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Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

Back ground---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

General objective--------------------------------------------------------------------------------2

Matrices methods--------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

Matrices better than checklists met? ---------------------------------------------------------5

Explaining the matrix--------------------------------------------------------------------------5

Simple matrix-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------5

Leopold matrix------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

Disadvantages of Leopold matrix-----------------------------------------------------------8

Component Interaction Matrix---------------------------------------------------------------9

Application of matrices---------------------------------------------------------------------11

Advantages of the matrix approach--------------------------------------------------------11

Limitations of the matrix approach--------------------------------------------------------12

CONCLUSIONS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------13

References and sources------------------------------------------------------------------ 13

Matrices in Environmental Impact Assessment

Introduction

Matrices relate activities to environmental components so that the box at each intersection can be
used to indicate a possible impact. The term "matrix'' does not have any mathematical
implication, but is merely a style of presentation.

The matrix can be used to identify impacts by systematically checking each development activity
against each environmental component. If it was thought that a particular development activity
was to affect an environmental component, a mark is placed in the cell at the intersection of the
activity and the environmental component. A matrix analysis can systematically identify
potentially important effects demanding more careful attention or analysis or focus attention on

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important possible effects that might otherwise be overlooked. Matrix is thus an extension of the
basic checklist.

Back ground

The EIA process makes sure that environmental issues are raised when a project or plan is first
discussed and that all concerns are addressed as a project gains momentum through to
implementation. Recommendations made by the EIA may necessitate the redesign of some
project components, require further studies, suggest changes which alter the economic viability
of the project or cause a delay in project implementation. To be of most benefit it is essential that
an environmental assessment is carried out to determine significant impacts early in the project
cycle so that recommendations can be built into the design and cost-benefit analysis without
causing major delays or increased design costs. To be effective once implementation has
commenced, the EIA should lead to a mechanism whereby adequate monitoring is undertaken to
realize environmental management. An important output from the EIA process should be the
delineation of enabling mechanisms for such effective management.

General objective

Environmental Impact Assessment is a tool designed to identify and predict the impact of a
project on the bio-geophysical environment and on man's health and well-being, to interpret and
communicate information about the impact, to analyze site and process alternatives and provide
solutions to sift out, or abate/mitigate the negative consequences on man and the environment.

The objective of EIA is (i) to identify, predict and evaluate the economic, environmental and
social impact of development activities (ii) to provide information on the environmental
consequences for decision making and (iii) to promote environmentally sound and sustainable
development through the identification of appropriate alternatives and mitigation measures.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should contain the following information’s/data:

1. Description of proposed action (construction, operation and shut down phase) and selection of
alternatives to the proposed action.

2. Nature and magnitude of the likely environmental effects.

3. Possibility of earthquakes and cyclones.

4. Possible effects on surface and ground water quality, soil and air quality.

5. Effects on vegetation, wild life and endangered species.

6. Economic and demographic factors.

7. Identification of relevant human concerns.

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8. Noise pollution. Efficient use of inputs.

Matrices methods

The Leopold matrix is the best known matrix methodology available for predicting the impact of
a project on the environment.

It is a two dimensional matrix cross-referencing:

 the activities linked to the project that are supposed to have an impact on man and the
environment.
 the existing environmental and social conditions that could possibly be affected by the
project.

The activities linked to the project are listed on one axis: raw material production, building
construction, water supply, energy supply, raw material preparation, pulp and paper mills
processing, gaseous emissions, liquid effluents, cooling water discharges, noise, solid wastes
treatment and disposal, transportation.

The environmental and social conditions are listed on the other axis, and divided in three major
groups:

 physical conditions: soil, water, air…,

 biological conditions: fauna, flora, ecosystems…,
 social and cultural conditions: land use, historical and cultural issues, populations,
economy…

The Leopold matrix proposes a three-step process to estimate the impact:

First step :

for all the interactions considered significant by the authors, the first step is to mark the
corresponding boxes in the matrix with a diagonal line.

Second step :

once the boxes with supposed significant interactions are slashed, the author evaluates each box
by applying a number from 1 to 10 (1 is the minimum and 10 the maximum) to register the
magnitude of the interaction. This number is transferred to the upper left hand corner. It
represents the scale of the action and its theoretical extent.

Third step :

the final step for this method is to mark (from 1 to 10), in the lower right hand corner, the real
importance of the phenomenon for the given project. It then gives an evaluation of the extent of
the environmental impact according to the assessor's judgement.

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Once the matrix is established the EIA gives a precise description of each important impact in
the matrix (with the larger numerical values for magnitude and importance). The discussion must
also address columns and rows with large numbers of interactions. They show activities, or
elements, in connection with the environment which are particularly significant or sensitive.

The Leopold matrix proposes a framework for all developers but, on one hand, it is too detailed
for pulp and paper projects, and on the other not precise enough for such projects. It is generally
more efficient to accommodate it as needed and to develop a customized matrix for the project.
An example of a possible matrix for the pulp and paper industry is given in figure 4.

Matrices better than checklists met?

Checklists tend to be long. It also requires a lot of work in describing an impact or writing it out
in words. In matrices, this ambiguity and extra work is removed by introducing a quantitative
aspect in the assessment of an impact.

Checklist tends to get confusing when you assess multiple levels of impacts descriptively. This is
resolved in matrices, to an extent, with the help of customized matrices. I’ll explain one such
matrix below. Matrices are also versatile, as they can be used for small and large-scale projects
alike.

Explaining the matrix

Simple matrix

This is simply a list of environmental aspects listed along the vertical axis, against which we
determine whether an activity would have an adverse effect, no effect or beneficial effect. A
simple “x” or “tick” is given under the appropriate column.

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Sometimes, the activities are listed along the horizontal axis with the environmental aspects in
the vertical axis, and the same “x” is given to those pairs that have an interaction between
themselves.

Simple Matrix
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Leopold matrix

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Leopold matrix is a qualitative measurement of environmental/social impacts of a development
project. This matrix consists of a list of 100 project activities on the horizontal axis, and about 88
environmental/social aspects on the vertical axis. The environmental aspects listed on the vertical
axis are those that are likely to be affected by any of the project activities.

This was designed by Leopold in 1971. Leopold matrix is among the two major forms of
matrices used in EIAs.

The cells of the matrix are divided by a diagonal line. The top division is used to describe the
magnitude of the impact that activity will have on the environmental aspect, and the
bottom division is used to describe the significance of that impact.

Both, the magnitude and the significance, are rated on a scale of 1 to 10. This is subjective to the
surveyor and is based on the baseline data collected. If a cell has no division, it means that the
activity has no impact on the environmental aspect.

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Leopold Matrix

Disadvantages of Leopold matrix

The one big disadvantage of the Leopold matrix is that it does not explicitly describe spatial
and temporal effects of the environmental activity. It merely gives us the magnitude and
significance of the interaction.

Second, it tends to be too simplified when you require a comprehensive analysis of the
impacts on the project area. A numerical value of the magnitude and impact is not sufficient for a
contractor to understand the impact their activities are having and why they should overcome it.

Third, they cannot explain linkages between two environmental aspects. In other words, it does
not describe secondary and tertiary impacts. It is extremely likely that more than one activity
will have multiple levels of impacts on the environmental aspects of the project area. How will
you glean this information?

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Component Interaction Matrix

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Environment Canada proposed a different form of matrix in 1974 called the Component
Interaction Matrix to detect indirect impacts systematically and understand them easily. This
overcame a big drawback of the Leopold matrix.

Here, instead of taking activities on the horizontal axis and environmental components on the
vertical axis, both axes listed environmental components. So, if two components were seen to be
linked by secondary or tertiary interactions, they would be marked by 1, 2, etc. And if they are
not impacted by multiple levels of interactions, they would be marked zero. An example is given
below:

Component Interaction matrix- 0-no linkage; 1-primary linkage; 2-secondary linkage.

Others forms of matrices

Once the elegance of matrices were recognized around the world, EIAs began to use them
increasingly in their impact assessments. Consequently, modifications were made and more and
more forms of matrices were developed. Some of them are-

1. Modified Graded matrix

2. Impact Summary matrix
3. Loran matrix

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Application of matrices

Matrices can be applied in medium to large scale projects where the number of developmental
activities are many (up to 100). This will obviously result in effects on many environmental
aspects. All of these cannot be covered easily in checklists.

It is perfectly acceptable to customize the matrix according to the project at hand. You are not
required by law to have 100 activities and 88 impacts on each of the axes, if the project does not
encompass so many components. Matrices are flexible, which is why they have been accepted
and used the world over.

Advantages of the matrix approach

• A matrix presentation has a better structure framework than the checklist approach. In
fact, it makes a summarized analytical presentation of the project and environment-
related checklists.

• Matrix structure allows for speculation of impact characteristics, albeit in a

subjective way. This provides a gradation in the impacts, thereby providing a focus
for further studies, verification, or discussions. It also helps in making priorities on
some mitigation measures which are estimated to alleviate the impacts speculated.

• It presents an easily understood summary of a large number of primary impacts.

• It is a generalized but well defined approach, forcing a comprehensive consideration

of environmental components and primary impacts.

• It is an easily performed process which can specify the overall character of a project
early in the design phase.

• In an extended form, the method can include information about many impact attributes,
and clarify the assumptions supporting the assessments.

• Matrices have low resource requirements.

Limitations of the matrix approach

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Despite the elegance of matrix presentation, there are certain limitations which need to be
addressed.

• Unless weight-scaled impact scores are used, the comparison of many project
alternatives is difficult.

• Scaling the multitude of scores contained in a matrix is also not a tractable proposition,
as the ability to independently replicate the method is undermined by a dependence on
highly subjective judgments.

• The impact characterization step of the matrix involves subjective prediction as well as
assessment.

• There is little opportunity for quantification. However, it is possible to accommodate

further detailing in the matrix presentation if prediction/evaluation techniques are
separately used.

• While developing matrix structure, it becomes apparent that higher order impacts are
not accounted for using this approach.

CONCLUSIONS

this methodology provides a framework of interaction of different activities of a project

with potential environmental impacts caused by them. A simple interaction matrix is
formed when project actions are listed on one axis (usually vertical) and environmental
impacts are listed along the other axis.

References and sources-

-Ethernet brows

-jonarnals

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