develop techniques using Brownfield redevelopment case studies in Kitchener involving coal tar and other pollutants. This work is very timely since a "Brownfield Remediation Improvement Plan" and an "Environmental Remediation Strategy" are currently being developed beneath the City's "Healthy Communities Plan" umbrella. Kitchener recognizes the need for the redevelopment of Brownfield's, not only for economic and societal benefits but also to reduce environmental and health risks. Three private sector consulting companies are providing guidance, and will continue to do so throughout the project; other consultants will also be approached upon project approval. Additionally, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo will assist with the Brownfield policy enhancement component of the work. Many of the Systems Engineering approaches developed in the project will be applicable to other areas of infrastructure renewal and expansion. To accomplish the overall objective and specific goals, the research is subdivided into three main components for which work will be carried out in a systematic and integrative fashion according to a detailed work plan spanning three years. The first component deals with the development of new multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques for classifying Brownfield's and comparing alternative solutions according to environmental, economic, social, financial, health, and legal criteria. Nominal classification techniques will be developed to classify Brownfield sites so that remediation projects can be prioritized. Risk and uncertainty considerations will be reflected in this and other MCDA studies. Brownfield decision analysis will require enhanced methods to simultaneously handle criteria that can be quantitative (like costs) or qualitative (like societal impacts). The balance of short and long-term objectives will also be investigated. Among other topics, MCDA methods will be extended and adapted to compare alternative Brownfield remediation strategies in order to design enhanced policies within and across different levels of government. The second main part of the project is the construction of formal approaches for group decision and negotiation with respect to Brownfield redevelopment. Because a successful Brownfield project usually involves the sharing of risks, often in a public/private partnership, equitable and realistic techniques for risk sharing are needed. Moreover, to achieve win/win outcomes whenever possible, new negotiation structures and techniques will be investigated. A negotiation methodology for use in conjunction with other Brownfield redevelopment strategies will be developed. The third major project component is the employment of Brownfield case studies to design, test, refine and demonstrate the usefulness of the Systems Engineering decision technologies in MCDA, group decision and negotiation, as well as associated risk considerations. Personnel from the City of Kitchener, private consulting organizations, and Supporting Organizations that join the project later will work hand-in-hand with the research team to select appropriate case studies and provide ongoing advice and feedback throughout the duration of the project. This group of professionals and experts will also suggest specific types of Brownfield problems to be studied. For instance, one advisor has already suggested carrying out cost-benefit analyses within an MCDA framework to ascertain if nonpotable water standards can be used in place of potable water standards at Brownfield locations where Kitchener's water supply is not affected. The project will produce many economic and social benefits for Canada. For example, highly qualified personnel will be trained in Systems Engineering approaches to Brownfield redevelopment and related infrastructure renewal and expansion, including one Post Doctoral Fellow, at least three PhD students, one Master's student, and many undergraduate students, as well as some current employees of cities and private consulting companies. Extensive dissemination of research findings will take place via conference sessions and meetings organized by team members as well as through publications in journals, conference proceedings, and newsletters. Because the research team will be working closely with both the public and private sectors, knowledge and technology will be transferred smoothly to these sectors throughout the project. Proper management and development of publicly and privatelyowned Brownfield sites will permit underutilized land to contribute substantially to the economy and well-being of communities. Furthermore, the development of Systems Engineering technologies will provide Canadian municipalities and Canadian consulting firms with a distinct competitive advantage. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None COMMUNICATIONS: None CONCLUSION: The restoration of Brownfield sites provides a range of economic, social and environmental benefits to stakeholders. Economically, a Brownfield redevelopment has one of the highest impacts measured in Canada. Other economic benefits include development of exportable restoration technologies, provision for an expanded tax base for all levels of government, and the creation of employment opportunities. From a social perspective, Brownfield restoration can improve the quality of life, eliminate health threats and furnish land for affordable housing. Finally, environmental benefits include the restoration of environmental quality, improvement of air and water, and the reduction of expansion pressure from urban centres into surrounding greenfields. Respectfully submitted James A. Witmer, Director of Building and Environmental Remediation Terry Boutilier, Brownfield Coordinator and Senior Business Development Officer