Digital EIA - The Increasing Use of GIS presentations/gary_benson_presentation...Digital EIA - The...
27
Digital EIA - The Increasing Use of GIS The Benefits of Using GIS Tools in the EIA Process Gary Benson GIS Consultant, AECOM Environment
Transcript of Digital EIA - The Increasing Use of GIS presentations/gary_benson_presentation...Digital EIA - The...
Digital EIA - The Increasing Use of GIS The Benefits of Using GIS Tools in the EIA Process
Gary Benson GIS Consultant, AECOM Environment
Topics to be considered:
1. What is GIS?
2. What can GIS do/what is it used for?
3. What are the benefits of using GIS in EIA?
4. How can GIS be utilised within EIA? – Case studies of applications within AECOM
1
What is GIS?
What is GIS?
– Geographic Information Systems are a means of storing, managing, manipulating and analysing geographically referenced (spatial) data.
– Spatial data can include:
– Points – residential dwellings, contamination points, etc.
– Lines – roads, watercourses, etc.
– Polygons – land use parcels, environmental designated areas, etc.
– All spatial data features have a corresponding record stored within an attribute table.
What is GIS? (continued)
– GIS manages spatial data in layers.
– Allows interrogation and analysis of spatial data.
– What is GIS not?
– A single software product.
– A static map.
What is GIS? (continued)
2
What can GIS do / what is it used for?
What can GIS do / what is it used for?
– GIS can be used as a decision support tool; particularly useful
in EIA.
– Allows the user to visualise and analyse spatial relationships.
– Enables the user to build a model of the real world, a
conceptual design or a combination of the two.
– Aids the effective dissemination of large spatial datasets to
non-GIS professionals.
What can GIS do / what is it used for? (continued)
– Can be used to provide answers to queries, such as:
– Are there any planning or environmental designations near my site?
– What is the topography and land use of my site?
– Which sites have the least constraints to allow development but are close to
crucial infrastructure?
– What are the population demographics surrounding my proposed development?
– What is the total area of ……………… within my proposed development site?
– How far are the nearest constraints from my proposed scheme?
3
What are the benefits of using GIS in EIA?
What are the benefits of using GIS in EIA?
– Improves efficiency.
– Enhances communication.
– Better informed decision-making.
– Reduced project costs.
– Adds value to the EIA process.
4
How can GIS be utilised within EIA?
How can GIS be utilised within EIA?
Wide range of applications, such as:
– Energy
– Landscape & visual
– Ecology & biodiversity
– Archaeology
– Socio-economics
– Acoustics
– Noise modelling
– Air quality modelling
– Hydrology
– Traffic & transportation
– Ground conditions
– Planning policy
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued)
– Energy projects:
– Wind farm origination (site finding) –
multiple sites.
– Wind farm feasibility – site specific.
– Wind farm EIA – detailed site study
of potential environmental impacts.
Origination
Feasibility
EIA
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: Crocknamona Wind Farm, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: Crocknamona Wind Farm, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: Crocknamona Wind Farm, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: Crocknamona Wind Farm, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: A6 Derry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme, N. Ireland
– Road scheme EIA:
– Collation and conversion of a wide range of datasets.
– Compilation of all the datasets into one coherent GIS
database.
– Dissemination of the most up-to-date info via regularly
published interactive GIS workspace to the project
team and client, if necessary.
– Rapid production of cartographic outputs required for
the Environmental Statements.
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: A6 Derry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: A6 Derry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: A6 Derry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: A6 Derry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: A6 Derry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme, N. Ireland
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: Tyrone to Cavan 400kV Interconnector, Northern Ireland
– Overhead power line EIA:
– Data acquisition and conversion of a vast
array of datasets.
– Detailed and comprehensive physical and
ecological constraints mapping.
– Geospatial analysis was used to help inform
the line routeing iteration process.
– 3D viewshed analysis helped to inform the
sensitive Landscape & Visual assessment.
How can GIS be utilised within EIA? (continued) Case study: Tyrone to Cavan 400kV Interconnector, Northern Ireland
