South Africa’s EIA Screening Tool: A preliminary study of how users perceive its accuracy and utility

IF 1.8 4区社会学 Q3 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal Pub Date : 2022-10-31 DOI:10.1080/14615517.2022.2139863

Michael Lambrecht, M. Sowman, Kirsten Day

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT Recognising the value of GIS in screening environmental impacts, the South African government has introduced a web-based Screening Tool as a mandatory part of the EIA application process. The Tool draws on numerous databases to depict sensitive attributes of proposed development sites. Enforcement of the Tool has implications for how EIAs are conducted, in terms of both scope and cost. In this paper we present the results of preliminary research into user perceptions of the accuracy and utility of the Tool. Findings from a national survey and several semi-structured interviews show that most users are not confident that the Tool accurately assigns sensitivity ratings according to various environmental themes. Notwithstanding this finding, overall opinion is that the Tool has potential to improve the scientific robustness of the EIA process. It is recommended that practitioners and specialists are involved in further development of the Tool to increase accuracy of the sensitivity ratings. We conclude more generally that integration of GIS can compensate for knowledge gaps and enhance the scientific veracity of EIA.

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南非的环境影响评估筛选工具:用户如何看待其准确性和实用性的初步研究

认识到地理信息系统在筛选环境影响方面的价值，南非政府引入了一种基于网络的筛选工具，作为环境影响评估申请过程的强制性部分。该工具利用众多数据库来描述建议发展地点的敏感属性。就范围和成本而言，实施环境影响评估工具会影响如何进行环境影响评估。在本文中，我们提出了对用户对工具的准确性和实用性的看法的初步研究结果。一项全国性调查和几次半结构化访谈的结果表明，大多数用户对该工具根据各种环境主题准确分配灵敏度评级没有信心。尽管有这一发现，但总体意见是，该工具有可能提高环境影响评估过程的科学可靠性。建议从业人员和专家参与该工具的进一步开发，以提高灵敏度评级的准确性。总体而言，GIS的集成可以弥补知识空白，提高环境影响评价的科学准确性。

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来源期刊

Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

22.70%

发文量

期刊介绍： This is the international, peer-reviewed journal of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA). It covers environmental, social, health and other impact assessments, cost-benefit analysis, technology assessment, and other approaches to anticipating and managing impacts. It has readers in universities, government and public agencies, consultancies, NGOs and elsewhere in over 100 countries. It has editorials, main articles, book reviews, and a professional practice section.