The research will be carried out according to the
following phases: investigation, mapping, definition of indicators,
evaluation of hazards and assets, and assessment of impacts.
Investigation phases.
The investigation phases, in a progression of increasing detail and
scale, will be as follows:
- Reconnaissance - general evaluation - site
selection;
- Site and site-specific investigations;
- Detailed planning of engineering works
(analysis and quantitative characterisation);
- Monitoring;
- Mitigation.
This planning phase should include procedures for monitoring
during construction and recommendations for the mitigation measures to
be included in the project.
Mapping phases.
The types of thematic maps which can be used in EIA studies are both
base maps and derived maps, of different scales in harmony with the
investigation phases.
As for the base maps, it is possible to reconsider and recode various
geomorphologic, geotechnical and hydrogeological maps, well-known in literature.
As for the derived maps, it will be possible to refer to existing
examples of stability and hazard maps made by local experts.
Identification of Indicators.
The term indicator, as understood here, refers to the different environmental
parameters sensitive to human activities, which can be measured or observed
and expressed unequivocally in quantitative or qualitative terms.
The parameter selection and ranking should be considered in relation to each
specific case study (environment and project), because different priorities
could correspond to different situations. Integrated indices can be
derived from a selected set of indicators in order to represent a complex
environmental condition or problem. An index can be used to combine the
value given to the single parameters that define it, and to attribute an
integrated value to an environmental unit (for example within the field
of geomorphology, a flood plain, a stretch of the coast) or quality (for
instance, value for conservation, risk level). Impacts can be expressed
by the changes affecting the value of indicators and indices on
different environmental units, and by their locations, following the
implementation of a project. These changes will be represented by the
distribution of indicator and index values over the impacted area.
Evaluation of Hazards and Assets.
The evaluation of hazards should be developed using different methods:
- Direct measures (e.g. on scarp retreat);
- Mechanical models and calculations (e.g.
geotechnical measurements);
- "Crossing of causes" (e.g.
overlaying of thematic maps);
- Statistical approach to the analysis of
"effects" (e.g. recurrence of landslides).
Evaluation of Impacts.
It is possible to indicate a conceptual and methodological scheme of the role of
Geomorphology in the EIA of a project (see
figure modified after Panizza & Fabbri, 1995), with the specification on
how the active and passive elements combine in generating different types of impact.
For the evaluation of the different types of impact, for each type
of project and for each investigation phase, the main research
instruments are the maps and the indicators.
Approach to be followed.
Spatial data analysis using geographical information systems, GIS, will be
performed on the four spatial data bases generated for the corresponding case
studies (see
figure). The targets of the analysis will be to perform the following tasks:
- to spatially represent environmental
indicators, the causes and the effects of the impacts, including the
distribution of hazards and risks,
- to estimate and compare the impacts,
- to guide in decision-making using spatial
decision-support tools such as multi-criteria/multi-objective decision
methods, cost-benefit analysis and concepts of environmental economics.
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