Sensitivity Maps in Environmental Impact Studies

Abstract

Environmental Sensitivity is closely linked to the concepts of reception or absorption recovery that have environmental components such capabilities must be addressed in a holistic and integrated for analysis of constructive alternatives to incorporate infrastructure Environmental Sensitivity Maps are undoubtedly important to define a priori the contingency plans corrective actions mitigation or compensation to the occurrence of damage to the environment A case study is presents for the installation of production infrastructure environmental sensitivity is analyzed through physical biological and socioeconomic factors landscapes surface runoff topography soil type flora - wildlife and land uses For the generation of environmental sensitivity maps a weighted polynomial was used whose weights were defined on the basis of consultations with experts Four alternatives for an aqueduct were compared which are analyzed according to the environmental sensitivity of the areas traversed The alternative path was defined by the engineers in charge of the hydraulic project aspects and the application of the optimal path algorithm using the environmental sensitivity map as friction to determine traces of each alternative with less sensitivity Environmental Sensitivity Maps showed consistency in the analysis of alternatives for the location of new infrastructure