Name in original language
KI Potenzialflächenkarte
Initiative overview
The initiative addresses Austria’s persistent challenge of high land consumption, around 6.5 hectares per day, far exceeding national sustainability targets. A major opportunity lies in reactivating brownfields: previously industrial or commercial sites that are unused or underused. Earlier studies estimated up to 10,000 such sites nationwide, yet no comprehensive, publicly accessible dataset existed.
Against this backdrop, the initiative seeks to leverage AI-based image analysis to systematically identify brownfields across Austria and support more sustainable land use, prioritising redevelopment over new land conversion. The project’s core objective is to create the first nationwide, data-driven brownfield map using optical remote-sensing data. By applying a trained AI classification system to orthophotos, approximately 65,000 industrial and commercial sites larger than 1,000 m² were analysed. About 4,700 brownfields, sites with very high prediction confidence, covering roughly 4,000 hectares were published on the public WebGIS platform and made available as open government data.
The initiative aims to support municipalities, planners, investors, and policymakers in prioritising land recycling, aligning with national commitments to reduce soil sealing and promote redevelopment over new zoning. By making the data publicly accessible through www.brachflaechen-dialog.at and data.gv.at, the project institutionalises a standardised, repeatable method for monitoring brownfield potential.
Looking ahead, the initiative is designed for continuous evolution and long-term integration into Austria’s land-use governance. Since one-third of the country is re-photographed annually, updated orthophotos will feed into the system, enabling regular refreshes of the brownfield map. This creates a dynamic monitoring tool rather than a one-time inventory. Through institutionalisation within the Federal Ministry and ongoing technical updates, the initiative is positioned to become a permanent, scalable instrument for reducing land consumption and promoting sustainable spatial development.
