Matrices methods
- 1. Matrices method Zibiso Mukwae Mutilifa Latungala Kavela Veronica Nampala James Kanyiki Vilho
- 2. Matrices methods A matrix is a grid-like table that is used to identify the interaction between project activities, which are displayed along one axis, and environmental characteristics, which are displayed along the other axis 1
- 3. How it works Using the table, environment-activity interactions can be noted in the appropriate cells or intersecting points in the grid. ‘Entries’ are made in the cells to highlight impact severity related to the nature of the impact, for instance: • Ticks or symbols can identify impact type (such as direct, indirect, cumulative) pictorially; • Numbers or a range of dot sizes can indicate scale; or 2
- 4. Leopold interaction matrix (1971) • The Leopold matrix is the best known matrix methodology available for predicting the impact of a project on the environment. • It is a comprehensive matrix, which has 88 environmental characteristics along the top axis and 100 project actions in the left hand column. • Potential impacts are marked with a diagonal line in the appropriate cell and a numerical value can be assigned to indicate their 3
- 5. It is a two dimensional matrix cross-referencing •The activities linked to the project that are supposed to have an impact on men and the environment. •The existing environmental and social conditions that could possibly be affected by the project. 4
- 6. Three major groups of matrices The environmental and social conditions are 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 5
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- 8. • Link action to impact • Good method for displaying EIA results ADVANTAGES 7
- 9. DISADVANTAGES • Difficult to distinguish direct and indirect impacts • Significant potential for double-counting of impacts • Qualitative 8