Site Selection: Past and Present

Abstract

Site selection has been going on since the earliest times. The process has evolved through the Industrial Revolution to the present period of exploding population and environmental awareness. Now the work must be done both with increasing sophistication and greater transparency. Modern techniques for site selection have been developed during the last two decades or so, utilizing a teachable body of knowledge and a growing literature. Many firms and individuals have contributed to this growing field. The driving force has been the need for such a process in siting and licensing of critical facilities such as nuclear power plants. A list of crucial, documented steps includes: Recognize need and identify affected population. Establish geographic service area. Conceptualize responsive project and establish project criteria (“Project Development Phase”). Describe ideal site by discipline and devise transparent ranking methods and values. Use exclusion, preference and avoidance criteria to select candidate areas and then candidate sites, always maintaining multiple sites, as diverse as possible. Investigate to establish confidence, using objective techniques to identify, evaluate and communicate uncertainties. Consult with affected population to deal with problems and reduce residual uncertainties. Select and announce site (to the surprise of no one). A recent innovation is the self-selection method developed by government. The Superconducting Supercollider serves as an example of this approach. Geological or geologically dependent factors often dominate the process. Our role as engineering and environmental geoscientists is to provide responsible leadership, consultation, and communication to the effort.