Application of a knowledge- and geographical information-based system to the environmental impact assessment of an opencast coal mining project

ABSTRACT

Environmental impact problems are assessed in two steps: scoping exercises (qualitative assessment) and technical assessment (quantitative). The scoping exercises use stored expertise to identify the source of environmental problems and then to analyse the propagation of pollutants and their impact on surrounding areas; when a significant adverse impact is identified, the system provides mitigation advice. Scoping exercises can be conducted repeatedly to assess the effects of different mitigalion measures and/or to assess properties in different locations. At the same time the scoping exercise gathers information that is subsequently used for the technical assessment. The technical assessment uses numerical models of pollutant transmission, together with a geographical model of the mine and surrounding area, to quantify impacts in neighbouring, environmentally sensitive areas. The results of the overall environmental impact assessment are presented as an environmental impact statement in text format and as geographical images.