1. No category

Università di Padova
SECOND CYCLE DEGREE PROGRAMME (MSC
LEVEL) IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Environmental components and
tools for impact evaluation
A.A. 2014-2015
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Environmental components
Are the aspects with which the environment can
be “subdivided” and described
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Atmosphere
Aquatic environment
Soil and subsoil
Vegetation ...
Ecosystems
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
•  Public health
•  Noise and vibration
•  Ionizing and non
ionizing radiation
•  Landscape
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Environmental components
•  Atmosphere
–  Environmental compatibility of emissions (from
static and/or mobile sources)
–  Possible causes of meteorological/climatic
disturbance
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Environmental components
•  Aquatic environment
–  Hydrographical, hydrologic and hydraulic
conditions
–  Quality status
–  Uses of water bodies
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Environmental components
•  Soil and subsoil
–  Endogenous and exogenous geodynamic
processes
–  Use of resources
–  Geological risks in a broad sense
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Environmental components
•  Vegetation, flora and fauna
–  Quality of vegetation, flora and fauna
•  Ecosystems
–  Functioning and quality of ecosysitems
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Environmental components
•  Public health
–  Welfare and health in the short, medium
and long term
•  Noise and vibration
–  To preserve the natural balance and public
health
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Environmental components
•  Ionizing and non ionizing radiation
–  Preventing damage to the environment and
humans
•  Landscape
–  Historical-cultural aspects
–  Visual aspects
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Environmental Indicators (EEA)
BIODIVERSITY
ACQUA
WATER
7
8
9
threatened and protected species
designated areas
species diversity
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
use of freshwaters resources
oxygen-consuming substances in river
nutrients in freshwaters
nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters
bathing water quality
chlorophyll in trasitional, coastal and marine waters
urban wastewater treatment
32
33
34
status of marine fish stocks
aquaculture production
fishing fleet capacity
35
36
37
passenger transport demand
freight transport demand
use of cleaner and alternative fuels
FISHERY
PESCA
TRANSPORT
TRASPORTI
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
DPSIR (OECD, 1989)
Driving forces
Pressures
Anthropic activities and processes
that cause pressures: production
(agriculture, industry, part of
transports…), consumption,
recreation outside the economic
system…
modify,
substitute,
remove
Actions of the anthropic system to solve
environmental problems: pollution prevention
and reduction activities, economic
“environmental damage” prevention and
reduction, sustainable use of resources... °
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
eliminate,
reduce,
prevent
Direct stresses from the anthropic system
on the natural environment: release of
polluting substances (emissions to air, to
water, waste...), radiation emissions,
intake of natural resources, use of soil,
other changes of the natural environment
influence,
modify
restorate,
influence
Responses
stimulate,
ask for
generate
compensate,
mitigate
State
Conditions and tendencies in the
natural environment: air, water and
soil quality, global temperatures
evolution pattern...
Impacts
Effects on the anthropic system due to changes in
the state of the natural environment: negative
consequences on human health, economic loss in
production activities, floods... §
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
provoke,
cause
a.a. 2014/2015
Tools
Analysis tools are used for:
–  identify the impacts
–  predicting impacts
–  assess impacts
–  mitigate the impacts
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Types of instruments
• 
• 
• 
• 
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Checklists
Matrices
Graphs
Superimposed maps
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Checklists
Are the default lists of possible impacts:
–  Simple checklist, which consist of a list of
parameters involved
–  Descriptive checklist, including guidelines for
the measurement of parameters. May include
requests for data, sources of information and
predictive techniques
–  Weighed checklist, including information on the
duration of the impact and its possible
irreversibility
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Checklist: types
•  Checklist questionnaires, which consist of a series
of questions that the interviewee (usually experts in
the field, but also public interviews) responds with an
opinion and express their evaluations
•  Checklist thresholds, the identification of impacts is
associated with the verification that they exceed or
not a given environmental standard (generally
normed)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Checklist Battelle
4 Environmental components:
•  Ecology
•  Physical/Chemical
•  Aesthetic factors
•  Human interest
18 factors
78 parameters
Each parameter has its weight or environmental importance
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Checklist Battelle
ECOLOGY (240)
Terrestrial Species & Populations
-Browsers and grazers (14)
-Crops (14)
-Natural vegetation (14)
-Pest species (14)
-Upland game birds (14)
Aquatic Species & Populations
-Commercia1 fisheries (14)
-Natural vegetation (14)
-Pest species (14)
-Sport fish (14)
-Water fowl (14)
Terrestrial Habitats & Communities
-Food web index (12)
-Land use (12)
-Rare & endangered species (12)
-Species diversity (14)
Aquatic Habitats & Communities
-Food web index (12)
-Rare & endangered species (12)
-River characteristics (12)
-Species diversity (14)
Ecosystems
PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL (402)
Water Quality
-Basin hydrologic loss (20)
-Biochemical oxygen demand (25)
-Dissolved oxygen (31)
-Fecal coliforms (18)
-Inorganic carbon (22)
-Inorganic nitrogen (25)
-Inorganic phosphate (28)
-Pesticides (16)
-pH (18)
-Streamflow variation (28)
-Temperature (28)
-Total dissolved solids (25)
-Toxic substances (14)
-Turbidity (20)
AESTHETICS (153)
Land
-Geologic surface material (6)
-Relief & topographic character (16)
-Width and alignment (10)
Air Quality
-Carbon monoxide (5)
-Hydrocarbons (5)
-Nitrogen oxides (10)
-Particulate matter (12)
-Photochemical oxidants (5)
-Sulphur oxides (10)
-Other (5)
Biota
-Animals -domestic (5)
-Animals -wild (5)
-Diversity of vegetation types (9)
-Variety within vegetation types (5)
Land Pollution
-Land use (14)
-Soil erosion (14)
Composition
-Composite effect (15)
-Unique composition (15)
Air
-Odour and visual (3)
-Sounds (2)
Water
-Appearance of water (10)
-Land & water interface (16)
-Odour and floating material (6)
-Water surface area (10)
-Wooded and geologic shoreline (10)
Man-Made Objects
-Man made objects (10)
HUMAN INTEREST /SOCIAL (205)
Education/Scientific
-Archeological (13)
-Ecological (13)
-Geological (11)
-Hydrological (11)
Historical
-Architecture and styles (11)
-Events (11)
-Persons (11)
-Religions and cultures (11)
-'Western Frontier' (11)
Cultures
-Indians (14)
-Other ethnic groups (7)
-Religious groups (7)
Mood/ Atmosphere
-Awe/inspiration (11)
-Isolation/solitude (11)
- Mystery (4)
-'Oneness' with nature (11)
Life Patterns
-Employment opportunities (13)
-Housing (13)
-Social interactions (11)
Noise Pollution
-Noise (4)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Checklist Battelle
Each parameter has a coefficient of environmental
quality between 0 (maximum impact) and 1 (minimal
impact) assigned using the Delphi method, eg.
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Checklist Battelle
Assigned a value to each parameter
EQind= (weight * EQparameter)
calculate the overall impact
EQ = Σ EQind
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Matrices
•  Go indepth in the analysis of cause-effect
relationships
•  Can be viewed as two-dimensional checklist:
–  Axis of actions
–  Axis of environmental components
•  The intersections are the impacts
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Matrices
•  Quantitative
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environment
•  Qualitative
Environment
Actions
!
"
☺
Actions
-15
+6
0
-7
+8
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Leopold Matrix
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS (88)
Foreseen project actions (100)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Leopold Matrix
Each impact is described by two factors:
1.  significance: indicates the theoretical
importance of the impact (eg. the
spatial extension)
Varies between -10 and 10
±n1
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Leopold Matrix
Each impact is described by two factors:
2.  magnitude (size or importance): how
much the impact is present in this
case
varies from 1 to 10
n2
±n1
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Leopold Matrix
Each individual impact is estimated by the
product of significance and magnitude
Total impact on the
environmental component
The impact of a single action
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Coaxial Matrices
Concatenated matrices that allow more
detailed analysis of the impacts
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Chromatic matrices
A series of 4 matrices that analyze the
impacts of different "aspects" of the
project
The impacts are described by a double
chromatic scale
Neglectable
Low
Middle
High
NEGATIVE
POSITIVE
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Chromatic matrices
Cause-effect interrelations with respect to potential impacts
(Matrix A)
Interrelations impact-environmental components (in this phase
are highlighted the unique characteristics of the site)
(Matrix B)
Effect on potential impacts of the foreseen containment criteria
(Matrix C)
Assessment of residual impacts
(Matrix D)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Matrix A
Matrix of the causes and elements of impact
IMPACT
ELEMENTS
IMPACT
CAUSAL
FACTORS
Correlates impact elements and causal factors that generate them
Useful in identifying the weak points of a project
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Impiego di manodopera
Impatto sul paesaggio
Impiego di risorse idriche
Impiego di materiali
provenienti dall'esterno
Infortuni e igiene sul
lavoro
Incidenti
Traffico e viabilità
Stabilità terreno/rifiuti
Vettori
Emissione di odori
Emissione di biogas
Emissione di percolato
Dispersione materiale
leggero
Emissione di rumore
Emissione di polveri
Occupazione di aree e
volumi
FATTORI CAUSALI
DI IMPATTO
Decisione di realizzare
l'intervento
ELEMENTI DI IMPATTO
Conferimento dei rifiuti all'impianto
Trasporto rifiuti in discarica
Movimento di automezzi
Scarico e spandimento rifiuti
Compattazione rifiuti
Copertura giornaliera dei rifiuti
Landfill Mining
Drenaggio ed estrazione del percolato
Trasporto del percolato in impianti di
trattamento
Stoccaggio materiale proveniente dal
pretrattamento dei rifiuti
Analisi e controlli ambientali
Risistemazione del fondo
Stabilizzazione in situ della frazione
sottovaglio dei rifiuti RSU
Bonifica mediante aerazione (sistema
Airflow)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Matrix B
Matrix of potential impacts
ENVIRONMENTAL
CATEGORIES
IMPACT
ELEMENTS
Correlates the elements of the impact of the work with environmental
categories
Allows to identify the impacts of the work on the surroundings
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Salute pubblica e
sicurezza
Occupazione ed attività
economiche
Valori culturali
Relazioni sociali
Risorse ed assetto del
territorio
Paesaggio
Clima acustico
Atmosfera
Ecosistemi
Vegetazione, flora e fauna
Ambiente idrico
ELEMENTI DI IMPATTO
Suolo e sottosuolo
CATEGORIE AMBIENTALI
Decisione di realizzare l'intervento
Occupazione di aree e volumi
Emissione di polveri
Emissione di rumore
Dispersione materiale leggero
Emissione di percolato
Emissione di biogas
Emissione di odori
Vettori
Stabilità terreno/rifiuti
Traffico e viabilità
Incidenti
Infortuni e igiene sul lavoro
Impiego di materiali provenienti
dall'esterno
Impiego di risorse idriche
Impatto sul paesaggio
Impiego di manodopera
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Matrix C
Matrix of containments criteria
IMPACT
ELEMENTS
CONTAINMENT
MEASURES
Correlates the elements of impact of the work with the containment
measures (negative impacts of B)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Impiego di manodopera
Impatto sul paesaggio
Impiego di risorse idriche
provenienti dall'esterno
Impiego di materiali
Infortuni e igiene sul
lavoro
Incidenti
Traffico e viabilità
Stabilità terreno/rifiuti
Vettori
Emissione di odori
Emissione di biogas
Emissione di percolato
Dispersione materiale
leggero
Emissione di rumore
Emissione di polveri
volumi
Occupazione di aree e
CRITERI DI CONTENIMENTO
Decisione di realizzare
l'intervento
ELEMENTI DI IMPATTO
Razionalizzazione del conferimento
dei rifiuti
Verifica delle caratteristiche dei rifiuti
Qualità dei rifiuti depositati
Razionalizzazione della viabilità
Ottimizzazione delle procedure di
scarico e spandimento
Minimizzazione dell'area di
coltivazione
Modalità di coltivazione dei fronti
Schermi antitrasporto amovibili
Coperture giornaliere
Copertura dei rifiuti con inerti e/o teli
Sistema barriera impermeabile
Sistema di drenaggio e raccolta del
percolato
Depurazione del gas aspirato
Rete di drenaggio acque superficiali
Realizzazione misure di prevenzione
incendio del CDR
Misure di prevenzione e protezione
degli infortuni
Rete di monitoraggio dei parametri
geotecnici
Rete di monitoraggio ambientale
(aria, acqua, suolo)
Misure di contenimento per l'impianto
di pretrattamento rifiuti
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Matrix D
Matrix of residual impacts
ENVIRONMENTAL
CATEGORIES
IMPACT
ELEMENTS
Correlates the elements of impact of the work with the environmental
categories (containment measures in place)
Expresses a judgment on the environmental compatibility of the work
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Salute pubblica e
sicurezza
Occupazione ed attività
economiche
Valori culturali
Relazioni sociali
Risorse ed assetto del
territorio
Paesaggio
Clima acustico
Atmosfera
Ecosistemi
Vegetazione, flora e fauna
Ambiente idrico
ELEMENTI DI IMPATTO
Suolo e sottosuolo
CATEGORIE AMBIENTALI
Decisione di realizzare l'intervento
Occupazione di aree e volumi
Emissione di polveri
Emissione di rumore
Dispersione materiale leggero
Emissione di percolato
Emissione di biogas
Emissione di odori
Vettori
Stabilità terreno/rifiuti
Traffico e viabilità
Incidenti
Infortuni e igiene sul lavoro
Impiego di materiali provenienti
dall'esterno
Impiego di risorse idriche
Impatto sul paesaggio
Impiego di manodopera
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Graphs (or networks)
•  Can be seen as the development of
coaxial matrices
•  Describe the network of causal impacts
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Graphs (or networks)
Element
of impact 1
Element
of impact 2
Element
of impact 3
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
impact
primary 1
impact
secondary 1
target 1
impact
primary 2
impact
secondary 2
target 2
target 3
impact
primary 3
impact
primary 4
impact
secondary 3
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
target 4
a.a. 2014/2015
Graphs (or networks)
•  PROS
•  CONS
–  allow a more
comprehensive
analysis
–  largely qualitative
–  can easily get
complicated
–  also keep track of
causal relations
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
–  difficult to compare
design alternatives
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Superimposed maps
•  Quali-quantitative tool to incorporate in
the spatial context the impacts
–  Highly communicative
–  Easy to integrate multiple information
(including those of remote sensing)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Superimposed maps
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Prediction of impacts
Many ways to communicate the impact,
but for estimating it?
Even more!
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Prediction of impacts
•  Qualitative methods (estimates, expert
opinion ...)
•  Quantitative methods:
–  Deterministic models
–  Budget models (LCA)
–  Stochastic models (risk analysis)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015
Assessment of impacts
•  Qualitative methods (generally through
comparison with legal limits)
•  Quantitative methods:
–  Cost-benefit analysis (CB)
–  Multicriteria analysis (MCA)
Università di Padova
LASA - DII
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Engineering
a.a. 2014/2015