The paper first summarises the main aspects of the ARIPAR methodology whose
steps can be applied to quantify the impact on a territory of major accide
nt risks due to processing, storing and transporting dangerous substances.
Then the capabilities of the new decision support tool ARIPAR-GIS, implemen
ting the mentioned procedure, are described, together with its main feature
s and types of results, These are clearly shown through a short description
of the updated ARIPAR study (reference year 1994), in which the impact of
changes due to industrial and transportation dynamics on the Ravenna territ
ory in Italy were evaluated. The brief explanation of how results have been
used by local administrations offers the opportunity to discuss about adva
ntages of the quantitative area risk analysis tool in supporting activities
of risk management, risk control and land-use planning. (C) 2000 Elsevier
Science B.V. All rights reserved.