IEMA Webinar:

Digital Impact Assessment

28 02 2020Rufus Howard (IEMA)Tom Gold (WSP)Lisa Hall (Barton Willmore)

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IEMA Webinar:

Digital Impact AssessmentA summary of the new IEMA Primer on Digital Impact Assessment and the key concepts it covers, including defining digital IA, why it is needed, the key opportunities and challenges, principles for implementing digital IA and next steps.

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Tom GoldSenior Environmental

Consultant, WSP

Lisa HallAssociate

Environmental Planner, Barton Willmore

Rufus HowardImpact Assessment Policy Lead at IEMA

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Webinar slides and recordingThis webinar is being recorded. The recording and presentations will be made available for IEMA members on iema.net within 48 hours of the webinar.

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Q&A

Send in your questions as we go through the session – we’ll have plenty of time with Tom, Lisa and Rufus after the presentation.

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Contents• Background to the Primer

• What is Digital Impact Assessment?

• Why is Digital Impact Assessment needed?

• Opportunities and challenges

• Principles for Digital Impact Assessment

• Next steps

• Questions and answers

Background to the Primer

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The IEMA Digital Working Group• ‘Embracing innovation and

digital’ is a strategic theme of action of IEMA’s proportionate EIA strategy

• Working group established in 2018

• Cross-industry group of EIA and GIS professionals

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The Primer• “Digital Impact Assessment: A Primer for

Embracing Innovation and Digital Working”

• Thought piece to inform and generate discussion

• Supported by:

• Draft principles for Digital Impact Assessment

• Outlook Journal

Image – front cover of Primer

What is Digital Impact Assessment?

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• Digital practices throughout the Impact Assessment process

➢ Focus of activity in EIA, but digital practices have potential in other forms of IA

➢ More than just innovative methods of reporting and consultation

• No definitive form or process of Digital Impact Assessment

Digital reportingGIS

UAVs

Common Data Environments Standards Databases

DIGITAL TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY

Interoperability

Remote Sensing

Modelling

Mobile mapping

WebGIS

Impact Assessment process (e.g. EIA, SEA, EqIA, HIA, appraisal and more)

VR

DATA

Defining Digital Impact Assessment

Why is Digital Impact Assessment needed?

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Why & where are we now?• Focus on hard copies

• Increasing scrutiny

We’re moving in the right direction…

• Data… but there’s so much of it!

• The right skills in the right places

• Bitesize messages & immediate solutionsC.Horner (2020) Online at: Unsplash

Opportunities and Challenges

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Opportunities & Challenges

1. Regulation

2. Data

3. Tech & Tools

4. Effective Communication

5. Culture & Approach

6. Time & CostsF.Chamaki (2020) Online at: Unsplash

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Regulatory• Legislation, regulation & guidance

• Paper

• Accessibility

• Permanence

• Interpretation

• Increasing signs of change and intention

A.Forouzani (2020) Online at: Unsplash

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Data and Impact Assessment• Proactive data management is essential to realise

the benefits of Digital IA

• Opportunity to realise benefits of better data management by:

• Adopting digital or data strategies – involve data or geospatial specialists in projects

• Apply metadata practices

• Adopt standards

• Increasing availability of open data is an opportunityC.Muza (2020) Online at: Unsplash

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Technology and Tools• Variety of tools and technologies that can apply

across the IA process, including:

• Data collection

• Data management, processes and monitoring

• Automation and conversion tools

• Data visualisation and reporting

• Where a requirement for a new tool is identified, engage digital specialists and follow a structured, requirement-led process

DIGITAL TOOLS

Mobile mapping applications Databases

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/Drones Desktop GIS

Remote-sensing Computer-aided design

Sensors/automated monitoring WebGIS

Automation toolsInteractive Storytelling

Application

Conversion tools Bespoke web systems

Building Information Modelling Dashboards

Common Data Environment 3D fly-throughs

Data Register Virtual reality

Infographics Augmented reality

And more…

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Effective Communication

• Creative infographics

• Digital reporting and scoping

• Digital ES

• Interactive NTS

• GIS visualisations and interactive mapping

M.Meyer (2020) Online at: Unsplash.com

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Culture and Approach• Organisational and management structures

• Digital Working Training

✓ Upskilling

• Defining Digital Roles

✓ Collaboration and Lead

• Define GIS Standards

✓ Quality & Consistency

J.Calabrese (2020) Online at: Unsplash.com

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Time and Costs• Can speed up assessment, validation and consent

• Key efficiencies

• Faster Understanding

• Streamlining data collection to baseline & to inform evolving scheme

• Upfront costs – not always big!

M.Bjork (2020) Online at: Unsplash.com

Principles for Digital Impact Assessment

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Draft Principle 1 1. Technology offers opportunities throughout the IA process.

Impact Assessment process (e.g. EIA, SEA, EqIA, HIA, appraisal and more)

More efficient data collection

Communicate the process and outcomes of the IA in a clear, engaging and accessible way

Reduce the likelihood of opposition?

Gain the maximum value from

consultation

Show a desire to engage

transparently

New insights

More efficient data management

More efficient data analysis

Improved collaboration

Improved data sharing

Better access to data to identify

issues early

More informed decision making

More engaging, informed

consultation

View design data and

environmental data together

Visualise data

Use of EIA data elsewhere in wider project

lifecycles

Automate repetitive

tasks

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Draft Principle 22. Digital working can create a culture that promotes collaboration.

• Digital expertise as a core part of project teams

• Multidisciplinary working in shared digital workspaces

• Raise digital awareness, provide guidance and training

J.Schnobrich (2020) Online at: Unsplash.com

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• Data management

• GIS standards

• Metadata

• Digital data collection

Draft Principle 33. Information management underpins effective Digital IA.

WSP, 2020

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Draft Principle 44. Effective communication increasingly necessitates digital technology.

Transport for London, Crossrail 2 Environmental Scoping Website

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Draft Principle 55. Provide accessibility for all needs.

• Accessible

• Inclusive

• Understood by a wide variety of audiences

• Maintain security and confidentiality

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Draft Principle 66. Regulation should be carefully

considered when defining digital solutions, yet also provides an opportunity to facilitate innovation and digital working.

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Draft Principle 77. Innovation and collaboration across the IA sector can improve

outcomes for all.

• Share best practice

• Lessons learnt from prototypes

• Review new data, trends and analysis techniques

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Draft Principles1. Technology offers opportunities

throughout the IA process.

2. Digital working can create a culture that promotes collaboration.

3. Information management underpinseffective Digital IA.

4. Effective communication increasingly necessitates digital technology.

5. Provide accessibility for all needs.

6. Regulation should be carefully considered when defining digital solutions, yet also provides an opportunity to facilitate innovation and digital working.

7. Innovation and collaboration across the IA sector can improve outcomes for all.

Next Steps

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Future events and launches• March 2020 - Connected Places Catapult Digital EIA project

• April 2020 - Outlook Journal on Digital Impact Assessment

• 29th and 30th April – events in Leeds and Birmingham

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Future ambitions• Regulation changes that facilitate and encourage Digital

Impact Assessment

• New industry-wide data standards

• Open up and process the data collected for IA

• Collaborate with specialists in other fields to bring innovation to practice

• Engage with creative practices to improve ways of communicating IA

• Practical guidance on applying digital working throughout the EIA process

Questions & Answers

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Thanks for joining us

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