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Ainhoa González
School of Geography, University College Dublin, Ireland

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Journal article
Published: 26 November 2020 in Environmental Impact Assessment Review
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Tiering of information and decisions from more strategic plans to more specific projects (and sometimes the other way) can streamline plan-making and assessments, and improve decisions at each planning tier. In particular, it can lead to more consistent and comprehensive impact mitigation at the lower tiers. In practice, however, tiering of assessments is carried out only sporadically. This paper reviews the international literature and case studies on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) tiering, and presents the findings of interviews with 14 SEA/EIA experts. It concludes that a conscious and explicit transfer of information from the SEA level, and an explicit receipt of this information at the EIA level are necessary prerequisites for effective tiering. SEAs must be carried out with local actions in mind, in order for mitigation measures to support environmental protection on the ground. Lower-tier decision-makers must also be willing to be bound by decisions by the higher-tier SEA, focusing on implementation of these decisions.

ACS Style

Riki Therivel; Ainhoa González. “Ripe for decision”: Tiering in environmental assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 2020, 87, 106520 .

AMA Style

Riki Therivel, Ainhoa González. “Ripe for decision”: Tiering in environmental assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 2020; 87 ():106520.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Riki Therivel; Ainhoa González. 2020. "“Ripe for decision”: Tiering in environmental assessment." Environmental Impact Assessment Review 87, no. : 106520.

Journal article
Published: 05 October 2020 in Journal of Geography
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Ainhoa González; Christine Bonnin; Eoin O'Mahony; Nga Nguyen Hong; Tien Nguyen Thi Minh. Challenges and Prospects of Integrating GIS Education in Development Studies in a Global South Context. Journal of Geography 2020, 120, 12 -22.

AMA Style

Ainhoa González, Christine Bonnin, Eoin O'Mahony, Nga Nguyen Hong, Tien Nguyen Thi Minh. Challenges and Prospects of Integrating GIS Education in Development Studies in a Global South Context. Journal of Geography. 2020; 120 (1):12-22.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa González; Christine Bonnin; Eoin O'Mahony; Nga Nguyen Hong; Tien Nguyen Thi Minh. 2020. "Challenges and Prospects of Integrating GIS Education in Development Studies in a Global South Context." Journal of Geography 120, no. 1: 12-22.

Short communication
Published: 04 August 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Background: Light pollution is increasingly an area of concern for health and quality of life research. Somewhat surprisingly, there are relatively few descriptions of perceptions of light pollution in the literature. The current study examined such perceptions in a Irish sample. Methods: A survey was circulated as part of a citizen science initiative of a national newspaper; the survey included questions regarding night sky brightness and the impact of light at night on sleep and animal behaviour. Complete responses from 462 respondents were analysed. Results: Urban location was, as anticipated, associated with reported brighter night skies, and public lighting was reported as the main source of light at night for urban settings, whilst neighbours’ domestic lighting was the most commonly reported source for rural settings. Respondents from rural settings were more likely to report that light at night impinged on sleep, whilst city dwellers were more likely to report recent changes in wildlife behaviour. Conclusions: Citizen science approaches may be useful in gathering data on public perceptions of light pollution and its impacts. In the current study, this perception was strongly influenced by location, highlighting the importance of assessing experiences and attitudes across a number of geographical settings.

ACS Style

Andrew N. Coogan; Michael Cleary-Gaffney; Megan Finnegan; Georgia McMillan; Ainhoa González; Brian Espey. Perceptions of Light Pollution and its Impacts: Results of an Irish Citizen Science Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 5628 .

AMA Style

Andrew N. Coogan, Michael Cleary-Gaffney, Megan Finnegan, Georgia McMillan, Ainhoa González, Brian Espey. Perceptions of Light Pollution and its Impacts: Results of an Irish Citizen Science Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (15):5628.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrew N. Coogan; Michael Cleary-Gaffney; Megan Finnegan; Georgia McMillan; Ainhoa González; Brian Espey. 2020. "Perceptions of Light Pollution and its Impacts: Results of an Irish Citizen Science Survey." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 15: 5628.

Journal article
Published: 05 June 2020 in Land Use Policy
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Covering 26 years of Irish onshore wind energy development, this article tracks patterns in landscape changes from wind farm construction and identifies adaptive responses in public policy and by stakeholder groups. Wind farms face well-documented challenges with social acceptance due to landscape changes; however, little research has examined interactions between landscape change and social adaptations over the long-term. This article systematically reviews 20 policy documents, undertakes spatio-temporal linear modeling of 212 wind farms using 9 landscape change metrics, and analyzes 5 stakeholder group interviews on adaptive responses to landscape changes. Upward trends occur in turbine height, impact accumulation, placement in agricultural landscapes, construction delays, and new farms built per year. Downward trends occur in the number of turbines per farm, visual disruption of protected areas, and placement in wetlands. Key patterns in stakeholder groups’ adaptations include conflicting interpretations of landscape amenities and evolution, and expanded community outreach, networking, and public participation after exposure to infrastructure. Stakeholders adapt to existing infrastructure separately from adapting strategies to respond to new wind farms. Overall, a mutual relationship emerges wherein landscape changes from wind farms respond to policies and stakeholder activities, while policies and stakeholder groups adapt to the physical realities of landscape change.

ACS Style

Celia Hallan; Ainhoa González. Adaptive responses to landscape changes from onshore wind energy development in the Republic of Ireland. Land Use Policy 2020, 97, 104751 .

AMA Style

Celia Hallan, Ainhoa González. Adaptive responses to landscape changes from onshore wind energy development in the Republic of Ireland. Land Use Policy. 2020; 97 ():104751.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Celia Hallan; Ainhoa González. 2020. "Adaptive responses to landscape changes from onshore wind energy development in the Republic of Ireland." Land Use Policy 97, no. : 104751.

Journal article
Published: 11 May 2020 in Environmental Impact Assessment Review
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The benefits of SEA can outweigh its costs by several orders of magnitude. Some SEA benefits can be quantified using ecosystem service approaches. SEA costs are mostly short-term and benefits are mostly long-term. Most SEA costs accrue to planners and developers; most benefits accrue to the public and environment. SEA must start early, and focus on alternatives and mitigation.

ACS Style

Riki Therivel; Ainhoa González. Is SEA worth it? Short-term costs v. long-term benefits of strategic environmental assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 2020, 83, 106411 .

AMA Style

Riki Therivel, Ainhoa González. Is SEA worth it? Short-term costs v. long-term benefits of strategic environmental assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 2020; 83 ():106411.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Riki Therivel; Ainhoa González. 2020. "Is SEA worth it? Short-term costs v. long-term benefits of strategic environmental assessment." Environmental Impact Assessment Review 83, no. : 106411.

Journal article
Published: 13 March 2020 in Environmental Impact Assessment Review
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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set a universal agenda intended to stimulate social, economic and environmental action. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has the potential to assist in the implementation of actions supporting the SDGs by providing a systematic framework to incorporate them into policies, plans and programmes; and the SDGs in turn, could substantiate SEA's contribution to sustainable development. Therefore, the partnering of both policy instruments fosters a mutualistic relationship, benefiting both. In this paper, we review current engagement of SEA with the SDGs both in the academic literature and in practice. The findings reveal a recognisable subtle shift towards the adoption of a new paradigm in plan-making, particularly supported by governments' growingly proactive embracement of SDGs, albeit through different approaches, initiatives and commitments. This sets a robust foundation for spatial planning and, by extension, a reference framework for SEA. Nevertheless, operationalising the SDGs is difficult. The extent to which SDG objectives and targets are embedded in SEA and, indeed, integrated into plans/programmes seems to be hampered by the broad scope of both sustainability and SEA, and a general lack of awareness and know-how. This suggest a need to clarify SEA's mandate for engaging with the SDGs, as well as to provide training for a more proactive integration of the objectives and targets. Through initiatives such as these, there are opportunities to optimise mutual gains for both policy instruments.

ACS Style

Ainhoa González Del Campo; Paola Gazzola; Vincent Onyango. The mutualism of strategic environmental assessment and sustainable development goals. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 2020, 82, 106383 .

AMA Style

Ainhoa González Del Campo, Paola Gazzola, Vincent Onyango. The mutualism of strategic environmental assessment and sustainable development goals. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 2020; 82 ():106383.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa González Del Campo; Paola Gazzola; Vincent Onyango. 2020. "The mutualism of strategic environmental assessment and sustainable development goals." Environmental Impact Assessment Review 82, no. : 106383.

Review article
Published: 01 December 2019 in Transactions in GIS
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Land use and marine spatial planning processes are increasingly supported by systematic assessment techniques, particularly by multi‐criteria spatial analysis methods. This has been facilitated by the growing release and uptake of web‐mapping tools, which contribute to transparent, consistent, and informed planning processes and decisions. This article reviews the usability, functionality, and applicability of contemporary planning web‐mapping tools to identify the state‐of‐the‐art and future prospects. The review reveals that interfaces are increasingly available and intuitively applicable by non‐specialized users. Basic map navigation and data querying functionality is being expanded to incorporate advanced map‐making and online data geoprocessing capabilities that enable deriving new data and insights. However, the majority of published planning web tools are one‐off solutions, and a disconnect between research and practice is rendering many of these inaccessible or obsolete. Despite the significant progress made in advancing their provision in the last decade, there is a need for developing transferable interfaces that are maintained beyond project end dates, for them to effectively and consistently support planning processes.

ACS Style

Ainhoa González; Christina Kelly; Anna Rymszewicz. Advancements in web‐mapping tools for land use and marine spatial planning. Transactions in GIS 2019, 24, 253 -267.

AMA Style

Ainhoa González, Christina Kelly, Anna Rymszewicz. Advancements in web‐mapping tools for land use and marine spatial planning. Transactions in GIS. 2019; 24 (2):253-267.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa González; Christina Kelly; Anna Rymszewicz. 2019. "Advancements in web‐mapping tools for land use and marine spatial planning." Transactions in GIS 24, no. 2: 253-267.

Review article
Published: 24 May 2019 in Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
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Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) requires the simultaneous assessment of multiple considerations to identify and mitigate any significant adverse effects on the environment resulting from plan/programme/policy implementation. In order to do this and support decision-making for sustainable development, it relies on sound and scientifically verifiable data from a variety of sources and on analytical tools to identify patterns and predict changes in the data. The advent of big data and technological advancements are highly relevant to SEA, given their potential to enhance the evidence-base, better assess, anticipate and communicate environmental effects and advance overall SEA practice. This review article explores the opportunities for an increased use of smart technologies and approaches in SEA, and proposes an operational framework for smartening SEA. It concludes by identifying a number of new research areas for exploring untapped opportunities in SEA.

ACS Style

Ainhoa González Del Campo; Paola Gazzola. Untapping the potential of technological advancements in Strategic Environmental Assessment. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2019, 63, 585 -603.

AMA Style

Ainhoa González Del Campo, Paola Gazzola. Untapping the potential of technological advancements in Strategic Environmental Assessment. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 2019; 63 (4):585-603.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa González Del Campo; Paola Gazzola. 2019. "Untapping the potential of technological advancements in Strategic Environmental Assessment." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 63, no. 4: 585-603.

Editorial
Published: 22 April 2019 in Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal
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Riki Therivel; Ainhoa González. Introducing SEA effectiveness. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 2019, 37, 181 -187.

AMA Style

Riki Therivel, Ainhoa González. Introducing SEA effectiveness. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 2019; 37 (3-4):181-187.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Riki Therivel; Ainhoa González. 2019. "Introducing SEA effectiveness." Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 37, no. 3-4: 181-187.

Articles
Published: 15 April 2019 in Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal
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Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is fairly well-established in Spain, informing decision-makers on the likely environmental consequences of their plans and policies. However, limited attention has been paid to the study of SEA effectiveness in Spain, particularly with regards to practitioner and stakeholder views. This paper aims to bridge this knowledge gap by gathering and examining views on SEA’s participatory aspects, the performance of the procedural elements and the overall role of SEA in decision-making. The paper describes the legal implementation of SEA in Spain, and discusses current views on its effectiveness, grounded on the authors’ own experiences.

ACS Style

Rosa M. Arce-Ruiz; Julio A. Soria-Lara; Ainhoa González-Del-Campo. SEA effectiveness in Spain: insights from practice. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 2019, 37, 327 -333.

AMA Style

Rosa M. Arce-Ruiz, Julio A. Soria-Lara, Ainhoa González-Del-Campo. SEA effectiveness in Spain: insights from practice. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 2019; 37 (3-4):327-333.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rosa M. Arce-Ruiz; Julio A. Soria-Lara; Ainhoa González-Del-Campo. 2019. "SEA effectiveness in Spain: insights from practice." Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 37, no. 3-4: 327-333.

Articles
Published: 22 February 2019 in Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal
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The first review of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) effectiveness in Ireland examined how a number of selected case studies performed procedurally. The findings pointed not only to deficiencies in the consideration of alternatives, monitoring and SEA Statements, but also in its capability to lead to more informed and sustainable decisions. Six years on from that review, this paper revisits some of the case studies and appraises non-procedural effectiveness via stakeholder interviews to obtain a more comprehensive account of SEA effectiveness across the life of the reviewed plans. The case studies illustrate a general openness to SEA. Overall, consulted experts agreed that SEA contributes significant knowledge to planning decisions. SEA iterations tend to be more efficient as a result of learning; in some cases, the process led to internal organisational restructuring, facilitating better environmental integration in subsequent plans. There is limited implementation of monitoring across the case studies, so while the review points to positive outcomes of SEA (e.g. new data and knowledge, mitigation by avoidance), it remains to be evidenced whether it ultimately prevents adverse environmental effects.

ACS Style

Ainhoa González; Craig Bullock; Antonia Gaughran; Kristie Watkin-Bourne. Towards a better understanding of SEA effectiveness in Ireland. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 2019, 37, 233 -246.

AMA Style

Ainhoa González, Craig Bullock, Antonia Gaughran, Kristie Watkin-Bourne. Towards a better understanding of SEA effectiveness in Ireland. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 2019; 37 (3-4):233-246.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa González; Craig Bullock; Antonia Gaughran; Kristie Watkin-Bourne. 2019. "Towards a better understanding of SEA effectiveness in Ireland." Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 37, no. 3-4: 233-246.

Review article
Published: 04 January 2019 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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To date, sustainable development has been the most important discourse informing planning, a powerful rhetoric for solving environmental problems that shows confidence in human ingenuity and technological advancements. However, recent advances in information and communication technologies, are prompting the development of smart(er) approaches to (sustainable) development, which might be signifying a departure from the more traditional, or perhaps earlier, greener narratives underpinning sustainable development. Within this context and informed by analysis of the literature, this paper aims to reflect on the extent to which ideas of going green and going smart are converging or diverging from the path towards sustainable development. This is done using convergence theory and Bennet’s typology (1991) of similarities as an analytical framework. The findings suggest that the convergence of greening and smart ideas for sustainable development might be better achieved if smart-centric approaches to policy- and planning are subsumed in the overarching vision of environmental quality and resilience, with green approaches to urban development setting the path and driving decisions towards a sustainable future.

ACS Style

Paola Gazzola; Ainhoa Gonzalez Del Campo; Vincent Onyango. Going green vs going smart for sustainable development: Quo vadis? Journal of Cleaner Production 2019, 214, 881 -892.

AMA Style

Paola Gazzola, Ainhoa Gonzalez Del Campo, Vincent Onyango. Going green vs going smart for sustainable development: Quo vadis? Journal of Cleaner Production. 2019; 214 ():881-892.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paola Gazzola; Ainhoa Gonzalez Del Campo; Vincent Onyango. 2019. "Going green vs going smart for sustainable development: Quo vadis?" Journal of Cleaner Production 214, no. : 881-892.

Journal article
Published: 30 October 2018 in Environmental Modelling & Software
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Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) requires taking into account the sensitivity of the area likely to be affected when identifying and characterising potential impacts resulting from plans and programmes. This entails consideration of the intrinsic characteristics that make the area susceptible to change, and incorporation of stakeholder values and concerns. A geospatial approach to these considerations facilitates identification of potential land-use conflicts and better informs planning decisions. Building on online geoprocessing advancements, we have developed an Environmental Sensitivity Mapping web tool containing novel functionality to support SEA. This paper presents the methodological framework for its participative multi-criteria approach and its architecture, and describes its functionality simulating a practical application. The web tool has the potential to break down data access and specialised skills barriers while providing a means for enhancing SEA consistency and transparency. However, data limitations remain affecting its applicability, and further technological advancements may help enhance its functionality.

ACS Style

Ainhoa González; Justin Gleeson; Eoghan McCarthy. Designing and developing a web tool to support Strategic Environmental Assessment. Environmental Modelling & Software 2018, 111, 472 -482.

AMA Style

Ainhoa González, Justin Gleeson, Eoghan McCarthy. Designing and developing a web tool to support Strategic Environmental Assessment. Environmental Modelling & Software. 2018; 111 ():472-482.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa González; Justin Gleeson; Eoghan McCarthy. 2018. "Designing and developing a web tool to support Strategic Environmental Assessment." Environmental Modelling & Software 111, no. : 472-482.

Arrhythmias and sudden death
Published: 08 October 2018 in Open Heart
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ObjectiveResuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is largely determined by the availability of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation within 5–10 min of collapse. The potential contribution of organised groups of volunteers to delivery of CPR and defibrillation in their communities has been little studied. Ireland has extensive networks of such volunteers; this study develops and tests a model to examine the potential impact at national level of these networks on early delivery of care.MethodsA geographical information systems study considering all statutory ambulance resource locations and all centre point locations for community first responder (CFR) schemes that operate in Ireland were undertaken. ESRI ArcGIS Desktop 10.4 was used to map CFR and ambulance base locations. ArcGIS Online proximity analysis function was used to model 5–10 min drive time response areas under sample peak and off-peak conditions. Response areas were linked to Irish population census data so as to establish the proportion of the population that have the potential to receive a timely cardiac arrest emergency response.ResultsThis study found that CFRs are present in many communities throughout Ireland and have the potential to reach a million additional citizens before the ambulance service and within a timeframe where CPR and defibrillation are likely to be effective treatments.ConclusionCFRs have significant potential to contribute to survival following OHCA in Ireland. Further research that examines the processes, experiences and outcomes of CFR involvement in OHCA resuscitation should be a scientific priority.

ACS Style

Tomás Barry; Ainhoa Gonzalez; Niall Conroy; Paddy Watters; Siobhan Masterson; Jan Rigby; Gerard Bury. Mapping the potential of community first responders to increase cardiac arrest survival. Open Heart 2018, 5, e000912 .

AMA Style

Tomás Barry, Ainhoa Gonzalez, Niall Conroy, Paddy Watters, Siobhan Masterson, Jan Rigby, Gerard Bury. Mapping the potential of community first responders to increase cardiac arrest survival. Open Heart. 2018; 5 (2):e000912.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tomás Barry; Ainhoa Gonzalez; Niall Conroy; Paddy Watters; Siobhan Masterson; Jan Rigby; Gerard Bury. 2018. "Mapping the potential of community first responders to increase cardiac arrest survival." Open Heart 5, no. 2: e000912.

Review
Published: 01 September 2018 in Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management
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Anticipating and avoiding adverse environmental effects resulting from land-use changes and other anthropogenic interventions is the key objective of environmental assessment (EA). EA requires consideration of multiple environmental criteria to establish the receiving environment’s sensitivity and capacity to absorb change. With the increasing availability of and accessibility to spatial data, the adoption of spatial multi-criteria analysis, also known as GIS–MCA, has become a prominent technique to support EA. Using two diverging case studies, this paper reflects upon the advantages and disadvantages of applying GIS–MCA in EA reported in literature. While the significant contribution of this approach to increasing objectivity, transparency and accountability is corroborated, it is recognised that there is no one-fits-all solution. The widespread application of GIS–MCA calls for further research on the effects that methodological assumptions and data limitations may have at various planning hierarchies and decisions, and how these can be addressed to optimise the value of this technique in EA.

ACS Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez; Álvaro Enríquez-De-Salamanca. Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis in Environmental Assessment: A Review and Reflection on Benefits and Limitations. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 2018, 20, 1 .

AMA Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez, Álvaro Enríquez-De-Salamanca. Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis in Environmental Assessment: A Review and Reflection on Benefits and Limitations. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management. 2018; 20 (3):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez; Álvaro Enríquez-De-Salamanca. 2018. "Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis in Environmental Assessment: A Review and Reflection on Benefits and Limitations." Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 20, no. 3: 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2016 in Land Use Policy
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ACS Style

Jesko Zimmermann; Ainhoa Gonzalez; Michael B. Jones; Phillip O’Brien; Jane C. Stout; Stuart Green. Assessing land-use history for reporting on cropland dynamics—A comparison between the Land-Parcel Identification System and traditional inter-annual approaches. Land Use Policy 2016, 52, 30 -40.

AMA Style

Jesko Zimmermann, Ainhoa Gonzalez, Michael B. Jones, Phillip O’Brien, Jane C. Stout, Stuart Green. Assessing land-use history for reporting on cropland dynamics—A comparison between the Land-Parcel Identification System and traditional inter-annual approaches. Land Use Policy. 2016; 52 ():30-40.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jesko Zimmermann; Ainhoa Gonzalez; Michael B. Jones; Phillip O’Brien; Jane C. Stout; Stuart Green. 2016. "Assessing land-use history for reporting on cropland dynamics—A comparison between the Land-Parcel Identification System and traditional inter-annual approaches." Land Use Policy 52, no. : 30-40.

Review
Published: 01 January 2016 in Landscape and Urban Planning
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Highlights•Achievement of wind energy targets poses strategic spatial planning challenges.•Scale is used to crystallise key governmental political strategies.•A review of Irish wind energy strategies reveals inconsistent policy and methods.•Rescaling local assessment criteria can facilitate a coordinated national framework.•Systematic spatial assessment can enhance strategic renewable planning. AbstractThe achievement of Ireland's renewable energy targets requires an approximate doubling of installed onshore wind capacity by 2020. However, the growing accumulation of new wind energy networks in the landscape is encountering increasingly trenchant social and political resistance. This dilemma suggests an enhanced role for national scale strategic spatial planning to tighten centralised spatial control in order to more precisely steer developments to selected locations. However, to date the Irish government has avoided greater centralised coordination, preferring instead to devolve planning responsibilities to the local scale, which has resulted in highly disjointed and heterogeneous policy settings. Drawing on recent academic interest in the depoliticisation of strategic spatial planning, this paper seeks to interrogate why Ireland has adopted this particular scale of governance for wind energy planning. It is argued that the approach is a deliberate scalar strategy designed to disavow and displace a contentious public policy issue as part of a wider post-political management of dissent. In order to explore the opportunities for more repoliticised and reflexive scalar deliberation in framing national renewable energy technology and strategic policy choices, a structured review of local wind energy strategies is presented. It is concluded that by bringing a focus on the differentiated socio-spatial contexts of particular places, it could serve to trigger much wider political debate around the spatial challenges associated with the roll-out of onshore wind energy networks in highly congested and contested spaces, and the possibilities for alternative energy pathways.

ACS Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez; Gavin Daly; Justin Gleeson. Congested spaces, contested scales – A review of spatial planning for wind energy in Ireland. Landscape and Urban Planning 2016, 145, 12 -20.

AMA Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez, Gavin Daly, Justin Gleeson. Congested spaces, contested scales – A review of spatial planning for wind energy in Ireland. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2016; 145 ():12-20.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez; Gavin Daly; Justin Gleeson. 2016. "Congested spaces, contested scales – A review of spatial planning for wind energy in Ireland." Landscape and Urban Planning 145, no. : 12-20.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2015 in Environmental Impact Assessment Review
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ACS Style

Ainhoa González; Riki Thérivel; John Fry; Walter Foley. Advancing practice relating to SEA alternatives. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 2015, 53, 52 -63.

AMA Style

Ainhoa González, Riki Thérivel, John Fry, Walter Foley. Advancing practice relating to SEA alternatives. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 2015; 53 ():52-63.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa González; Riki Thérivel; John Fry; Walter Foley. 2015. "Advancing practice relating to SEA alternatives." Environmental Impact Assessment Review 53, no. : 52-63.

Journal article
Published: 12 November 2014 in Sustainability
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Deciding upon optimum planning actions in terms of sustainable urban planning involves the consideration of multiple environmental and socio-economic criteria. The transformation of natural landscapes to urban areas affects energy and material fluxes. An important aspect of the urban environment is the urban metabolism, and changes in such metabolism need to be considered for sustainable planning decisions. A spatial Decision Support System (DSS) prototyped within the European FP7-funded project BRIDGE (sustainaBle uRban plannIng Decision support accountinG for urban mEtabolism), enables accounting for the urban metabolism of planning actions, by exploiting the current knowledge and technology of biophysical sciences. The main aim of the BRIDGE project was to bridge the knowledge and communication gap between urban planners and environmental scientists and to illustrate the advantages of considering detailed environmental information in urban planning processes. The developed DSS prototype integrates biophysical observations and simulation techniques with socio-economic aspects in five European cities, selected as case studies for the pilot application of the tool. This paper describes the design and implementation of the BRIDGE DSS prototype, illustrates some examples of use, and highlights the need for further research and development in the field.

ACS Style

Zina Mitraka; Emmanouil Diamantakis; Nektarios Chrysoulakis; Eduardo Anselmo Castro; Roberto San Jose; Ainhoa Gonzalez; Ivan Blecic. Incorporating Bio-Physical Sciences into a Decision Support Tool for Sustainable Urban Planning. Sustainability 2014, 6, 7982 -8006.

AMA Style

Zina Mitraka, Emmanouil Diamantakis, Nektarios Chrysoulakis, Eduardo Anselmo Castro, Roberto San Jose, Ainhoa Gonzalez, Ivan Blecic. Incorporating Bio-Physical Sciences into a Decision Support Tool for Sustainable Urban Planning. Sustainability. 2014; 6 (11):7982-8006.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zina Mitraka; Emmanouil Diamantakis; Nektarios Chrysoulakis; Eduardo Anselmo Castro; Roberto San Jose; Ainhoa Gonzalez; Ivan Blecic. 2014. "Incorporating Bio-Physical Sciences into a Decision Support Tool for Sustainable Urban Planning." Sustainability 6, no. 11: 7982-8006.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2013 in Journal of Environmental Management
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The assessment of potential impacts of plans, programmes and projects on biodiversity is required under various legislative remits (including the European Union's Habitats, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment Directives). The objective of such assessments is to ensure that potential negative impacts on both protected nature conservation sites and species and wider biodiversity are efficiently identified in a timely manner, quantified and subsequently avoided or mitigated, while enhancing positive effects. The procedural requirements of these legal obligations vary and, as a result, differing methodological steps, data gathering and analysis methods, and impact assessment techniques are commonly applied under each individual process, often leading to uncoordinated assessment efforts and results (in terms, for example, of scope, scale and assessment detail). In order to address these issues and improve current practice, an Integrated Biodiversity Impact Assessment (IBIA) methodology has been developed in Ireland with the overall aim of providing a holistic and systematic approach to biodiversity impact assessment. The IBIA framework seeks to ensure that relevant procedures are effectively integrated, time and resource efficiencies are optimised, and unnecessary duplication avoided. Particular emphasis is given to compliance with legal requirements, integration and communication of scientific knowledge, spatial assessment and biodiversity data considerations, and integration of biodiversity aspects with a variety of other concerns during the plan-making process. This paper presents the IBIA methodology and critically examines current key issues in biodiversity impact assessment that can be potentially addressed through IBIA, as well as remaining challenges. In addition, and in order to support the examination of the anticipated benefits of using this new methodological framework (such as biodiversity-inclusive planning through improved communication and coordinated assessment), two contrasting case studies are used, one pre-dating the development of IBIA and a second where elements of IBIA have been implemented.

ACS Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez; Tamara Hochstrasser; John Fry; Paul Scott; Berna Grist; Mike Jones. Evaluating Ireland's IBIA as an approach to improving the quality and effectiveness of biodiversity impact assessment. Journal of Environmental Management 2013, 131, 150 -160.

AMA Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez, Tamara Hochstrasser, John Fry, Paul Scott, Berna Grist, Mike Jones. Evaluating Ireland's IBIA as an approach to improving the quality and effectiveness of biodiversity impact assessment. Journal of Environmental Management. 2013; 131 ():150-160.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ainhoa Gonzalez; Tamara Hochstrasser; John Fry; Paul Scott; Berna Grist; Mike Jones. 2013. "Evaluating Ireland's IBIA as an approach to improving the quality and effectiveness of biodiversity impact assessment." Journal of Environmental Management 131, no. : 150-160.