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Project Summary Project Description Application of Tools Opinion of Tools Decision making process Contact Details

Decision making process

Name of the case study
Optimisation of planning procedures to implement transport infrastructure

Decision making process - stages
• Collect information on the legal basis Laws, directives, regulations
• Preliminary stage
Gathering relevant information about the potential environmental influences by each department.
• Screening
A selection and rough analysis of some alternatives for route corridors.
o Information to the local government and the public
o Presentation of the gathered information
o Road shows
o On-site visits
o Visualising – GIS and aerial photos
• Scoping
Compare selected alternatives and containment of the considered space.
o Gathering the results and evaluation of the technical/scientific information
o Providing information for all stakeholders (printed, consultation, media etc.)
• Assessment of the environmental impact of land use changes
• Presentation of the project considering the results from the environmental assessment.

Decision making process - levels
The executing level is the technical level, which prepares the evaluation steps and preparation of information for other stakeholders, namely the political level and the public.

Decision making process - sources of information
To the extent to which they may exist GIS-based information, aerial photos, sector-relevant information (water, nature protection, geology, ecology etc.), legal background information from the sectors; public concerns are incorporated for the project. A compendium of examples from different departments is listed below:

Road construction
Evaluation the requirements of the project in the regional context
Surveying potential conflicts with regard to space-environment-traffic
Water management
High water/flooding
Nature protection
Biotope mapping/GIS based information
Land use/natural potential
FFH-directive
Spatial planning
Local and regional development concepts, referring to their environmental and sustainability objectives
Sensibility of certain areas
Forestry
Forest development plans
Hazardous zones
Agricultural areas
Quality of agricultural land - prevention of transecting valuable land
Geology
Landslides
Waste dumps –contamination through mobilisation
Influence on the groundwater
Noise
Preliminary checks about noise emissions
Hunting/fishery
Deer passes and stock

Decision making process - who are the decision makers
The technicians take the leading role and primary decisions, however the citizens are involved during the process and politicians are incorporated in the final decision making process steps.

Decision making process - who made the final decision for project implementation
The technicians take the lead, but officially the politicians have to sign and decide.


Name of tool
Traffic planning - a SEA-based guideline for the regional level

Decision making process - tools in decision-making process
Overall the idea about the tool has been accepted instantly. One of the main improvements due to the tools use is the introduction of tiered process steps, which should guide the user during his work. Moreover, the co-operation between sectors, which has been a major requirement in the process, has led to a better commitment of the personnel and a greater efficiency. From the different, before mentioned sectors a number of qualitative and quantitative criteria have been chosen. They refer to existing data and "status quo" information, which in turn are used as reference values.Providing argumentation, which should be understandable for all the stakeholders involved, is one of the objectives and a must, since the official decision has to be made by the political level.


Decision making process - how was the information for the dmp disseminated
The decision making process is described and recorded throughout the whole process. Each process step is explained and visualised by maps and technical information, but understandable proof.

Decision making process - how was the public involved
Public presentation, road shows, field trips, media etc. have been used to inform the public about the planning process and about the progress.

Decision making process - was there public discussion over the project
The public is informed about the various stages in the process. Public hearing is regulated and handled according to EIA-regulations.

What tools were used to assess sustainability?

Traffic planning - a SEA-based guideline for the regional level

More information

Click here for a full description (pdf)