This paper shows how new developments in GIS are helping transport planners to consider environmental, socio-demographic and other factors in determining the acceptability and viability of new transport schemes. GIS has always had the potential for integrating the wide variety of data required for such assessments but this potential has frequently been underused. This has been principally due to problems in data supply in a cost effective way and also because traditional GIS has largely been seen as a technologist's tool rather than a decision support system to help planners in their work. The authors have selected one recent project as an example: the work undertaken by ERM for Bedfordshire County Council in the UK to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment of seven road schemes. The authors present results to show how GIS has been used effectively both to integrate data for simple overlays and also to provide more rigorous ways of assessing aspects such as effects on land use. In addition, the authors highlight how the use of desktop GIS (in this case the Map Info package) has transformed the way GIS can be used, not only for true decision support but also for the way it has the potential to be used to provide an integrated information source for the public.
Samenvatting