Assessing the use of spatial information in environmental impact assessment reports: The case of mobile telecommunications projects in Plateau State (Nigeria)

Abstract

Spatial information presented in environmental impact assessments and their documentation in environmental impact assessment reports is vital for the spatial understanding of proposed infrastructural developments, their environmental impacts, environmental baseline, and the ecological sensitivity of project sites. Such information is crucial for the involvement of different stakeholders in the assessment and mitigation of environmental impacts associated with infrastructure development projects. In this study, the usefulness of spatial information compiled for recent mobile telecommunication projects in Plateau State (Nigeria) is assessed. To achieve this, the environmental impact assessment reports for 70 such projects were examined. The study found that the spatial information provided in the reports was often inadequate or not presented at all. Topographical maps (25%) and architectural illustrations (38%) were used more commonly than photographs (12%) or Google Maps images (12%). There were also weaknesses in the presentation of some of the spatial information including lack of scale, map legend and labels. It is recommended that the availability, types and content of spatial information presented in the environmental impact assessment reports need to increase and be standardised. The spatial representations provided must maximise their visual realism for the end user.