Urban mining and water recycle for abandoned transurban areas (DATA project)

In the last decades, due to the processes and changes taking place in various sectors, landscapes have been gradually transformed and many areas have been abandoned. This process made large sites available, that were no longer used for original purposes but are often localized in areas of strategic value for the development of cities. All the previously developed areas, now abandoned or underused ones, raise concerns increasing the need of rethinking landscapes in order to protect environment. Instead of consuming new green lands, the underused ones need to be redeveloped and to be given a new life. The purpose of recovering abandoned lands, is not only to achieve a more sustainable urban setting, but it is also an issue of significant interest for economic and social impacts. It represents an opportunity to overcome the problem of land availability, that is an increasingly scarce resource and to simultaneously propose more sustainable urban living solutions, in harmony with nature. The DATA project (Development of Abandoned Transurban Areas) carried out by the University of Padova, is an attempt to fulfill that aim. The result is a complex interdisciplinary project in which architects and environmental engineers collaborate on the re-qualification of some abandoned areas located in Padova. The involved areas (more than 100 hectare) are located on the edge of the historic city, along the railway lines or the main roads, and industrial fabric scattered around the suburban territory. The project will particularly analyse the waste and water streams produced during the requalification activities and, following the urban mining concept, will propose solutions for their internal reuse and recycle both during and after the dismantling process. Phytotreatment units to recycle rain and wastewater will be planned as green corridors; demolition waste will be considered to build roads, fences and different constructions. Various requalification scenarios will be evaluated including through mass balance of waste and water recycled and emissions accounts. Data collected during the project will be organised in a specific electronic sheet to be of reference for future similar actions. The project involves 6 professors, 6 junior researchers and 12 companies and it is financed by the EU and Veneto Regional Government under the POR-FSE contribution.