Assessment of Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance (SADA) Potential for Clean Up

Current federal and state regulations related to brownfields promote applicable practices that contain inherent problems. The primary issue with federal and state regulations governing brownfields is that risk assessment measures and spatial distribution of contaminants are not prominently factored in brownfield redevelopment. These boundaries of the contaminants are critical for establishing proper protection of the potential exposed population such as clean-up workers. Recent public domain software developments such as the Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance (SADA) software can provide a reliable and cost effective tool for developing a comprehensive approach to brownfield redevelopment which will account for the spatial distribution of the contaminants and provide a rational solution to critical operational issues such as hotspots, restrictive zones for the protection of workers, and prioritization of clean-up operations. Actual data from a real brownfield site in Cook County, Illinois was used in this study to evaluate SADA applicability to brownfield redevelopment. Using SADA, a sample design was established using historical data and implemented at the site. The data captured from the SADA identified site investigation was useful to identify hotspots of contaminants of concern and creation of worker restrictive zones based on future redevelopment. The results for the brownfield site classified statically significant to actual results observed and appears SADA is appropriate tool for brownfield redevelopment