SUMMARY

This project has as aim develop a methodological tool for the Environmental Strategic Evaluation (EAE) of railway infrastructures, and his application in a particular case like it is the EAE of the possible railway connections Huelva - Algarve.

By means of an Evaluation Multicriterion, where they are in mind so much environmental as technical aspects, there will be obtained the corridors of maximum aptitude and minimum I strike where it should flow the railway connection between these two territories.

The process of analysis and the results they will be implemented in a system of Geographical information (SIG). The development of this tool facilitates to all the members of the team a common link of exchange of information. This way, the results cartografiados will have a graphical representation of quality, facilitating the Plan of Diffusion of Results and his comprehension to all the levels.

PURPOSE

Precedents

Portugal and Spain agreed in the Luso-Spanish Summit celebrated in Figueira da Foz in October, 2003 the construction of four lines of high speed between Oporto and Vigo (2008), Lisbon and Madrid (2010) and, in the second phase, connections between Oporto and Salamanca and Faro and Huelva. In this summit was outlined the need to improve the common infrastructures of transport to attack the disadvantages of the peripheral character that, in the peninsular context, have the border regions of Portugal and Andalusia, for this reason, it thinks that one of the most relevant measures in this sense would be the construction of the high-speed train Faro - Huelva.

In this context there appears the present project which basic aim is the railway connections find the most ideal Huelva - Algarve from the environmental point of view.

Previous results

The researchers of the Spanish group RNM265 have an extensive experience in projects of Evaluation of Environmental Impact and Environmental Strategic Evaluation. It is of emphasizing the participation in the project " Analysis of the territorial impacts produced by the manners of terrestrial transport defined in the Plan of Infrastructures 2000-2007. Connection of the Spanish network to the trans-European networks. (CO3043002) ".

Geosistemas's Center (CVRM) has a lot of experience in projects of evaluation and environmental management, with special relief in the componentes of water resources and mathematical models.

Purpose

The purpose of the project is the development of EAE's methodology that it allows us to develop models for the evaluation of the environmental, territorial and socioeconomic effects of the possible railway connections, as well as to realize an evaluation of the obtained results, in order to quantify the impacts of the above mentioned connections on the mobility, the territorial balance, the environment and the socioeconomic development.

AIMS OF THE PROJECT

General Aim

1. To develop a methodological tool for the Environmental Strategic Evaluation (EAE) of railway infrastructures, and his application in a particular case like it is the EAE of the possible railway connections Huelva - Algarve.

Specific Aims

1. To improve the common infrastructures of transport to attack the disadvantages of the peripheral character that, in the peninsular context, have the boder regions of Portugal and Andalusia.

METHODOLOGY AND PLAN OF WORK

Tasks to meditating in the development of the Environmental Strategic Evaluation:

1. Summary of the information and qualitative study of variables

   There will be compiled of both countries the scientific, technical information and relevant regulation for the correct development of the project, and to realize a qualitative study to identify in the first approximation (Scooping) the environmental key variables.

2. Homogeneity / cross-border compatibility of sources of basic information

   It will be studied of possibilities of compatibilización, and in his case the development of sources of considered basic information in the EAE.

3. Selection of variables and implementation of the SIG:

   The variables will be defined in detail, the scale of work and the indicators of impact, understanding these as the qualities of the environment cuantificables that allow to value the loss or profit of environmental quality.

4. Development of Models of valuation and environmental maps

   There will develop the specific models of valuation and qualification and the environmental maps using the tool of the SIG.

5. Identification of determining and environmental restrictions:

   There will be identified the determining ones and restrictions that likewise will join the SIG.

6. Production of qualit maps and environmental fragility:

   It will be realized from the results of the previous paragraph.

7. Identification of the corridors of minimum I strike:

   The corridors of minimum will be identified I strike where preferably must flow the infrastructure object of study.

8. Analysis of results and production of the final report:

   There will be realized the systematic analysis of the results and the production of a final report.

9. Diffusion / discussion of results:

   Two seminars will be realized and a web page will be elaborated for the presentation and public discussion of the results, after the ending of the project.

BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT, DIFFUSION AND EXPLOITATION OF THE RESULTS

Benefits

1. Scientific foundation of the possible railway connections Huelva - Algarbe, quantifying his impacts on the Spanish and Portuguese territory, as well as the change that it will induce in his terrestrial relations.
2. Contributions scientist - technology and benefits esperables for the advance of the knowledge and of the technology and, in his case, results esperables with possibility of transfer already be to short, half or long term.
3. Plan of diffusion.

Diffusion and exploitation of the results

1. The database, the methodology and the updated SIG Europeans will allow to take part together with centers of research of the transport in projects of great scope of comparison of results and of efficiency of investments.
2. The methodology programmed in and lSIG and his associate database (networks and flows) will be an excellent base for future projects of research, so much on the national level, like inside the Program Marco de la Unión Europea.
3. Scientific results of interest will be produced in specialized forums: European Transport Conference, Transport Research Borrad (USA) y Congreso de Ciencia Regional.
4. Publication of articles in scientific magazines.

TEAMS PARTICIPANTS AND RECORD OF THE GROUP  OF RESEARCH

Teams participants

1. D. Mr. Eduardo Moreno Cuesta. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
2. D. Ms. Encarnación González Algarra (Director of the Group). Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
3. Ms. Isabel Butler Sierra.Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
4. Mr. Francisco José Monteagudo Sánchez de Movellán. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
5. Mr. Jose Antonio González Duque. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
6. D. Mr. Alberto José Zabalo Torrejón. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
7. Mr. José Paulo Monteiro. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
8. Ms. Margarida Teixeira. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
9. Mr. Paulo Fernandes. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
10. Mr. Luis Miguel Nunes. Ualg
11. Mr. Francisco José Cabello Oliva. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Record of the group of research

Name of the Group: Análisis de Recursos Forestales y Evaluación Medioambiental
Identificative Code: RNM265
Year of constitution: 1994
Lines of Research:

1. Ecology of Forest Resources.
2. Study and Conservation of Species and Vegetable Communities.
3. Ecology of Populations and Animal Communities.
4. Evaluation of Environmental Impact.
5. Systems of Geographical information and Teledetección in the Physical Planning.
6. Description, Analysis and Evaluation of the Vegetable Cover.
7. Models of Estimation of Biomass.
8. Urban ecology.

Components

1. D. Ms. Encarnación González Algarra (Director of the Group). Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
2. D. Mr. Eduardo Moreno Cuesta. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
3. D.Mr. Miguel Angel Arbella León. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
4. D. Mr. Alberto José Zabalo Torrejón. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
5. D. Mr. Mariano Crespo Blázquez. Telephone: 959217518. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
6. Ms. Isabel Butler Sierra.Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
7. Mr. Jose Antonio González Duque. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
8. Ms. Marina de Moya Alfonso. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
9. Mr. Francisco José Monteagudo Sánchez de Movellán. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it