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International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B2. Istanbul 2004 
In terms of supporting interactive spatial exploration of 
environmental impact assessment (EIA) results using GIS or 
maps to answer “what-if” questions, there are two design 
options GeoNotice can adopt. One is to have a set of predefined 
and prepared EIA maps that can be viewed by the public 
following a predefined procedure. The other one is to allow the 
public to interactively explore EIA using some simple GIS 
analysis functions, such as buffering and overlay. Apparently, 
the first approach is more suitable for people who do not have 
any previous GIS experience, or even much with computers. 
The latter one is more desirable for people who already have 
some GIS knowledge. Even though, spatial exploration still 
needs to be simplified, for example, by implementing a model- 
driven spatial modelling process. 
3.3 EA and Participation Workflows 
As mentioned in the previous section, the workflow includes 
two types of processes. One type of process describes the 
information flow that controls what information is required in 
each step, how the formation is transferred, and who gets 
access to the information. The other type of process controls 
participation, decision-making, and actual environmental 
assessment procedures based on a set of rules. These rules are 
identified from particular requirements of by-laws and EA 
Acts, best practices, and special requirements stemmed from 
the implementation of the new GIS-enabled approach. 
As an example, for all projects, all mandatory notices including 
Notices of a Study Commencement and Notices of Completion 
are to be directed to the appropriate Regional EA Coordinator. 
as indicated in Section A.3.6 of the Municipal Class EA 
[OAGR, 2000]. In addition, municipalities must also submit a 
Notice of Completion for each Schedule B or C Project to 
Ontario Ministry of Environment's Environmental Assessment 
and Approvals Branch (EAAB). Moreover, an environmental 
study report (ESR) must be finalized prior the notice of the 
completion. The ESR is then available for the public review for 
30 days. Figure 4 illustrates an example of how these workflow 
rules are defined in part in the project workflow process. 
A Study Startz 
Notify Regional ^ (Da s 1 x 
. EA Coordinator J z^ 
us sen 
= 
     
  
   
2 
until 20 days expire 
lb 5 
/ ^ Rewiew A * 
e to lee one ea ann 
ie | (yes f otif y MÜOEz ^ 
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( a y ae r1 Dia Step n | 
+ nea 
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Figure 4 Class EA process rules in workflow model 
Workflows can also be modelled for the processes such as 
generating/mailing public notices and handling public input. 
These workflows can then be automated using a workflow 
Management component, which is expected to be included in 
our research development at its later stage. 
4. PROTOTYPING GEONOTICE 
The evolutionary design and development process has been 
adopted for designing and developing the system. This 
approach allows us to quickly construct a GeoNotice prototype 
and then test, improve, and expand it to meet all requirements 
2 
(93 
discussed in Section 3. Currently, we are in the stage of 
developing an initial prototype which focuses on managing 
only one project at a time. However, scalability has been taken 
into consideration for the future expansion to multiple projects. 
Figure 5 shows the main web-based interface of GeoNotice 
system that is accessed by the public participants to explore one 
project. Through this main interface, the public participants can 
read relevant documents, learn the results from various stages 
of the project EA study, and explore proposed alternatives and 
the potential environmental impacts. Project Info contains 
background information and related documents. Both Studv 
Results and Public Input link to an embedded GlS/mapping 
component. Study Results module presents class EA study 
results, combining text, statistics, and environmental impact 
maps, etc., while Public Input allows participants to graphically 
propose alternative design and solutions they perceive more 
suitable and provide comments as closely as possible related to 
the particular problem areas and/or issues. 
   
NOTICE OF FIRST PUBLIC 
INFORMATION CENTRE 
CLASS EHVIROHMENT AL 
ASSESSMENT 
BRIT ARMA ROAD FROM QUEEN 
STREET TO HURONTARIO STREET 
   
Man the meeting Location 
  
The Regional Municipality of Peel 
has initiated a Class Environmental 
Assessment of Britannia Road, 
fram Queen Street ta Hurantarin 
  
  
Figure 5 GeoNotice interface: main page of a project 
Figure 6 shows the interface of GIS component that allows 
exploration of alternatives and their environmental impacts, as 
well as anchoring public input to specific geographic features. 
At the prototyping stage, the system only implements a guided 
“tour” of a series of “what-if” scenario exploration. However, 
the participants arc still able to interactively query and 
manipulate map data. The functional feature of this component 
also enable the uploading of multimedia data such as photos 
and audio/video clips to support public comments. 
QARPEER | c= BERG 
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ol 
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Figure 6 GeoNotice interface: exploring and commenting EA 
results using GIS