CE482

ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
MODULE 6 LECTURE 6
PREPARED BY,
RESHMY M. RAJU
M.TECH ENV. ENGG.
APCE SNIT ADOOR

TOPIC : CHECKLISTS MATRIX METHODS, OVERLAY

ANALYSIS
EIA METHODS
• Checklists methods
• Matrix methods
• Overlay analysis

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CHECKLISTS

• Common, simple an inexpensive method

• In this method, environmental factors are listed in a structured format by

giving importance weightings for factors and application of scaling
techniques for impacts of each alternative.

• Checklists are strong indicators of impact identification.

• They effectively garner the attention and awareness of their audience.

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CHECKLISTS
• Checklists are standard lists of the types of impacts associated with a particular
type of project

• Primarily for organizing information or ensuring that no potential impact is

overlooked

• They comprise list questions on features the project and environmental impacts

• They are generic in nature and are used as aids in assessment

• Help to organize the work and identify important issues

• The risk of using checklists is that important issues not included in the checklist
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 CHECKLISTS - types

1. Simple Checklist: a list of environmental parameters with no guidelines on

how they are to be measured and interpreted.

2. Descriptive Checklist: includes an identification of environmental parameters

and guidelines on how to measure data on particular parameters.

3. Scaling Checklist: similar to a descriptive checklist, but with additional

information on subjective scaling of the parameters.

4. Scaling Weighting Checklist: similar to a scaling checklist, with additional

information for the subjective evaluation of each parameter with respect to all
the other parameters.
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 Descriptive Checklist

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Scaling Checklist

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MATRIX METHODS

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MATRIX METHODS - Types

• Simple Matrix

• Time dependent matrix

• Magnitude Matrix

• Quantified Matrix (Leopold Matrix)

• Weighted Matrix

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Simple Matrix
 Time Dependent Matrices
Includes a number sequence to represent the time scale (e.g one figure
per year) of the impacts
 Magnitude Matrices
Go beyond the mere identification of impacts according to their magnitude,
importance and or time frame (e.g short, medium or long term)
Quantified Matrix Leopold Matrix
Example of Leopold Matrix
 Weighted Matrix

• Weighted matrics were developed in an attempt to respond to some of the above

problems.
• Importance weightinings are assigned to environmental components, and
sometimes to project components.
• The impact of the project (component) on the environmental component then
assessed and multiplied by the appropriate weightings.
Weighted Matrix
Overlay METHOD
• An effective visual aid
• Useful as documentation of
environmental conditions
existing before project
implementation
• May both
biophysical
describe and social
aspects area under
of study.
Overlay Method
• The overlay method is effective in considering:
• Sensetive lands, requiring protection human activity (e.g Shorelines,
wetlands etc)
• Hazard land, requiring protection from the environment (e.g flood
plains, unstable slopes, volcanic slopes, etc)
• Renewable resource areas, where the environment needs to be
protected from human activities (e.g aquifer recharge zones, fish and
wildlife habitat, etc)
• Cultural heritage (area of scientific/)
Overlay Method
Overlay Method
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