Formalizing expert judgment in the environmental impact assessment process

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental Professional; (United States)

OSTI ID:6479526

Lein, J K ^[1]

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1. Ohio Univ., Athens, OH (United States). Dept. of Geography

As the debate surrounding the adequacy of the environmental impact statement (EIS) process and its intended role in environmental decision-making continues, there is growing concern that the present guidelines used to develop the EIS may not be adequate given the methodological and theoretical advances that have been introduced in environmental impact assessment (EIA) since the last Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) revisions. This concern is particularly evident when the issues surrounding the application of expert judgment and the role it plays in impact prediction are considered. Presently, there is no standardized procedure for applying expert judgment in EIA, and although the use of expert judgment has long been acknowledged in the impact assessment literature, methodologies that draw upon expert judgment have not attempted to render those judgmental aspects of an assessment visible to decision-makers. This paper presents an approach for formalizing expert judgment using the experience gained from the development of expert systems designed to assist the EIA process. Following a critical examination of judgmental approaches to impact prediction, this paper illustrates how through the application of the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence and fuzzy logic, substantive improvements in EIA can be made, moving the practice of impact assessment more closely into alignment with the goals expressed in Section 102(2)(a) and Section 102(2)(b) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969.

• OSTI ID: 6479526
• Journal Information: Environmental Professional; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Professional; (United States) Vol. 15:1; ISSN 0191-5398; ISSN EPROD9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
COMPLIANCE
DECISION MAKING
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXPERT SYSTEMS
FUZZY LOGIC
LAWS
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
PLANNING
US NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT