Visual Impact From Quarrying Activities: A Case Study For Planning The Residential Development Of Surrounding Areas

• Published in: WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment Vol. 181
• Main Authors: Degan, G Alfaro, Lippiello, D, Picciolo, L, Pinzari, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2014
• ISBN: 1845647629; 9781845647629
• ISSN: 1746-448X; 1743-3541
• DOI: 10.2495/EID140111

Quarrying activities and rock extraction generally cause several environmental effects on the surrounding areas. The alteration of landscape due to activities like excavation, drilling or blasting, in particular, often generates a visual impact on the receptors set in the surroundings. Among these effects, the shape, extent, or chromatic contrast of the mining surface with the original land form may represent a huge loss of appeal for the growth of new urban settlements. To eliminate, or if not possible, at least to reduce these effects, two different approaches may be developed. So, in the first part, the two most important visual assessment methods such as that defined by the EC decision 272/02 and the Lvi (Level of Visual Impact) are performed and compared. Some scenarios are studied by varying not only the receptor location but the quarry exploitation method too. Then, with regard to the threshold limit values and quality classes defined in the EC decision, the construction of Lvi maps is performed by means.