Environmental valuation arose in an attempt to calculate the monetary value of impact on the environment. Monetary impacts are calculated in order to use these in planning decisions (benefit-cost analysis) or in pricing decisions such as taxation and toll setting. In principle, the inclusion of environmental values in planning decisions will lead to better decisions on the development of transportation infrastructure. Also, the inclusion of environmental values in prices signals such as tolls and taxes will result in more efficient use of both transportation and environmental resources. While, in principle, the assessment of environmental values is relatively straightforward, in practice the modelling of environmental values relies on detailed information on biophysical systems, as well as human preferences and behaviour. Furthermore, there is a myriad of linkages between transportation and the environment and a number of values that arise from these linkages. The authors review types of value, the types of environment-transportation linkages, and the methods for modelling environmental values in transport. The authors then conclude the chapter with a discussion of issues and developments that require future research, and a summary of key points.
Samenvatting