APPRAISAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES THROUGH MATHEMATICAL MATRICES

Interaction matrices are widely used in environmental impact assessmen ts (EIAs). However this technique is considered an illustrative approa ch, since its analytical power is deemed to be insufficient for effect ively handling complex decision-making. It can be argued that the misu se of interaction matrices has (in some instances) contributed to flaw ed EIAs, which have been deliberately misrepresentative and have been used for endorsement of projects. Consequently an alternative for bett er EIAs in the short term is to enhance the matrix approach, so that a more rigorous evaluation of impacts can be achieved. The approach pre sented here is based upon mathematical matrices to determine the signi ficance of impacts; specifically it encompasses the use of minimum lin k matrices, interpretative structural models and exponential and linea r equations. This method allows users to systematically weight all pos sible cause-effect interactions and pathways, and to consider primary and secondary impacts identified in a matrix. Consequently, the approa ch increases the effectiveness and rigor of matrices in handling compl ex data and predicting environmental impacts in a strict and traceable way. (C) 1998 Academic Press.