Ch 14 Integration Methods Metrics

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Integration Methods and Metrics forEnvironmental Land Planning & Analysis

Integration Methods

The Environmental Inventory

Land Capability and Suitability Studies

Human Carrying Capacity Studies

Environmental Impact Assessment

Build-Out Analysis

Green Infrastructure

Synthesis Metrics

Indicators, indexes, weights, thresholds

LEED, Sustainable Community Ratings


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Relationship among Environmental Planning Integration Methods


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1981 Blacksburg Environmental Inventory


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Portland Natural Resources InventoryInventory improved by finer resolution of data

Mid-1990s 2009


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Land Suitability Analysis

LSA uses the natural and socio-economiccharacteristics of the land to assess its inherentsuitability based on vulnerability from andattractiveness for prospective uses.

Methods of combination:

Gestalt: appearance

Ordinal combination: simple non-weighted

overlays Linear combination: weighted overlays

Intermediate factor combination: non-linearoverlays


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Land Suitability Overlay Technique using GIS


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Portland NRI, 2009:Combining data layers

into composite

Riparian/Wildlife

Habitat Value


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Neighborhood

application of

Portland NRI

Water

Features

Riparian

Corridor

Resource

Vegetation

Wildlife

Habitat

Combined Rank


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Citywide NRI Maps


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Citywide NRI application to assess:

Environmental Overlay Zones Portland Plan for 2040


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Carrying Capacity

Natural systems

Human systems


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Use of Indicators and Thresholds instead of population:Its the impact of population not just the population level that matters

I = PAT Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology


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Ecological Footprint

Reverse of carrying capacity: its not whatthe land can sustain, but what amount of

total land a population needs, not only forspace, but for food, water, materials, energy,etc.

Vancouver, BC: 472,000 population has a

ecological footprint of 2 million hectares, 174times its city area of 11,400 hectares.

Carbon Footprint: what are your carbonemissions?


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Environmental Impact Assessment Process

Scoping

Baseline Data Studies

Identification of Impacts

Prediction of Impacts

Evaluation of Impacts and Impact Mitigation

Presentation of Impacts


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Baseline Studies: What do we have?

e.g. Water related EIA

Water flow and quality monitoring

Surface water Peak discharge monitoring: gauge stations

Field stream assessment

Biological monitoring

Groundwater

Groundwater quality monitoring

Piezometric surface and cone of depression


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Identification and Prediction of Impacts:

WithWithout Analysis:Impact Variables, Indicators, and Thresholds

In an EIA, it is important to assess the environment systematically.

Generally, the assessment focuses on indicators of change. So, we select

impact variables or important components of the environment,indicators of change, and thresholds or standards for those indicators.

Environmental Impact Variables, Indicators, and Thresholds

Impact Variables: Components of the environment that are important

(e.g., water quality) Impact Indicators: Measures that indicate change in an impact variable

(e.g., dissolved oxygen)

Impact Thresholds or Standards: Values of impact indicators above orbelow which there is a problem; used to evaluate the impact(e.g., 5 ppm minimum of dissolved oxygen)


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With-Without Analysis


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Possible Effects of EIA on Projects

Withdrawal of unsound project Legitimization of sound project

Selection of improved project location

Reformulation of plans

Redefinition of goals

Mitigation of project impacts

Dropping damaging elements of proposed project

Minimizing adverse effects by scaling down or redesigningproject

Repairing or restoring environment adversely affected

Creating or acquiring environments similar to thoseadversely affected

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)


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EIA as an Impetus for Administrative Change

Often increases access of citizens, NGOs, and

other agencies to information on project

Enhances interagency coordination

Affects power relations between ministries,

increases power of environmental agencies


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Build-out Analysis :

What happens if all land is developed

according to the zoning ordinance?

Build-out analysis applies existing rights

provided by the zoning ordinance, builds it

out, shows it visually in maps, then

assesses the environmental and socialimpacts.


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1957 19871942

Actual Build-out of Longmeadow, Massachusetts


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Steps in Build-Out Analysis Develop basemap including environmental inventory; identify

existing developments and unbuildable areas

Overlay zoning map indicating development types and densities

For each zone, build-out development according to the alloweddensity following the existing patterns of development for those

densities. Produce a Build-Out Map showing this development

Determine the impacts associated with the Build-Out: water demand, sewage flows, school population, road traffic, and

environmental impacts (e.g., habitats, open space, agricultural lands, streamcorridors, aquifer recharge, well heads, impervious surface and peakdischarge and baseflow)

Conduct a public workshop to solicit comment on the Build-OutAnalysis and potential need for revision of the comprehensive planand zoning ordinance.


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Build-out Analysis in Massachusetts Map 1: Zoning and Absolute Development

Constraints

Map 2: Developable Lands and Partial

Constraints

Build-out Tables

Map 3: Composite Development Map

Summary Build-out Statistics


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Integrative and Synthesis Metrics

Indicators, indexes, weights, thresholds An indicator is a single measure of a condition of an environmental element that

represents the status or quality of that element. For example,

fecal coliform content and dissolved oxygen in water and ozone concentration in the air are

useful indicators of water and air quality.

Carbon emissions are the best indicator of climate change impact.

An index is a synthesis of several indicators that are combined into an overall measure

of status or quality of an environmental element. It is usually derived by a sum-of-

weighted factors analysis. Indicator weights are used to assign relative importance to

different indicators. For example,

the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) are often used as

measures of air quality and biodiversity.

LEED score is an index of green building.

Athresholdis the value of an indicator or index that represents a desirable outcome or

a problem condition. A threshold is often defined by a goal that a community wants to

achieve or by an established standard, such as an air or water quality standard. LEED

certification colors (silver, gold, platinum) are thresholds of achievement. Thresholds

should be attainable, meaningful, and manageable in the planning or design process.


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Sustainable Communities Rating Systems

Sustainlane Community Sustainability Criteria

U.S. winners?

Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago

Missing criteria?

Urban ecosystems, green infrastructure, social equity?


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Siemens AG Green City Ranking System

Eight criteria:

European Winners? One city rated in each country

Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Vienna, Amsterdam

Missing criteria?

Economic and social factors, ecological and green infrastructure


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STAR Community Index

ICLEI, USGBC, Center for American Progress,

National League of Cities

Indicator categories:


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STAR Communities:

ICLEIs Five Milestones for Sustainability

155 ICLEI USA membershave set this cumulative goal:

23% of total U.S. emissions

STAR Communities Indicators:


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Environment

STAR C i i I di


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Economy

STAR C i i I di


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Society

Documents

Ch 14 Integration Methods Metrics