Assessment Tools for SEA

Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world

Assessment Tools for SEA

Freeman Cheung

Chairman, Hong Kong Institute of Environmental Impact Assessment

18 June 2005

Workshop on Strategic Environmental Assessment


Introduction

• More sophisticated assessment techniques are now available for environmental assessment

• The recent development of the computer modelling techniques using Geographical Information System (GIS) has assisted the development of assessment tools for EIA

• Regional Air Quality Model

• Noise Mapping Software

• GIS-based Habitat Map


Air quality models for EIA

• simple Gaussian dispersion models

• other numerical models (plume/puff models of various complexity)

• physical modelling (wind tunnel)

• regional photochemistry air dispersion model


P A T HR e g io n a l A ir Q u a lity M o d e l

P A T HR e g io n a l A ir Q u a lity M o d e l

Pollutants in the Atmosphere and their Transport over Hong Kong (PATH)

• PATH Modelling System commissioned by EPD in 1996 and delivered in 2001

• state-of-the-art system, custom-built for HK from existing US components and thoroughly validated


AIVSAircraft Inventory Verification Study

• Airborne meteorological and air quality measurements• A total of 14 flights in November 1997• Results used in PATH verification• Comparison of pollutant fluxes on the inflow and outflow SAR borders provides a check on the total HK emissions


Meteorological data Boundary and Initial

ConditionsParameteric dataGeophysical data

Mesoscale Windfield Model (MM5)

Transport and Chemistry Model (SAQM)

Interpretation and Evaluation

3-D Measurement Data

Analysis Package

PATH’s Modelling Framework

EmissionModel(EMS-95)

Emission factors, activity and surrogate data


PATH modelling domains

• five nested domains

• grid spacing of 0.5, 1.5, 4.5, 13.5, 40.5 km

• 49 x 49 grids and recently extended to 97 x 97 grids

• unequally spaced vertical layers extend up to 25 km a.g.l. The lowest layer only 20 m deep


SAQM49x49nestedgrids


Emissions

• comprehensive HKSAR and regional emissions databases

• separate datasets for:• point sources• motor vehicles• marine emissions• biogenic emissions• all other area sources




Example: wind field & O3 concentrations

20 August 1996

4.5 km grid


Examples of Regional Air Quality Modelling for SEA

• Site search and EIA for the proposed HEC 1800 MW power plant at Lamma Extension

• CTS-3 SEA: Assess impacts of different vehicular emissions control measures, and different transport and population development scenarios by means of comprehensive air quality modelling

• PATH was used to assist in the development of emission control strategy for the Pearl River Delta Region


HEC 1800MW Power Station EIA Study

• PATH modelling of HKSAR air quality impacts

• several emissions scenarios developed

• AQO compliance demonstrated for the worst case meteorological scenario (1 hr and 24 averages) and by means of the PATH ‘annual average episodes’


Base case SO2 time series for 26-28 June 1995, assumed as the worst-case scenario for the HEC power station EIA


SEA for the Third Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS-3)

• many transport and population development scenarios tested

• detailed, 10 vehicle-class traffic forecast for each model grid cell used to estimate vehicular emissions under different growth scenarios

• separate scaling up or down of other emissions (power stations, area sources, marine)

• innovative use of model results for assessment: modelled increments (2016 scenario – 1997 base case) added to actually measured 1997 concentrations


NO2

annual conc.2016 – 1997

high growth(high end)CTS-3 scenario


Noise Exposure System

• ERM was commissioned by EPD in 2000 to

undertake a two years Study “Investigation Study

for Review of the Acoustical Environment Due to

Infrastructure Projects in Hong Kong (Contract

39/2000)”

• The worldwide trend to communicate

environmental noise information to the public


Requirements of the Noise Exposure Model

Collate noise information for the territory

Identify and quantify the scale of noise problems

Evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures


Data Inventory for the NES

• Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

• Road Network (Linked to BDTM and ATC data)

• Building Locations and Heights

• Podiums

• Enclosures

• Barriers

• Ground Surface

• Weather Stations

• Noise Grids for 4 heights for Lden, Ln, Ld, Le and L10


Some Statistics….

• 2,000km trafficable road (>2,000 AADT)

• ~1,100 km2 study area

• 6.8M inhabitants

• 80,000 residential buildings

• 0 – ~1,000 m elevation


Road Treatment Illustration


Road Treatment (Traffic Composition)


Model


Reality


Processing Overview

• Railway tracks

• Road centreline

• Airport

• Building footprints

• Podiums

• Barriers

• Enclosures

• Spot heights

• Contour lines

• Rivers

• Slope tops/bottoms

• Vegetation (ground absorption)

Obstacles

Input Processing Output

Emitters

• # of vehicles

• Speed

• Vehicle weight

Traffic Model

Noise Exposure Software

Calculates noise levels in different areas using inputs

Level of exposure estimated for various areas

Decisions made on mitigation/planning based on results

GI

S


Road Noise Contour @ 4m above ground level



Conflict Map


80m above ground

18m above ground

40m above ground

4m above ground


Noise Exposure

• Project requirement to estimate percentage of population exposed to excessive noise

• Assigning noise levels to each building facades

• Data used include Census Map and Building Type Dataset

• Use street block population data and building block volume to estimate number of people affected


Histogram of Noise Levels vs Population

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

35dB

40dB

45dB

50dB

55dB

60dB

65dB

70dB

75dB

80dB

85dB


No. of People Exposed to Road Traffic Noise Levels >

70 dB(A)

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000EA

STER

N D

ISTR

ICT

ISLA

NDS

DIS

TRIC

T

KOW

LOO

N C

ITY

DIS

TRIC

T

KWAI

TSI

NG D

ISTR

ICT

KWUN

TO

NG

DIS

TRIC

T

NO

RTH

DIS

TRIC

T

SAI

KUN

G D

ISTR

ICT

SHA

TIN

DIS

TRIC

T

SHAM

SHU

I PO

DIS

TRIC

T

SOU

THER

N D

ISTR

ICT

TAI

PO D

ISTR

ICT

TSU

EN W

AN D

ISTR

ICT

TUEN

MUN

DIS

TRIC

T

WAN

CHA

I D

ISTR

ICT

WO

NG T

AI S

IN D

ISTR

ICT

YAU

TSI

M M

ONG

DIS

TRIC

T

YUEN

LO

NG D

ISTR

ICT


Summary

• One of the largest scale noise mapping exercises in the world

• Integrated GIS and Noise Model for better visualisation of the noise environment

• A very useful tool/platform to develop 3D graphical presentation of information to encourage public participation


GIS-based Habitat Map


Lowland ForestFung Shui Forest

Freshwater/Brackish Wetland

Fishpond/Gei Wai Mangrove Seagrass Bed

Intertidal Mudflat Natural Watercourse

Habitat Type



%a

%U

%U

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X(X

(X

(X

(X

#Y

#Y

File: c1750_29aug02.aprDate: 29/08/02

FIGURE 8.4a Environmental Resources Management

Kwu Tung North DNA - Habitat Map

HabitatsActive Dry Agricultural LandInactive Dry Agricultural LandActive Wet Agricultural LandInactive Wet Agricultural Land

PondActive Fish PondInactive Fish Pond

Marsh

Lowland ForestGrassland - Shrubland Mosaic

PlantationOrchardDevelopment AreaWasteland

Stream

%a Bat Roosting Site(X Chinese Bullfrog%U Javan Mongoose(X Narrow-mouthed Frog#Y Painted Snipe Nesting Site#Y Male Painted Snipe with Chicks

Egretry

Species of Ecological InterestAilanthus fordiiPavetta hongkongensis

Fanling Bypass

Study Area (500m from NDA Boundary)

NDA BoundaryNDA Development

KEY

0 0.4 0.8

KilometresN

%U

%U

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X (X

(X

(X

#Y

#Y

File: c1750_29aug02.aprDate: 29/08/02

FIGURE 8.4b Environmental Resources Management

Fanling North NDA - Habitat Map


PondActive Fish PondInactive Fish Pond

Marsh

Lowland ForestGrassland - Shrubland Mosaic

PlantationOrchardDevelopment AreaWasteland

Stream

%a Bat Roosting Site(X Chinese Bullfrog%U Javan Mongoose(X Narrow-mouthed Frog#Y Painted Snipe Nesting Site#Y Male Painted Snipe with Chicks

Species of Ecological Interest

Fanling Bypass

Study Area (500m from NDA Boundary)


KEY

KilometresN

0 0.4 0.8

• Determine amount of habitat lost

• Refer to total habitat in area of Hong Kong

• Ecological value of habitat

• Presence of rare species

• Effects on Species of Conservation Concern

• Habitat fragmentation/ isolation

• Noise/ human disturbance

• Water quality

Ecological Assessment for NENT Study


10

20

50

20

10

Open Storage

Open Storage

Open Storage

Open Storage

Sewage Treatment Works

Open Storage

Weir

Ponds

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

Ponds

PondsPonds

p

p

p

p

p

p

pp

p

pp

p

p

p

p

Ponds

Pond

Pond

p p

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

p

Filter Bed

R1 R2

DO

G/ICRS

A

G/IC

DO

V

G/IC

R2

DO G/IC

G/IC

G/IC

GB

GB

OU

OU

OU

OU

AGR

G/IC

OU

OU

V

G/IC

G/IC

A

V

AGR

I

A

PS/HOS/

OU(BUSINESS USE)

R5

OU(NATURE PARK)

DSDDQ

ABATTOIR

KO

WLO

ON

CA

NTO

N R

AI L

WA

Y

SAN

PO

ST.

,

CHOI S

HUN S

T

CHOI F

AT S

T

CHOI FAI ST

CHOI YUEN ROAD

CASTLE PEAK ROAD - KWU TUNG

POSS

IBLE

SUN

KEN R

OAD

SEC

TIO

N

OU

E

PFS

R1 R2

DO

G/IC

A

G/IC

LO

V

G/IC

R2

G/IC

GB

GB

OU

OU

OU

AGR

G/IC

OU

OU

V

G/IC

G/IC

V

AGR

I

A

OU(BUSINESS USE)

R5

OU(NATURE PARK)

OU

E

KWU TUNGSTATION

DO

RS/HOS/PSPS

PUBLIC ROAD

IC

R4

OU(NATURE PARK)

OU

GB

CASTLE PEAK ROAD - KWU TUNG

HO

SH

EU

NG

HE

UN

G P

AI FU

NG

RO

AD

CH

UN

G K

UK

PA

TH

SAN WAN ROAD

CHOI YUEN ROAD

SAN PO

STR

EET

CHOI F

AT STREET

CHOI FAI STREET

SHEUNG SHUI TUNG HING

RO

AD

CH

UK W

AN STR

EET

%U

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

(X

#Y

#Y

File: C1750_2908_v2.aprDate: 28/08/2002

FIGURE 8.4aa Environmental Resources Management

N

Long Valley - Habitat Map(The boundary of 'Long Valley' as indicated in the report was delineated

based on on the result of the twelve month ecological survey)

Key

Developed Area


Pond

Marsh(X Chinese Bullfrog%U Javan Mongoose(X Narrow-mouthed Frog#Y Painted Snipe Nesting Site

Male Painted Snipe with Chicks#Y

Species of Ecological Interest


Long Valley

0 100 200 300 400Metres

Area can be used for Habitat Enhancement in Long Valley


Conclusions

• GIS based assessment tools are non-dispensable tools in strategic environmental assessment and planning

• PATH is a useful tool to compare air quality impact from different development scenarios and to develop control strategies

• Noise exposure system is capable of producing population exposure forecast for different districts for future land use planning

• GIS-based habitat map is used to provide calculation of habitat loss for assessment of the potential ecological impact for strategic environmental assessment

Documents

Assessment Tools for SEA