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UTILIZING GIS TECHNOLOGY AS A SITE SELECTION AND MARKETING TOOL FOR BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT

Typically, when developers, banks, and other organizations have an interest in a property, they must perform an extensive information search to determine if the site is worth purchasing Depending on the developer's planned use for the property, this search could consist of locating tax and title information, locating utilities and major roadways in the area, and finding data on population demographics.

Potential environmental contamination information that a developer could request includes the location of ponds or lagoons on the site, the location of toxic release inventory (TRI) facilities in the area, or the location of Superfund sites within a desired parameter of the site. An information search of this type could take days, weeks, or even months to compile. With a geographic information system (GIS), this search could take a matter of minutes, and be displayed in an easy to understand graphical or map form.

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based technology capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information, i.e., data identified according to their locations. GIS technology is consequently changing the way municipalities and other local government organizations communicate with potential purchasers of brownfield properties. With GIS technology, municipalities can select brownfield sites based on predetermined zoning criteria and market the properties based on the needs of the developer.

Key words: brownfields, GIS, environmental contamination, development