3-D Visuals for EIAs
3-D visualisation tools can help people better understand key EIA findings so they can participate more readily in the environmental assessment process. In 2007, they were used for the first time in Hong Kong in the public exhibition of the EIA for the North East New Territories Landfill Extension. Although it is not possible to separate feedback between those who did and did not use the 3-D tool, a focus group of university students that was shown the 3-D tool provided positive feedback, saying it was an easy and attractive alternative for understanding EIA findings. By the end of the year, 3-D visualisation had been required in the study briefs of 22 major infrastructure projects.
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The North East New Territories Landfill Extension EIA study incorporates 3-D visualisation tools for public inspection. |
Web-based Resources
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has an Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) web site that contains links to all essential EIA-related documents, such as the Ordinance and its regulations, the Cyber Help Bench which provides advice, monitoring data and real-time webcam images of major projects, EIA guidance notes and assessment guidelines, more than 350 project profiles, more than 115 approved EIA reports, and numerous examples of good EIA practices. There is also an e-learning platform. In 2007 the web site received more than two million hits from around the world.
In addition, our web-based Strategic Environmental Assessment Knowledge Centre has become a valuable resource for users from around the world, including government officials, decision makers, professionals and various stakeholders. The web site contains information on local and international SEA reports and standards and received about 650 000 hits in 2007. It was enhanced during the year with additional hyperlinks to Mainland China and overseas SEA resources, including such material as SEA regulations, SEA guidance documents, SEA reports and SEA reference materials.
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