Systems & methods for automated assessment for remediation and/or redevelopment of brownfield real estate

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributed, automated management of brownfield real estate asset remediation and/or redevelopment, including at least one server computer for analyzing and providing recommendations for a potential brownfield investment, wherein the at least one server computer is paired with a web-based graphical interface for accessing and editing stored documents, pictures, tasks, and budget information related to at least one brownfield asset.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for assessment of brownfield real estate assets comprising:
 at least one computer constructed and configured to assess, manage, and display data relating to a list of brownfield assets;   at least one memory and database operable to store information related to the list of brownfield assets; and   a web crawler in network communication with the at least one computer;   wherein the list of brownfield assets includes brownfield assets automatically compiled by the web crawler;   wherein the at least one computer analyzes information related to at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets and at least one previous brownfield asset;   wherein the information related to at least one brownfield asset is extracted from internal data sources and at least one external database, aggregated within the at least one memory and database, and matched to existing data or project files;   wherein the analysis includes extracting property variables from the external database and matching the property variables to internal data extracted from the internal data sources;   wherein, based on at least one preset threshold, the at least one computer is operable to generate an investment recommendation based on the analysis and the matched data or project files;   a graphical interface hosted on the at least one computer, wherein the graphical interface is operable to:
 store input data relating to the list of brownfield assets in the at least one memory and database; 
 search and sort the stored input data based on brownfield information categories to generate a filtered selection of brownfield assets; 
 retrieve and display the stored input data relating to the filtered selection of brownfield assets; and 
 communicate the stored input data to an internal or external entity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an Environmental Management System (EMS) accessible through the graphical interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer outputs the information related to the at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets and the at least one previous brownfield asset in a digital spreadsheet, including the analyzed information, wherein the digital spreadsheet is searchable and editable. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a budget is automatically generated from the information corresponding to the at least one of the brownfield assets. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an administrator user account is operable to assign and manage tasks relating to the at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information for each of the at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets is stored in a corresponding project file with a Global Deal ID. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical interface is further operable to store vendor data, wherein the vendor data includes fields for at least names, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, and a list of involved projects. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the brownfield assets compiled by the web crawler are automatically screened by an automatic screening tool before being added to the list of brownfield assets, wherein the automatic screening of the brownfield assets compiled by the web crawler results in a decision regarding whether each brownfield asset passes the automatic screening, fails the automatic screening, or requires further investigation, wherein passing the automatic screening means the brownfield asset is added to the list of brownfield assets and failing the automatic screening means the brownfield asset is not added to the list of brownfield assets. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the brownfield assets compiled by the web crawler are automatically screened by an automatic screening tool, wherein the automatic screening of the brownfield assets compiled by the web crawler is based on quality control information for the property, wherein the quality control information for the property includes location, zoning, public and/media opinion on development in the location, lender availability, type of environmental contamination or pollution, use restrictions imposed by remediation requirements, wildlife habitat, flood plain, airport proximity, topographical data, historical structures or areas, easements, and/or need for regulatory approval for development for the property. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the web crawler automatically provides quality control information for each brownfield asset. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the brownfield assets compiled by the web crawler are automatically screened by an automatic screening tool, wherein an automatic alert message is generated after the automatic screening of the brownfield assets compiled by the web crawler, wherein the automatic alert message includes a decision of the automatic screening for each brownfield asset. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the brownfield assets compiled by the web crawler are automatically screened by an automatic screening tool, wherein if the automatic screening tool determines that further investigation is required for a particular brownfield asset and a particular brownfield asset is determined to have failed in a further investigation, then the automatic screening tool is updated with a quantifiable factor regarding the decision to fail the particular brownfield asset, wherein the quantifiable factor is included in the automatic screening for subsequent brownfield assets. 
     
     
         13 . A method for assessment of brownfield real estate assets comprising:
 a web crawler automatically compiling brownfield assets;   providing at least one computer constructed and configured to assess, manage, and display data relating to a list of brownfield assets, wherein the list of brownfield assets includes the brownfield assets automatically compiled by the web crawler;   providing at least one memory and database operable to store information related to the list of brownfield assets;   extracting and analyzing information related to at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets and at least one previous brownfield asset, wherein the information is extracted from internal data sources and an external database;   aggregating the information within the at least one memory and database, and matching the information to existing data or project files, wherein the information includes extracted property variables from the external database;   matching the property variables to internal data extracted from the internal data sources;   generating, based on at least one preset threshold, an investment recommendation based on the analysis and the matched existing data or project files;   providing a graphical interface hosted on the at least one computer, the graphical interface:
 storing input data relating to the list of brownfield assets in the at least one memory and database; 
 searching and sorting the stored input data based on brownfield information categories to generate a filtered selection of brownfield assets; and 
 retrieving and displaying the stored input data relating to the filtered selection of brownfield assets. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing an Environmental Management System (EMS) accessible through the graphical interface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising outputting the information related to the at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets and the at least one previous brownfield asset in a digital spreadsheet, including the automatically analyzed information, wherein the digital spreadsheet is searchable and editable. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising automatically generating a budget from the documents and the budget information relating to the at least one of the brownfield assets. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising assigning and managing tasks relating to the at least one of the brownfield assets through an administrator user account. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising storing the information for each of the at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets in a corresponding project file with a Global Deal ID. 
     
     
         19 . A system for assessment of brownfield real estate assets comprising:
 at least one computer constructed and configured to assess, manage, and display data relating to a list of brownfield assets; and   at least one memory and database operable to store information related to the list of brownfield assets;   wherein the list of brownfield assets includes brownfield assets automatically compiled from online sources;   wherein the at least one computer analyzes information related to at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets and at least one previous brownfield asset;   wherein the information is extracted from internal data sources and an external database, aggregated within the at least one memory and database, and matched to existing data or project files;   wherein the analysis includes extracting property variables from the external database and matching the property variables to internal data extracted from the internal data sources;   wherein the at least one computer generates a spreadsheet with the analyzed information and a recommendation for investment based on the analysis and the matched existing data or project files;   a graphical interface accessible by at least one mobile device and hosted on the at least one computer, wherein the graphical interface is operable to:
 store input data relating to the list of brownfield assets in the at least one memory and database; 
 search and sort the stored input data to generate a filtered selection of brownfield assets; 
 retrieve and display the stored input data relating to the filtered selection of brownfield assets; 
 wherein the input data includes tasks relating to the at least one brownfield asset on the list of brownfield assets; and 
 wherein the tasks are automatically generated by the at least one computer based on default tasks. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an Environmental Management System (EMS) accessible through the graphical interface.