This screencast demo highlights the key features of the Brownfield Action simulation and also serves as an introduction to navigating its interface.

View the Introduction Video for information on its use in Dr. Peter Bower's Introduction to Environmental Science curriculum at Barnard College.

View the Teaching & Training section of this web site for information on how to incorporate the Brownfield Action simulation into other courses.

A Timeline History of the Brownfield Action Simulation (BA)

Pre-1999
BA is based on a card-based board game students use called Groundwater Project.

1999
Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL) and Barnard College develop the initial version of BA in Macromedia Director. Subsequent development efforts continue and improved versions follow.

The Brownfield Action Simulation

Brownfield Action (BA) is a web-based environmental science simulation developed by the Center for New Media Teaching and Learning at Columbia University and Dr. Peter Bower of Barnard College.

What is a “brownfield”?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a brownfield as "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant". The actual presence of contaminants on this "real property" must be determined by a carefully planned investigation known as an environmental site assessment (ESA).

CCNMTL Press Releases

Columbia Environmental Science Simulation Enhances Curricula at East Coast Colleges (September 2007)

Barnard News Center

New and Improved Environmental Teaching Tool Launches (April 2008)

Clean Up Act (Fall 2007)

Brownfield Action (BA) is a web-based, interactive, three-dimensional digital space and learning simulation in which students form geotechnical consulting companies, perform Phase One and Phase Two Environmental Site Assessments, and work collaboratively to explore and solve problems in environmental forensics.

An Interactive, Digital Space

Brownfield Action (BA) is a network-based, interactive, digital space and simulation in which students explore and solve problems in environmental forensics. The field of play consists of a three dimensional world whose playing surface is 2200 x 3200 feet. This surface extends to a depth of 600 feet and consists of over 2 million data points that contain information on surface elevation, depth to water table or bedrock, and soil or sediment type.