Reducing soil sealing in Flanders by mapping and assessing opportunities

Flanders is one of the most paved regions in Europe and soil sealing is still increasing every day. Hence, the associated negative effects for open space functions are an important challenge. First, we must prevent additional soil sealing. In addition, it is important to restore the cohesion and quality of the open space by actively reducing soil sealing. In order to reduce soil sealing efficiently and effectively, we need to gain insight into the locations where removing impermeable materials is most beneficial and most likely to be implemented. To support this, a potential map and assessment framework for Flanders were developed. The potential map identifies the potential for the removal of impermeable materials for paved surfaces in Flanders on a macro scale level. The associated assessment framework aims to evaluate mitigating measures in a more area-specific manner. Both tools can, among other things, help local governments to reduce soil sealing in their territories. The potential map brings for example in account the total of ‘non-used’ roadways and sprawled housing. The calculations lead to a total of 18,000 km roads in Flanders with soil restoration potential based on its characteristics and importance and to more than 55,000 houses with the opportunity to demolish and reducing the soil sealing based on its scattered location. Additionally is the total surface of public parking lots in Flanders calculated with artificial intelligence (AI) based on OpenStreetMap. This shows that Flanders has at least more than 1 million public parking lots. Many of these parking spaces are in urban areas and offer also hidden opportunities for a more flexible and permeable use. In the light of the new EU Soil Strategy and no net land take objective by 2050, with goals for Member States to integrate the ‘land take hierarchy’, it is important for every country, region or at local urban level to prioritize the opportunities of reusing and recycling land and implement an assessment framework to reduce soil sealing.

Publication year:2022

Keywords:Soil unsealing opportunities, mapping, assessment framework, artificial intelligence,, Flanders

Accessibility:Open