Publications
Distinctive features of phytocenotic successions in mining-industrial landscapes
Post-mining landscapes, often dismissed for restoration challenges, can become valuable ecological assets with distinct phytocenotic successions shaped by edaphic conditions and anthropogenic disturbances. A study of quarry-stockpile complexes in Wallonia's mining-industrial sites (2019–2022) revealed that, without active renaturalization, vegetation dynamics are primarily driven by localized ecotopic factors and historical extraction impacts. Key findings include a moderate expansion of highly productive phytocenoses (from 25.5% to 27.2%) alongside a decline in overall vegetation cover (89.1% to 74.7%), with open substrates increasing from 11.3% to 25.2%. Zonal flora, dominated by segetal-ruderal species, exhibited structural shifts over time, as evidenced by rising species similarity coefficients on hilly loamy-sandy surfaces (0.54 to 0.63) and rugose overburden ledges (0.55 to 0.81). The research employed integrated methods—field surveys, aerial photography, experimentation, and statistical analysis—to highlight the ecological potential of post-extraction landscapes, emphasizing the need for targeted monitoring and conservation strategies.
Feasibility of Fifth-Generation district heating and cooling using mine water in Belgium: A Multi-Site Techno-Economic assessment
A multi-site techno-economic assessment reveals that fifth-generation district heating and cooling (5GDHC) using mine water in Belgium's Walloon coal basins could supply approximately 1.69 TWh of thermal energy annually, with potential to reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50% compared to conventional systems. This study integrates technical simulations, financial modeling, and cartographic analysis to evaluate the feasibility of pilot sites across Liège, Charleroi, and Mons. Site viability is strongly influenced by demand density, match between subsurface resources and demand, renovation levels, and governance models. However, subsurface data gaps, tariff structures, and fragmented responsibilities introduce significant uncertainty. The research formalizes design risks and provides sensitivity bands for key parameters, outlining customized 5GDHC–Geomine design rules tailored to Belgian contexts.
Thinking like a slag heap
A new socio-environmental history of the Martinet slag heap in Charleroi, Belgium, reveals how local citizens' stewardship of living soil since the 1970s embodies Aldo Leopold's 'land ethic,' offering a postextractivist model for the fossil crescent. This study combines fieldwork, interviews, and mapping to contrast extractivist mining logics with emerging citizen-led environmental practices, challenging Charleroi's industrial revival by advocating for long-term relational ontologies with soil ecosystems.
The Sense of Place of Local Mining Heritage in Wallonia
Former coal mining sites and slag heaps in Wallonia, though often unrecognized as heritage, hold significant value for local communities. These sites provide essential recreational, environmental, and cultural services, fostering a strong sense of place among residents. While local authorities exhibit limited interest in preserving mining heritage, they acknowledge its potential to support urban development, green infrastructure, and economic growth. The study, based on oral surveys and interviews with residents and local actors, reveals that these sites are actively repurposed through new uses and narratives, blending past and present activities. This research highlights the importance of reimagining underrecognized mining heritage for sustainable regional development.
Value as a Legal Tool for the Preservation of Monuments in Flanders and Wallonia: Between Conservation and Adaptation
Heritage value, once a tool to assess building significance, has become a key legal criterion for monument protection in Flanders and Wallonia. However, its subjective nature poses challenges to transparency and effectiveness in conservation practices. This study reveals that while heritage value guides listing processes, its ambiguity hinders practical implementation and adaptive reuse strategies. By analyzing databases of protection rulings and interviewing stakeholders, researchers found that current legislation lags behind societal needs, particularly regarding adaptive reuse. The findings underscore the need for legal frameworks to evolve with modern conservation practices to remain relevant.
Vice-versa: The iron trade in the western Roman Empire between Gaul and the Mediterranean
A groundbreaking analysis of iron trade in the western Roman Empire reveals distinct patterns of long-distance exchange between Gaul and the Mediterranean. By examining slag inclusions trapped in iron bars from 23 shipwrecks off Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, researchers identified two primary trade routes: one carrying Wallonian (Belgium) iron downstream along the Rhône River, while another transported Montagne Noire (France) iron upstream. This discovery sheds new light on the complex logistics of Roman-era metallurgy and trade networks. The study leveraged trace element analysis to compare slag from these wrecks with primary slag from six key ironmaking regions in Gaul, offering a novel method for reconstructing ancient economic systems.
A Preliminary Study on Industrial Landscape Planning and Spatial Layout in Belgium
Industrial landscape planning in Belgium reveals four distinct clusters of industrial heritage spatial layout, each shaped by regional characteristics and historical development routes. Using ArcGIS spatial analysis and kernel density calculations, researchers identified these clusters, which reflect the spontaneous formation based on social and natural resources. However, urban planning in Belgium lacks unified recreation efforts, often separating itself from the protection of industrial heritage. This study highlights the need for integrated approaches to preserve and utilize industrial landscapes effectively.
Key factors influencing metal concentrations in sediments along Western European Rivers: A long-term monitoring study (1945–2020)
A comprehensive analysis of over 12,000 sediment samples from seven major Western European rivers reveals significant spatio-temporal trends in metal contamination (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) between 1945 and 2020. Key findings include increased metal concentrations downstream of urban-industrial areas like Paris-Rouen on the Seine River and Bonn-Duisburg on the Rhine River, persistent contamination from former mining sites in crystalline zones (Upper Loire, Middle Meuse), and a general decline in metal levels since the 1970s—except for Cr and Ni. The study attributes these trends to effective environmental policies, improved wastewater treatment, and urban-industrial changes, highlighting the resilience of river systems when regulations are enforced.
The Overview of the Conservation and Renewal of the Industrial Belgian Heritage as a Vector for Cultural Regeneration
Belgium's industrial heritage, marked by its pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution, has been successfully integrated into urban regeneration efforts. This study highlights how different regions—Wallonia with heavy industry, Flanders with textiles, and Brussels with services—have preserved their distinct industrial legacies through coordinated conservation and renewal projects. A key finding is the harmonious coexistence of industrial heritage and modern cities, facilitated by innovative approaches such as eco-tourism and experience tourism. The research examines the regional characteristics of industrial heritage in Belgium, demonstrating how its preservation contributes to cultural regeneration. By analyzing successful reconstructions into industrial tourism projects, the study underscores the potential for sustainable urban development through the revitalization of historic sites.
What the Ground Says…
Underground-built heritage (UBH) serves as a 'threshold' between visible and invisible worlds, offering a unique lens to understand collective memories, practices, and values that shape territorial development. The study proposes that UBH can rebuild common links in fragmented environments by reviving the imagination of populations and fostering physical and mental perceptions of place. It explores how the cavities of geo-parks and underground mining architectures—fragments of a vocabulary yet to be relearned by communities—can emerge from shared stories, becoming vectors for new territorial coherence. The research emphasizes the need for a perceptual commitment to ground complexity, challenging traditional environmental sciences while offering hypotheses to reconstitute forgotten narratives.
The former lead and zinc district of Eastern Belgium and the calaminarian grasslands after the end of exploitations
Eastern Belgium's former lead and zinc mining district, once a pivotal European mining region during the Middle Ages and Industrial Revolution, has left behind unique calaminarian grasslands as the most visible remnants of its past exploitations. These grasslands host an anomalous metallophyte flora, forming remarkable ecosystems now under special protection. The study highlights the ecological significance of these post-mining landscapes, which have largely disappeared from the region's contemporary landscape. While the mining heritage has been overlooked in post-closure research, this work sheds light on its enduring environmental impact and the preservation of these distinctive ecosystems.
Cultural Heritage Documentation and Integrated Geomatics Techniques in an Educational Context: Case Bois-Du-Luc (Belgium)
A collaborative project between the Walloon government and Ghent University has successfully integrated geomatics techniques into educational contexts, focusing on the UNESCO World Heritage site Bois-du-Luc in Belgium. This initiative leveraged high-resolution aerial imagery and topographical surveys to create detailed 3D models and maps of the historic mining site, dating back to 1838–1923. The project not only preserved cultural heritage but also provided students with hands-on training in photogrammetry and land surveying, bridging academic learning with real-world applications. The results demonstrate the potential for such collaborations to enhance both educational outcomes and the preservation of significant industrial landscapes.
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