Environmental Impact Assessment Using a Weighted Global Index: A Methodological Proposal

Abstract

Activities considered effectively or potentially polluting depend on an environmental impact assessment before starting their installation and operations. However, the lack of a structured logical procedure for supporting decision-making may compromise the comparative analysis of alternatives available. In this paper we present a methodological proposal based on a weighted global index () for comparative analysis in environmental impact assessments. For that, the impact global index (), originally developed by Bressane et al., was improved taking into account an additional weighting based on the prioritization of impacts according to their relative importance case-by-case. Then, the new index was used on two case studies. In the first one, the was applied to support decisionmaking on maintenance or demolishing of the buildings in situation of irregularity. Secondly, several technologies and siting alternatives have been compared for installing a sewage treatment plant into an urban condominium. As a result, it was found that the weighted impact global index was able to critically and comprehensively evaluate the alternatives available for both cases under study. In conclusion the may be considered a promising approach as a method for supporting decisionmaking in environmental impact assessments.

A fuzzy-based methodological proposal for analysing green areas in urban neighborhoods

“…According to the World Urbanization Prospects report, the urban population corresponds to 3.9 million people, about 54 % of the total world population, and may reach 66% by 2050 (DESA United Nations 2015). Urbanization is a global trend that oftentimes leads to soil sealing, deforestation and habitat fragmentation, requiring integrated management of anthropic and natural issues to achieve healthy and sustainable cities (Adler & Tanner 2015, Aronson et al 2017, Bressane et al 2017b, Ribeiro et al 2018. It is widely acknowledged that green areas not only contribute to biodiversity conservation but that they also provide environmental quality in urban landscapes (Zhou & Wang 2011, Sperandelli et al 2013, Andersson et al 2014, Kabisch & Haase 2014, Gavrilidis et al 2017, Meerow & Newell 2017, Bressane et al 2018b, Rocha & Mussury 2020.…”