Foley, Ronan
(2011)
Applying geographic information systems to support strategic environmental
assessment: Opportunities and limitations in the context of Irish land-use plans.
Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 31.
pp. 368-381.
ISSN 0195-9255
Abstract
The strengthening of spatial database infrastructures, further promoted by the INSPIRE Directive adopted in
2007, has led to an increased use of spatial data in planning and decision-making. Given that land-use plans
are intrinsically spatial, such evidence and approaches can significantly benefit plan-making. A spatial
framework could especially support the specific Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) aspects of the
plan-making process. Spatial tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are particularly well-placed
to support the environmental integration sought in SEA by providing evidence through the spatial assessment
of multiple environmental datasets. Moreover, GIS bring the opportunity to augment conventional
assessment techniques (e.g. matrix-based assessments) by acting as visual mediators of spatial knowledge
and by providing an effective tool for the spatial and temporal analysis of environmental impacts.
This paper presents a GIS-based approach to SEA (GISEA), and analyses the above premise by evaluating the
barriers, limitations, opportunities and benefits of its implementation. The GISEA approach has been applied
to seven development plans of differing scales in the Republic of Ireland. The results of the case studies
revealed that current issues in SEA (e.g. restricted time-frames and institutional arrangements) condition the
implementation of a GIS-based approach. Moreover, GIS expertise, data accessibility and quality remain
limiting factors to an effective GIS application in SEA. However, the results also confirmed that GIS have the
potential to increase the objectivity and accuracy of the assessment, enhance both the understanding of
environmental and planning considerations and the delivery of information, and, therefore, help to improve
the effectiveness of SEA practice.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
SEA;
GIS;
Land use plans;
Republic of Ireland; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography |
| Item ID: |
8795 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2010.12.001 |
| Depositing User: |
Dr. Ronan Foley
|
| Date Deposited: |
12 Sep 2017 08:25 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Environmental Impact Assessment Review |
| Publisher: |
Elsevier |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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