Brownfields Data as a Spatial Resource for Spatial Planning: A Banjaluka Case Study

In the post-industrial era, many cities have experienced the decline of traditional industries, leading to the widespread emergence of brownfields. Abandoned industrial sites represent a significant spatial resource, and their regeneration is considered an opportunity for sustainable urban development. Thus, spatial strategies for sustainable brownfield regeneration call for a thorough understanding of the spatial character and distribution of brownfields in a city. In the context of the City of Banjaluka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), this topic has not been researched, nor have brownfields been identified and mapped at the city level. Based on historical data and scientific literature, industrial brownfields in Banjaluka are mapped using available GIS data and further analysed to determine their spatial distribution and characteristics. This research shows an uneven distribution of agglomerated and dispersed brownfields within the city and the existence of various types of brownfields arising from their relationship with the city, their environment, and each other. The research contributes to the spatial characterisation of brownfields by defining a spatial analysis model based on the theory of industrial location. Moreover, the research affirms the need for more substantial consideration of brownfields in the urban and spatial planning process.