Resumen de Los Sistemas de Información Geográfica aplicados a la Evaluación Ambiental en la planificación de infraestructuras de transporte
Rosa María Arce Ruiz, Emilio Ortega Pérez, Isabel Otero Pastor
This article gives an overview of how to integrate environmental considerations into decision making on transport infrastructure in Spain and the role of Geographic Information Systems in this process. It opens with a short description of the Environmental Impact Assessment process (EIA) in Spain underlining while doing so the law as to environmental impact, project typology and deadline considerations in that country. It further abounds in the role of environmental assessment in the planning process by a brief description also of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as a tool for environmental assessment in early stages of decision making.
The capacity of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool for analysis of land information as well as its usefulness as a tool for environmental impact assessment is urged. The planning stages of infrastructure are analyzed and the usefulness of GIS discussed, starting in EAE and on up to EIA. Today GIS is used at all stages of the preparation of environmental assessment, thanks to its capacities for spatial data integration.
