Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1
Territorial natural quality in Spain. Application of a new GIS raster
model (LATINO model)
Classes of territorial natural quality
Area (ha)
Area (%)
Quality 1 to 19
9,110,329
18.27
Quality 20 to 39
14,962,451
30.01
Quality 40 to 59
15,522,632
31.13
Quality 60 to 79
9,673,891
19.40
Quality 80 to 100
588,741
1.18
Total
49,858,044
100.00
Table 2
Distribution frequency of grid squares with different territorial natural quality (1 to 5 classes)
inside and outside the protected natural spaces in the whole of the Spanish territory
Classes of territorial
natural quality
Quality percentage outside
protected natural areas
Quality percentage inside protected
natural areas
Quality 1
87
13
Quality 2
85
15
Quality 3
70
30
Quality 4
51
49
Quality 5
33
67
as this would affect grid squares with low environmental quality values (classes 1
to 39). However land-use activities should be minimised in 20.58% of the territory,
as this would affect grid squares with high values (60 to 100).
Finally, a check against the environmental quality map shows that these results
have a good fit with the actual situation (in relation to the scale and level of detail
used). Thus a second test showed that there is a high frequency of squares with high
environmental quality in protected natural areas, and that this is significantly
greater than in the rest of the Spanish territory (p < 0.0001) (Table
2
).
In our example of an environmental assessment model focused on SEA and infra-
structure planning procedures (LATINO model), we analyse the environment in the
Spanish territory as a whole. However, this objective contrasts with the availability
and actual capacity, for handling environmental information in a country with an
area of some 506,000 km
2
. Spain has a low population density (81 inhabitants/km
2
compared to the EU 15's average of 115 inhabitants/km
2
) and many largely undis-
turbed natural areas. These factors make Spain an exceptional and unique place in
Europe for natural resources. There are, for example, more endemic plant species in
Spain than in the rest of Europe. Moreover, due to its geographic situation and the
complexity of its climate, geology, geomorphology and history, the Spanish territory
is an interrelated mosaic of rich and diverse landscapes and ecosystems, of great
natural value and quality
[19]
.
Spain thus represents a good starting point for developing this type of environmental
assessment model - which would also be valid in other countries - and this model
must take into account Spain's vast biodiversity and natural richness.
In summary, the GIS raster model developed (LATINO model) has proved to be
a simple and effective tool which provides a useful environmental quality assessment
