EIA Methods

Methods of Environmental Imapact

Identification – Warner 1973
 Ad hoc Method
 Checklist
 Matrices
 Overlays
 Networks
Ad hoc method

 Simple method based on subjective environment impact on broad aspects

 Ad hoc method is useful when time constraints and lack of information required
that EIA must rely exclusively on expert opinion
 It gives minimum guidance for total impact assessment while suggesting the
broad areas of possible impacts and the general nature of these possible impacts
 When more scientific methods are available, it is not recommended
Type of ad hoc methods

 Opinion polls
 Expert opinion
 Delphi Methods
Ad hoc method

 Advantage
 Specialist on a particular area will provide guidance
 Disadvantage
 It require experts
 Short/long term impacts are merely examined on guess basis
 Identification, prediction and interpretation of impacts are very poor
Check list method

 Checklist means a listing of potential Environmental Impacts

 This method is done to assess the nature of impact i.e. its type such as
adverse/beneficial, short term/long term, no effect/significant impact,
reversible/irreversible
Type of check list method

 Simple list
 Descriptive Checklist
 Scaling Checklist
 Questionnaire Checklist
Checklists

 Advantages
 Simple to understand and use
 Good for site selection and priority settling
 Disadvantages
 Do not distinguish between direct and indirect impacts
 Do not link action and impact
 Sometimes it is a cumbersome task
Matrices

 Matrices and its variant provide us a framework of interaction of different

actions/activities of a project with potential Environmental Impact cause by them.
 Simple interaction matrix is formed where project actions are listed along one
axis, i.e. vertically and Environmental Impact are listed along otherside, i.e.
horizontally
 It was pioneer by Leopold et al (1971)
 It list about 100 project actions and about 88 environmental characteristic and
conditions
Example
Sectoral Matrix
Network Method

 It uses matrix approach by extending it taking into account primary as well as the
secondary impacts
 Shown in the form of tree called as Relevance/Impact Tree/Sequence Diagram
 Identification of direct/indirect , short term/long term environmental impact is a
crucial and intact basic step of making impact tree
 Used to identify cause effect linkages
 Visual description of linkages
Example
Network Method

 Advantages
 Link action to impact
 Useful in simplified form in checking for second order impacts
 Handles direct and indirect impacts
 Disadvantages
 Can become overlay complex if used beyond simplified version
 Qualitative
Overlay Method

 Rely on a set of maps of a project area’s environmental characteristics covering

physical, social, ecological, aesthetic aspects
 Separate mapping of critical environmental features at the same scale as project’s
site plan
 Older technique: environmental features are mapped on transparent plastic in
different colors
 Newer technique: Geographic Information System (GIS)
Overlay Method

 Advantages
 Easy to understand and use
 Good display method
 Good for site selection setting
 Disadvantages
 Address only direct impacts
 Do not address impact duration or probability
Thank You