Development Of Impact Assessment Research Articles

Impact assessment of global and national biofuels developments on agriculture in Pakistan

This research uses GTAP model to assess the expected future effects of national and global biofuels policies on agriculture markets and food prices in Pakistan. Our results show that by 2020, global mandates on biofuels will significantly affect the prices, production and trade of major feedstock crops such as sugarcane, maize, soybean and rapeseed, especially in the USA, Brazil and EU. Global biofuels developments are projected to increase the prices of maize, rapeseed, soybean, and sugarcane in Pakistan. Pakistan will benefit from improved trade balance in agriculture under the global-only scenario. Under Pakistan plus three-producer’s biofuels scenario, the price and production of sugarcane in Pakistan will increase substantially. Under this scenario, the country will face considerable loss in agricultural trade. Consequently, food-security of net-buyers may be threatened. The income of feedstock farmers will increase. Higher crude oil prices will strongly influence commodity markets via increased production of biofuels and agricultural production costs.

Complex impact assessment of coastal development in the United Arab Emirates using GIS: a case study of Wurayah Biosphere Reserve

Wadi Wurayah area is one of the major wadis originating and running on the Oman Mountains and drains into the Oman Gulf. These wadis in general and Wadi Wurayah in particular are characterized with a rich diversity of rare and mountainous and freshwater habitats and species. These wadis contain unequal, representative, and sensitive areas of the dry lands ecosystem with natural, outstanding landscapes and cultural heritage, while the socioeconomic situation indicates that it has enough socioeconomic infrastructures to develop new alternatives ecologically and economically sustainable. As most of the United Arab Emirates and the region, the study area is undergoing dramatic changes linked to economic diversification and promotion of tourism. Established under the UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program, Wurayah Biosphere Reserve represents protected areas intended to demonstrate well-balanced relationship between conservation of biodiversity and an appropriate local development. The main objectives of this study are to develop an environmental information system to understand the dynamics of human activities associated to land use in the study area, highlight the threats to the environment, educate people about the basic environmental issues and positive traditional practices, and promote tourism. Based on the gained results, the concept of biosphere reserve as a model is to implement ideas of sustainable land use in practice.

Designing processes of chemical products for sustainability: Incorporating optimization and the sustainability evaluator

The perception of how sustainability issues should be addressed in design has changed over time. It is no longer appropriate to evaluate processes for economic feasibility alone; social benefits and environmental impacts must be considered. Addressing sustainability concerns after the fact in chemical process design is no longer acceptable as this could result in more expensive consequences. Hence, we introduce a methodology for incorporating sustainability concerns into early stages of process design. The proposed framework involved the use of ASPEN PLUS to simulate processes, calculate mass and energy balances, complete sensitivity analysis and lastly optimize processes. The base case and optimized processes are evaluated with the SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATOR, a newly developed impact assessment tool. An overall sustainability impact, which has been incorporated into the SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATOR, was developed to quantify sustainability issues in process design. The methodology was demonstrated on the acrylonitrile process. The application of the methodology on this process resulted in a more economic, environmental, and socially acceptable process. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 762–776, 2013

Water Footprint of European Cars: Potential Impacts of Water Consumption along Automobile Life Cycles

Due to global increase of freshwater scarcity, knowledge about water consumption in product life cycles is important. This study analyzes water consumption and the resulting impacts of Volkswagen's car models Polo, Golf, and Passat and represents the first application of impact-oriented water footprint methods on complex industrial products. Freshwater consumption throughout the cars' life cycles is allocated to material groups and assigned to countries according to import mix shares or location of production sites. Based on these regionalized water inventories, consequences for human health, ecosystems, and resources are determined by using recently developed impact assessment methods. Water consumption along the life cycles of the three cars ranges from 52 to 83 m(3)/car, of which more than 95% is consumed in the production phase, mainly resulting from producing iron, steel, precious metals, and polymers. Results show that water consumption takes place in 43 countries worldwide and that only 10% is consumed directly at Volkswagen's production sites. Although impacts on health tend to be dominated by water consumption in South Africa and Mozambique, resulting from the production of precious metals and aluminum, consequences for ecosystems and resources are mainly caused by water consumption of material production in Europe.

APPLICATION OF GIS-PLANNING DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM IN PREDICTING DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Abstract. Impact of development is a major issue of global environment change. The modelling and projecting of development are essential to the assessment of consequent environmental impacts. Thus, this research was conducted to develop a customised modelling system that integrates the strength of GIS in supporting planning decision making process via prediction of development impact assessment for various projects. It is in this respect that a prototype of GIS-based modelling that enables to anticipate developmentenvironmental impacts at an early stage of project planning has been established. It encompasses some selected key components of environment, economy and social, building up the system called e-Development Impact Assessment (e-DIA). The design principle was to extend the functionality of a GIS system in facilitating planning decision support making process. An integrated subsystem of e-DIA allows the analysis of environmental, social and economic dimensions to generate the results of impacts of proposed development in the form of spatial and textual data. In terms of environmental impact assessment, e-DIA acts as a screening/scoping utility which may indicate the potential impacts of a set of pre-determined environmental impacts. For social and economic impact assessments, the e-DIA computes the outcome of future demand for social facilities, future employment opportunity and parking requirement.

Case Study on the Spatial Development Impact Assessment Tool Applied in the Spatial Development Environmental Security Assessment

The paper deals with the spatial development environmental security assessment employing the Spatial Development Impact Assessment tool and the geographical information systems. The first part includes a more detailed description of the Spatial Development Impact Assessment tool and ESRI - ArcInfo, which were the basis for elaborating the case study. The case study is presented in the second part of the paper, which includes the spatial development environmental security assessment for a fictitious hazardous waste incineration plant located in the zone of Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic. The acquired outcomes are presented in the final part of the paper together with the proposed measures to be taken in order to reduce the potential risk of intended spatial development.

The role of fisheries data in the development evaluation and impact assessment in support of European fisheries plans

Abstract Simmonds, E. J., Döring, R., Daniel, P., and Angot, V. 2011. The role of fisheries data in the development evaluation and impact assessment in support of European fisheries plans. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1689–1698. The European Commission has two formal requirements for developing multi-annual management plan policies: evaluation of the past performance of existing plans and impact assessments (IAs) of the potential benefits of new proposals. The new policies require the evaluation of fishery management in terms of three specific criteria: (i) effectiveness, i.e. the best method to achieve the objectives; (ii) efficiency, the cost-effectiveness, and proportionality; and (iii) consistency, i.e. limiting trade-offs across economic, social, and environmental domains. To develop policy, there is a need to collect relevant information, then to conduct appropriate analyses that provide documentation to support the policy objectives. This paper discusses the data requirements for good environmental, economic, and social understanding of fishery dynamics and management, describing how fishery data are currently linked to the analytical and management evaluation process using examples from 2009 and 2010. The type of information currently used is considered, along with the timetable of data availability, and its effect on historical evaluation and IAs, which are now formally required when any changes to legislation are proposed in the European Union, including following stakeholder consultation. The possibilities and future needs for such data are discussed.

Analytical tool for risk assessment of landscape and urban planning: Spatial development impact assessment

Abstract This article covers the issue of preventive protection of population, technical infrastructure, and the environment against adverse impacts of careless spatial development. In the first section, we describe the relationship between sustainable development and spatial development. This discussion is followed by a review of the current state of spatial development security, primarily at a national level in the Czech Republic. The remainder of the paper features our original contribution which is a tool for risk assessment in landscape and urban planning, the Spatial Development Impact Assessment (SDIA) tool. We briefly review the most significant semi-quantitative methods of risk analysis that were used as a starting point in implementing the tool, and we discuss several of SDIA’s salient features, namely, the assessment process algorithm, the catalogue of hazard and asset groups, and the spatial development impact matrix.

Sub-grid variability and its impact on European wide air quality exposure assessment

Estimates of population exposure to air pollution on the European scale are required for policy development and health impact assessment. Long term exposure estimates of this type can be made using spatially distributed air quality and population density data. Gridded chemical transport models (CTMs) are often used for this purpose, however the grid resolution of CTMs that cover entire continents is usually limited to 25–100 km and there may be a significant level of unresolved variability within the grids that will impact on the exposure estimates. In this paper sub-grid variability and its impact on long term exposure estimates is assessed by investigating the covariance of concentration and population, which is shown to be the defining term in estimating the average sub-grid population exposure. A parameterisation of the sub-grid covariance is described, based on the sub-grid covariance of other proxy data, and this is applied using EMEP model results for all of Europe. The study shows that the error made in the exposure calculations for all of Europe is significant for the typical CTM resolution of 50 km. The error is largest for NO 2 , where the average European urban background exposure using CTMs is underestimated by 44 ± 4%. Particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 μm (PM 10 ) is also underestimated, but only by 15 ± 4%. Calculation of the sub-grid covariance for the ozone health indicator SOMO35 (Sum of Ozone 8 h running Means Over 35 ppb) was not carried out for all of Europe as the sub-grid parameterisation was considered too uncertain for useful application. However, estimates based on observations alone show that population weighted SOMO35 concentrations are overestimated by around 13% when using model grid resolutions of 50 km. ► We investigate the impact of sub-grid variability on air quality exposure. ► We use the sub-grid covariance of concentration and population for this. ► We use observed concentrations for the assessment. ► We develop a parameterisation that makes use of high resolution proxy data. ► We apply this to all of Europe.

The conceptual development of a geocybernetic relationship between sustainable development and Environmental Impact Assessment

The imprecise nature of sustainable development is often a cause for concern. This concern has however not prevented the suggestion of a relationship between sustainable development and EIAs. As a result, there is a need to develop a more formal conceptual basis for the relationship between EIA and sustainable development. The paper discusses the conceptual development of a geocybernetic perspective of the relationship between sustainable development and EIAs in respect to impact identification methodologies. The paper considers the five fundamental geocybernetic paradigms of sustainable development, uses relevant literature to support the relationships found, and provides examples to support the relationships developed within the paper.

Application of the tissue residue approach in ecological risk assessment

The objective of this work is to present a critical review of the application of the tissue residue approach (TRA) in ecological risk and/or impact assessment (ERA) of chemical stressors and environmental criteria development. A secondary goal is to develop a framework for integrating the TRA into ecological assessments along with traditional, exposure concentration-based assessment approaches. Although widely recognized for its toxicological appeal, the utility of the TRA in specific applications will depend on numerous factors, such as chemical properties, exposure characteristics, assessment type, availability of tissue residue-response data, and ability to quantify chemical exposure. Therefore, the decision to use the TRA should include an evaluation of the relative strengths, limitations, and uncertainties among exposure and residue-based methods for characterizing toxicological effects. Furthermore, rather than supplanting exposure concentration-based toxicity assessments, the TRA can be highly effective for evaluating and reducing uncertainty when used in a complementary manner (e.g., when evaluating multiple lines of evidence in field studies). To address limitations with the available tissue residue-response data, approaches for extrapolating residue-based toxicity data across species, tissues, and exposure durations are discussed. Some of these approaches rely on predicted residue-response relationships or toxicological models that have an implicit residue-response basis (e.g., biotic ligand model). Because risk to an organism is a function of both its exposure potential and inherent sensitivity (i.e., on a residue basis), bioaccumulation models will be required not only for translating tissue residue criteria into corresponding water and sediment criteria, but also for defining the most vulnerable species in an assemblage (i.e., highly exposed and highly sensitive species). Application of the TRA in ecological assessments and criteria development are summarized for bioaccumulative organic chemicals, TBT, and in situ bioassays using bivalve molluscs.

Environmental assessment framework for identifying and mitigating the effects of linear development to wetlands

Notwithstanding various environmental assessment legislations and policies for wetland conservation in Canada, wetland habitat continues to be lost to the cumulative effects of development on the landscape. Ensuring no net loss of wetlands requires consideration of the direct, indirect, and potentially induced effects of development; however, many projects that affect wetlands are often deemed insignificant and do not trigger any formal environmental assessment process. When such small scale or routine projects are assessed, indirect and induced effects, and in particular effects to small or seasonal wetlands, are often not included in impact assessment and subsequent wetland mitigation. As a result, mitigation of the total or cumulative effects to wetlands is often insufficient or completely lacking in development planning and impact assessment. Part of the problem is that there currently exists only limited guidance as to how to identify effects to wetlands in project planning and environmental assessment for relatively routine, small-scale projects. In response, this paper presents a methodological framework for the integration of effects to wetlands in project planning and environmental assessment application. Focused on effects to wetlands from linear developments, in particular transportation corridors, a four-phase, nine-step assessment framework is developed to provide guidance to effects assessment for wetlands during the early stages of project planning. The framework will aid practitioners and regulators in identifying the potential effects of a project to wetlands, and in determining the acceptability of impact management practices. Although situated in the Canadian context, the framework and principles are broadly applicable in other jurisdictions.

The components of resilience—Perceptions of an Australian rural community

AbstractResilience, of individuals, is a well‐established concept in the psychology/mental health literatures, but has been little explored in relation to communities. Related theory in the community development and social impact assessment literature provides insight into qualities and assets of communities that enable them to develop effectively or to adapt to major changes. This article reports the components of community and individual resilience identified through a participatory action research study within a rural Australian community. These are social networks and support; positive outlook; learning; early experiences; environment and lifestyle; infrastructure and support services; sense of purpose; diverse and innovative economy; embracing differences; beliefs; and leadership. These components entail interactions between individuals, the community, infrastructure, the environment and the economy in the process of building resilience. The findings extend from previous research by recognizing environmental and economic factors, infrastructure and support services, as enhancing resilience, and expand the limited evidence base for those wishing to promote resilience at the community scale. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Approaching Cumulative Effects through Air Pollution Modelling

The research presented here represents a segment of a cumulative impact assessment of resource development in northeastern British Columbia. It considers point and area source emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides (SO2 and NO x , respectively), over a 2,156-km2 area. With the exception of open burning, all emissions are from Upstream Oil and Gas (UOG) sector sources (SO2, n = 103; NO x , n = 250; area, n = 25). AERMOD View™ was used to estimate the maximum potential concentration and deposition of these pollutants over 1-h, 3-h, 24-h, and annual averaging periods. Results are compared with various thresholds and limits from the policy and scientific literature to assess the potential cumulative effects of these pollutants. Of the thresholds employed, exceedances of the 1-h and 24-h NO x concentrations and the annual SO2 concentration are predicted. There were no predicted exceedances of annual deposition thresholds (i.e., “Critical Loads”). Maximum predicted concentrations vary between compounds and are related to boundary layer stability, elevation, and distance from sources. Comparison with nearby monitoring data indicated that predicted concentrations were reasonable and that AERMOD provides a useful tool for approaching the potential cumulative impacts of air pollution from multiple sources. While the accuracy of Gaussian-based annual deposition estimates is questioned, model enhancements that could extend the application to more comprehensive assessments are suggested. Lastly, the implications of predicted threshold violations for forest ecosystems and local forest-dependent First Nations communities are discussed.

Erratum to: Comparative study on the environmental impact assessment of golf course development between Korea and China

Erratum to: Comparative study on the environmental impact assessment of golf course development between Korea and China

Developing Impact Assessment for Training Systems Research & Development: A Case Study of the Strategic Approach for the NEWIT System

Developing Impact Assessment for Training Systems Research & Development: A Case Study of the Strategic Approach for the NEWIT System

Developing Impact Assessment for Training Systems Research & Development: A Case Study of the Strategic Approach for the NEWIT System

Impact assessment seeks to evaluate the effects of a new system realized on target beneficiaries and is an essential process via which to tangibly demonstrate the operational and economic benefits of a research and development (R&D) program. This paper contributes a framework –Program-management Understanding, Measurement, and Assessment (PUMA) - for developing an impact assessment approach for planning and evaluating R&D programs. The intent of the framework is to help an R&D organization provide traceability from the identification of program needs to selecting and conducting R&D to implementation to defining and measuring results. The framework is demonstrated using an Office of Naval Research project.

Isaac river cumulative impact assessment of mining developments

Longwall mining and related subsidence, and watercourse diversion for surface mining operations have the potential to impact on fluvial geomorphic processes and the health of river systems. This is evident in the Isaac River in central Queensland. The scale and likelihood of these impacts are a function of the extent of existing and proposed mining developments and of the ongoing geomorphic, hydrologic and ecological processes within the Isaac River. Understanding the objectives for the river, the past and ongoing processes at work, the cumulative impacts of longwall mining development and the options for managing those impacts is essential for the development of an effective strategy to manage the health of the river system. An assessment has been undertaken to identify and understand the cumulative impacts of mining subsidence and other mining influences on geomorphic processes and waterway health in the Isaac River over a river length of approximately 100 km near Moranbah in central Queensland. The assessment included the development of a vision and objectives for waterway health. The assessment has identified mining and landuse changes that have impacted on the hydrology, geomorphology, ecology and hence the health of the Isaac River. The assessment has then sought to identify the cumulative impact of longwall mining and related subsidence on current stream condition and the proposed vision for the system. The primary impact of longwall mining on the river was found to be associated with sediment transport. The investigation included assessment of total sand available for transport, the volume of sand transported annually and the fluvial process response to subsidence. Recommendations have been developed for the management of the system and for longwall mining to increase system robustness and achieve the river health objectives.

Participatory action research (PAR) in monitoring and evaluation of sport-for-development programmes

International agencies are becoming increasingly involved in sport-for-development work, as sport is seen as pivotal in addressing socio-political, health and cultural issues in affected and / or impoverished communities earmarked for 'development'. A comparative case study of the Siyadlala Mass Participation Programme (a national sport development programme) and the Active Community Clubs' Initiative (an Australian programme) in the South African context of poverty, served to demonstrate the potential role of Participatory Action Research (PAR). Utilizing the S•DIAT (Sport Development Impact Assessment Tool) in both cases allowed for quantitative and qualitative data collection, and informed researchers about contextual issues essential for interpretation and the potential application of results. A collaborative relationship developed between researchers and research subjects, as local volunteers of the Active Community Clubs were trained as fieldworkers inherent in a Participatory Action Research Training (PART) model. Following an inductive research paradigm and offering training in monitoring and evaluation, positively influenced the sustainability and 'local penetration' of the Active Community Clubs' Programme, compared to the top-down delivery and deductive approach of the Siyadlala Mass Participation Programme. Collaboration, the establishment of success indicators and benchmarks for assessing programme-related impact in a local context, contributed to the implementation of a needs-based service delivery.

Participatory Sustainability Impact Assessment: Scientific Policy Advice as a Social Learning Process

This paper deals with the development of scientific policy advice by providing a methodology to foster a social learning process. The methodology, called participatory Sustainability Impact Assessment (pSIA), aims to structure complex problem situations, to clarify interests and basic assumptions, to interpret scientific studies, to develop impact assessment, and to explore sensitivity of uncertainty and lack of information. In pSIA workshops the participants are supposed to build conceptual models with different modelling methods, like System Dynamics, Value Chain Analysis, and Morphological Analysis. A case study is presented that describes a workshop series with political as well as academic actors, applying the pSIA approach to an impact assessment of Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and the Eastern and Southern Africa Region.