WVU researchers design Zillow-inspired software to turn former mine lands into sites for economic development

WVU researchers have invented a Zillow-like software for developers to find property in southern West Virginia’s coalfields. Over 4,500 former mine lands exist in the southern counties of West Virginia, and the researchers have organized them into a searchable, interactive database similar to Zillow, Airbnb, and VRBO. The goal of the project is to encourage development opportunities on the former mine lands, ultimately repurposing them and creating jobs. The project is a collaboration between WVU, Coalfield Development Corporation, and The Nature Conservancy. It is part of a comprehensive project called “Appalachian Climate Technology Now,” which received funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration as part of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant.

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