Journal Facts

Journal
Journal of Environmental Systems
ISSN
0047-2433 (print) 1541-3802 (electronic)
Volume
7
Issue
3
Date
1/1/1977

Article Facts

Title
An Energy Approach to Ecological Impact Assessment
DOI
10.2190/TW8L-A25J-2BPU-YT5K
Authors
  • Edmund J. Cantilli
  • Malcolm Hair
  • Joseph M. Cassin
  • John C. Falcocchio
Pages
243-256
Online Date
05/09/2002

Article Links

An Energy Approach to Ecological Impact Assessment

Edmund J. Cantilli
Malcolm Hair
Joseph M. Cassin
John C. Falcocchio

DOI: 10.2190/TW8L-A25J-2BPU-YT5K

Abstract

This paper was prepared to educate the transportation planner/engineer in some of the rudiments of ecology and with the hope of systematizing current approaches to ecological assessment. Considerations of energy, or bio-energetics, have been found to be singularly applicable to transportation impact assessment. This method of evaluating the effects of environmental impacting factors on environmental elements is outlined herein. The method can be applied to the analysis of the ecological impact of all types of activities, and with particular pertinence to transportation.

The energy theory is based on analysis of the amount of energy which is required by plants or animals or ecosystems or subsystems, to permit their growth or stability to continue. The numerical calculations involved permit quantification of impact effects of transportation facilities.

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.