Strategic assessment of transport infrastructure Plans on European integration. Application for the Spanish Strategic Transport and Infrastructure Plan 2005-2020

Traditional transport infrastructure assessment methodologies rarely include the full range of strategic benefits for the transportation system. One of these benefits is the contribution to cross-border integration. However, this is a key issue in strategic planning and decision-making processes, as its inclusion may increase the probability of large-scale transport infrastructure projects being funded. This paper presents a methodology for the measurement of the contribution of Transport Infrastructure Plans to cross-border integration. The methodology is based on the measurement of the improvement in network efficiency in cross-border regions of neighboring countries, via accessibility calculations in a Geographical Information System (GIS) support. The methodology was tested by applying it to the ambitious road and rail network extensions included in the Spanish Strategic Transport and Infrastructure Plan (PEIT) 2005-2020. The results show significant and important network efficiency improvements of the PEIT outside the Spanish border. For the road mode, while the Spanish average accessibility improvement accounts for 2.6%, average improvements in cross-border regions of France and Portugal are of 1.8%. And for the rail mode, the corresponding Spanish value is 34.5%, whereas in neighboring regions it accounts for 20.2%. These results stress the significant importance of this strategic benefit and the consequent need for its inclusion in strategic planning processes. Finally, the paper identifies the potential of the methodology when applied at different administrative levels, such as the local or state levels

Policy and Environmental Implications of Photovoltaic Systems in Farming in Southeast Spain: Can Greenhouses Reduce the Greenhouse Effect?

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have grown in popularity in the farming sector, primarily because land area and farm structures themselves, such as greenhouses, can be exploited for this purpose, and, moreover, because farms tend to be located in rural areas far from energy production plants. In Spain, despite being a country with enormous potential for this renewable energy source, little is being done to exploit it, and policies of recent years have even restricted its implementation. These factors constitute an obstacle, both for achieving environmental commitments and for socioeconomic development. This study proposes the installation of PV systems on greenhouses in southeast Spain, the location with the highest concentration of greenhouses in Europe. Following a sensitivity analysis, it is estimated that the utilization of this technology in the self-consumption scenario at farm level produces increased profitability for farms, which can range from 0.88% (worst scenario) to 52.78% (most favorable scenario). Regarding the Spanish environmental policy, the results obtained demonstrate that the impact of applying this technology mounted on greenhouses would bring the country 38% closer to reaching the 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) target. Furthermore, it would make it possible to nearly achieve the official commitment of 20% renewable energies by 2020. Additionally, it would have considerable effects on the regional socioeconomy, with increases in job creation and contribution to gross domestic product (GDP)/R&D (Research and Development), allowing greater profitability in agrifood activities throughout the entire region

Evaluación de efectos territoriales: accesibilidad y medio ambiente debidos al PEIT en Castilla y León

Las infraestructuras de transporte juegan un papel muy importante como elemento vertebrador del territorio de la Comunidad de Castilla y León. Para analizar este papel es necesario un análisis integrado de la calidad del sistema de transporte y de las características del sistema territorial. Esta integración se realiza mediante la utilización de indicadores de accesibilidad agregados, en los que intervienen tanto la calidad de las conexiones entre centros de actividad económica, como las características socio-económicas de dichos centros. Por otro lado, en la actualidad, los Planes de Infraestructuras desarrollados en la UE deben incorporar una Evaluación Ambiental Estratégica. La Directiva 2001/42/CE establece que la EAE se debe efectuar durante la preparación y antes de la adopción o tramitación legislativa de los Planes o Programas, con el objeto de lograr que esta EAE incida en la toma de decisiones y selección de las diferentes alternativas de los Planes y Programas. El primer paso de una EAE es la fase de Screening o “selección de iniciativas”, en la cual se pretende desarrollar una valoración ambiental básica para examinar si un plan requiere una EAE, diagnosticar su posible incidencia en el medio ambiente, identificar el procedimiento de EAE más adecuado e integrar la EAE en su Plan correspondiente lo antes posible. El análisis toma como punto de partida las actuaciones (carreteras) incluidas en el recientemente aprobado Plan Estratégico de Infraestructuras y Transporte (PEIT), y se utilizarán métodos de predicción basados en Sistemas de Información Geográfica, a partir de los cuales se obtendrán valores de accesibilidad en todos los municipios de Castilla y León y se analizará el posible impacto sobre el medio ambiente

Efficiency and spatial equity impacts of high-speed rail extensions in urban areas

Urban areas benefit from significant improvements in accessibility when a new high speed rail (HSR) project is built. These improvements, which are due mainly to a rise in efficiency, produce locational advantagesand increase the attractiveness of these cities, thereby possibly enhancing their competitivenessand economic growth. However, there may be equity issues at stake, as the main accessibility benefits are primarily concentrated in urban areas with a HSR station, whereas other locations obtain only limited benefits. HSR extensions may contribute to an increase in spatial imbalance and lead to more polarized patterns of spatial development. Procedures for assessing the spatial impacts of HSR must therefore follow a twofold approach which addresses issues of both efficiency and equity. This analysis can be made by jointly assessing both the magnitude and distribution of the accessibility improvements deriving from a HSR project. This paper describes an assessment methodology for HSR projects which follows this twofold approach. The procedure uses spatial impact analysis techniques and is based on the computation of accessibility indicators, supported by a Geographical Information System (GIS). Efficiency impacts are assessed in terms of the improvements in accessibility resulting from the HSR project, with a focus on major urban areas; and spatial equity implications are derived from changes in the distribution of accessibility values among these urban agglomerations

A raster-vector approach to GIS modelling: Natural Quality cartography

The Surveying Department and the Transport Research Centre of the Polytechnic University ofMadrid (TRANSyT) cooperated on a research project where the generation of a Natural Quality map for the Peninsular Spain and Balearic Islands was one of the main outcomes. The main purpose of this cartography is to assist on the development of Environmental Reports for Strategic Environmental Assessments procedures. Some local, regional, national and international organizations have been consulted in order to obtain suitable GIS thematic databases, including the recent Spanish infrastructure of spatial data (IDEE), the European Environmental Agency and the Spanish nature data bank. The methodology begins with integration and normalization processes of data format (ESRI coverage), data accuracy (100 m), projection and datum (Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area – European Terrestrial Reference System 1989) with the aim of homogenising spatial data sets. The generation of this Natural Quality map implies the combination of a significant number of maps, finally 12. This high number of variables resulted in a very complex methodology, which forced researchers to work with raster data instead of vector. Raster combination of data has proved to be an efficient way of simulating a vector approach for a high number of datasets. This resulted in a raster map which attribute data was a vector comprising information from 12 environmental variables. Finally, a synthetic map was yielded through reclassification of the vector previously obtained. This map was assessed for consistency using various protected areas. The developed methodology, based on the used of GIS, has demonstrated the viability of implementation and convenience for future analysis

Los sistemas de información geográfica aplicados a la evaluación ambiental en la planificación de las infraestructuras de transporte.

Se aborda un análisis de cómo se integran los aspectos ambientales en la toma de decisiones sobre infraestructuras de transporte en España y del papel que juegan los Sistemas de Información Geográfica en ese proceso. Se realiza una breve descripción del proceso de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental (EI) en España, ley de impacto ambiental, tipos de proyectos en los que se aplica, plazos... Y se enlaza con la Evaluación ambiental en el proceso de planificación mediante una descripición también breve, de la Evaluación Ambiental Estratégica (EAE) como herramienta para la evaluación ambiental en fases iniciales de la toma de decisiones

Using GIS modelling to assess accessibility improvements and its potential indirect effects on the environment due to transport infrastructure plans development

The Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EU) establishes that the Environmental Report must include the identification and evaluation of the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the Plan or Programme due to be studied. Transport Plans usually generate accessibility improvements or facilitate access between two given points on the territory. One indirect impact that this action implies is a likely pressure increase in those areas where a great improvement in their accessibility is gained, mainly through high speed motorways. This new pressure comes from the sudden and sometimes messy attraction of potential activities that could vary from industrial, agriculture or services sectors, an increase of tourism or recreational activities..., and the appearance or intensification of residential demand, including secondary or recreational houses. The Transport Research Centre of the polytechnic University ofMadrid (TRANSyT) has coordinated a research project, financed by the Ministry of Public Works, which its main objective has led to obtain, develop and analyse interdisciplinary information to assist on a better infrastructure planning process. In the framework of this project, a methodology has been proposed to assess potential indirect impacts on the environment caused by transport infrastructure developing in previously semi-isolated areas. The process involves the computation of accessibility indices based on travel time estimations on road and railway networks in conjunction with its combination with Natural Quality cartography, also developed through an ad-hoc methodology. Two analyses have been performed using Iberian transport networks, both for 1992 and 2004, which were later crossed with the Natural Quality cartography obtained in a previous stage of the project. In the light of these analyses, the performance capacity of the Geographic Information Systems is proven and highlighted, concluding that this methodology is suitable for planning improvement

Evaluación de los efectos del PEIT sobre la fragmentación de hábitats

El fenómeno de la fragmentación de hábitats es una de las mayores amenazas para la conservación de la biodiversidad. Las infraestructuras lineales de transporte están consideradas como uno de los principales agentes responsables de este fenómeno, por su efecto de ruptura de las unidades ambientales que atraviesan. Sin embargo, la inclusión de los efectos sobre la fragmentación en las metodologías de evaluación es escasa y desigual, existiendo una gran variedad de índices de fragmentación en la literatura. En esta comunicación se evalúan los efectos sobre la fragmentación de hábitats derivados de las actuaciones previstas en el recientemente aprobado Plan Estratégico de Infraestructuras y Transporte 2005-2020 (PEIT). En concreto, el análisis se centra en los efectos producidos por las nuevas infraestructuras de la red de gran capacidad de carreteras y de altas prestaciones ferroviaria. El proceso seguido consiste en el cálculo de una serie de índices de fragmentación y el posterior análisis comparativo de los resultados obtenidos con cada uno de ellos. Para ello se ha contado con el apoyo de un Sistema de Información Geográfica (SIG), lo cual ha permitido una mayor facilidad en el cálculo y representación gráfica de resultados El análisis realizado permite detectar qué actuaciones de las incluidas en el PEIT suponen un mayor riesgo de fragmentación y diseñar en consecuencia las medidas correctoras necesarias para mitigar sus efectos adversos