ECOGIS-ECOSAD - A METHODOLOGY FOR THE BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WITHIN THE PLANNING PROCESS

The development of an environmental characterisation and assessment system at the topological scale is the aim of this paper. Such a system (Ecological Geographical Information System/Ecological Decision Support System [ECOGIS/ECOSAD]), consists of a geographical decision-support system, including an environmental database and a set of environmental-evaluation models. The database is referred to homogeneous spatial units of topological dimensions and includes all the available biophysical, ecological, and land-use information on those units. The evaluation system processes this information in order to achieve: assessment of the natural potential, use aptitude, and environmental sensitivity; assessment of the intensity of the regional landscape processes; assessment of the resulting land-use suitabilities and environmental risks. Combining this information with the present or the proposed land uses, the system evaluates the resulting local and regional environmental impacts and conflicts, enabling, in this way, the planner or politician to balance the environmental losses and benefits of each proposed land-use allocation - not only in local, but in regional terms, as well. An experimental case study shows the validity of the system. Future developments of ECOGIS/ECOSAD are also discussed.