Risk-maps informing land-use planning processes A survey on the Netherlands and the United Kingdom recent developments.
The definition of safety distances as required by Art 12 of the Seveso II Directive on dangerous substances (96/82/EC) is necessary to minimize the consequences of potential major accidents. As they affect the land-use destinations of involved areas, safety distances can be considered as risk tolerability criteria with a territorial reflection. Recent studies explored the suitability of using Geographical Information System technologies to support their elaboration and visual rendering. In particular, the elaboration of GIS "risk-maps" has been recognized as functional to two objectives: connecting spatial planners and safety experts during decision making processes and communicating risk to non-experts audiences. In order to elaborate on these findings and to verify their reflection on European practices, the article presents the result of a comparative study between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands recent developments. Their land-use planning practices for areas falling under Seveso II requirements are explored. The role of GIS risk-maps within decisional processes is analyzed and the reflection on the transparency and accessibility of risk-information is commented. Recommendations for further developments are given.
Basta
Claudia
C
DIRC Sustainable Urban Areas, Section of Material Science and Sustainable Construction, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands. c.basta@citg.tudelft.nl
Neuvel
Jeroen M M
JM
Zlatanova
Sisi
S
Ale
Ben
B
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D009426:Netherlands; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management; D019371:Topography, Medical; D006113:United Kingdom