Study

Certificate course in

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Applying Systems Analysis and Spatial Decision Support Tools

Decision making in a complex world: the request for (training in) SEA is growing rapidly worldwide and techniques to visually illustrate and assess the implications of spatial decisions are much in demand.

Ad hoc and often uncontrolled development initiatives can have undesired social, economic and ecological consequences. Rapid population growth, pollution, climate change, the exposure to hazards and disasters, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services require effective assessment tools to assist sustainable planning and decision making. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) are basically procedures to support this process. EIA is a systematic procedure established to evaluate the impacts of proposed projects. Although by now EIA is acknowledged and legally embedded in most countries, practice has shown that EIA often occurs too late in the planning process. Since the Nineties SEA for policies, plans and programmes evolved.

The key principles of SEA and EIA are the involvement of relevant stakeholders, a transparent and adaptive planning process, consideration of alternatives, and using the best possible information for decision and policy making. EIA and SEA therefore improve both the (spatial) planning process and the information used in this process. In this course, you will explore how GIS, models and spatial decision support systems can be used to help to identify and structure the problem(s), find and compare possible solutions, and monitor and evaluate the proposed activities. This course provides a unique opportunity to integrate a multidisciplinary assessment of spatial policies, plans and projects. Hands-on experience with real EIA and SEA projects will be a major part of the course.

For whom is the course relevant?

Although participants may have diverse backgrounds, you should share practical experience of, or have an affinity with, the application of EIA and SEA within a spatial planning context. You may be a professional involved in development planning, or working in a governmental or non-governmental organization. You can be a practitioner, reviewer, consultant, expert, a student or professional working in the field of environment.

What will be achieved?

In this course you will work with a set of modern techniques and tools to provide geo-information as a basis for environmental assessment of policies, plans or projects. You will learn the basic principles, procedures and steps in EIA and SEA and their interaction with the planning process. You will acknowledge the importance of stakeholder involvement and value environmental assessment methods, including biodiversity modelling and methods to assess and value ecosystem services. You will explore how GIS is applied in the environmental assessment process. You will develop and assess alternatives and scenarios using indicators and metrics. You will apply spatial decision support tools for site selection and vulnerability and risk assessment. 

What is the course content?

The course approach involves task-based learning that blends theory and practice, and exists of the following components:

• EIA and SEA: concepts, principles, process and interaction with the planning process
• Stakeholder involvement: Participatory GIS and community based modelling
• Alternatives: development and analysis of alternatives and scenarios
• Environmental assessment methods and techniques: application of GIS, indicators and metrics
• Spatial Decision Support tools in EA: spatial multi-criteria evaluation for site selection and vulnerability analysis
• Integration of hazard and risk in EA: vulnerability and risk assessment, mitigation and adaptation, risk zoning
• Biodiversity inclusive EA: Ecosystem services and biodiversity modelling
• Cost-benefit analysis and economic valuation for different applications
• Final project dealing with a typical application within the field of environmental assessment for spatial planning. You may also work on a case study and data set of your work or interest.  

Why choose this course?

This course provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the spatial planning process through environmental assessment using spatial information and spatial decision support tools. The course has a problem-solving, hands-on approach, using examples and data from different parts of the world.
 
This Certificate course is also a course block in ITC’s MSc degree course programme. Hence this course also provides a good opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with an international group of students and professionals with a shared interest in environmental assessment, disaster risk management and sustainable development.

Admission requirements

Academic level and background

Applicants for the Certificate programme should have a Bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognised university in a discipline related to the course, preferably combined with working experience in a relevant field.

Some courses in the Certificate programme or separate modules require knowledge of, and skills in, working with GIS and/or digital image processing of remotely sensed data.

Skills in taught or related subjects are a prerequisite for some courses in the Certificate programme or separate modules. Even if the applicant satisfies the overall admission requirements, acceptance is not automatic.

English language

As all courses are given in English, proficiency in the English language is a prerequisite. If you are a national of one of the countries in this list (PDF), you are exempted from an English language test. Please note: the requirements when applying for fellowships may vary according to the regulations of the fellowship provider.

English language tests: minimum requirements

Only internationally recognised test results are accepted.

Computer skills

Applicants lacking computer experience are strongly advised to follow basic courses in their home countries.