APPLICATION OF GIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT ANALYSIS IN A TRAFFIC RELIEF STUDY

This paper presents an application of a Geographic Information System (GIS) in a traffic relief study. Traffic congestion has severely affec ted the environmental quality and the quality of life for residents in the study area. A team which consisted of planners, environmental spe cialists historians landscape architects, traffic engineers, and GIS p rofessionals was organized to solve the problem. The environmental and socio-economic impacts of highway alignments have been evaluated from the very first step and every major decision-making for the duration of the project. The GIS professionals have played a crucial role in ma intaining constant and active interactions among members of the projec t team, federal and stale agencies, and the public GIS has been used t o develop natural and cultural resource inventory, to identify contami nation sources, to assess environmental constraints and to evaluate pr oposed highway alignment alternatives. GIS provides an ideal atmospher e for professionals to analyze data, to apply models and to make best decisions. The high quality map products created with GIS enhance the quality of public presentations and reports. The authors feel that mor e people have realized the benefit of using GIS along with the progres s of the project.