J48716 Willend EIA ResearchReport V4 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 17
An opportunity for such a collaborative digital EIA activity
emerged from the interview with NOSDRA in the form
of a selective pilot to retrospective review how digital
technologies, such as satellite imagery could have further
enhanced a number of completed EIA projects.
There has also been an increased use of digital
tools and resources available online, including
basic systems such as Goggle Maps, through to
more dedicated and advanced systems such as
IBAT – the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool.
The experts also noted the use of rudimentary
satellite data, for example considering land use
change in recent years in an area from Google
Maps aerial images and a number of other
websites. This has also led to far more maps and
images within EIA Reports to help communicate
the site’s context and the location of environmental
and community receptors.
The use of more advanced satellite imagery,
multispectral imaging and analysis, and high
resolution / live satellite imagery is not an area
that has been regularly adopted into practice.
There are advances and application of such
systems in Nigeria’s university system, but only
embryonic links are considered to exist in terms
of bring this knowledge and capacity to interact
with EIA practice. Alongside these areas of
potential digital uptake, there is also a gap in the
use of remote cameras and sound traps – and
their potential application of Artificial Intelligence
to identify species – within practice. While such
devices have become relatively cheap – certainly
individually cheaper than drones, the requirement
to leave them in the field risks greater risk of a loss
of the equipment, which may be one reason for the
apparent lack of regular uptake in practice.
3.
International Bodies – Perspectives and support
through collaboration
Netherlands Commission for
Environmental Assessment (NCEA)
The NCEA has played a significant role across
the globe in helping further the capacity
and effectiveness of EIA, and other forms of
environmental assessment, for nearly 3 decades3.
Their interest in activity around Digital ESIA in
Nigeria is linked to their mandate to work in Nigeria
and role to engage in initiatives in and around
environmental assessment where the institution’s
knowledge and experience has the potential to aid
development and effectiveness of practice.
In relation to digital EIA in particular, NCEA
has knowledge developed from advances and
application of such approaches and technology
within the Netherlands EIA profession. The
Netherlands has been an early adopter and
champion of digital EIA and thus has businesses
experienced in digitising EIA processes both in
terms of reviews of EIA reports and in terms of
lessons learnt from development and deployment
of practice.
It must be noted that NCEA is not a finance
institution; as such, it does not have the ability to
provide substantive or direct financial assistance
for development of EIA practice. The NCEA is,
however, well positioned to provide wider support;
from providing advice based on expertise and
Summary of NCEA’s action across global IA practice – celebrating 25 years (NCEA, 2018): https://www.eia.nl/documenten/00000300.pdf
Willend Associates and FothergillTC Ltd – Digitization in and around Nigerian EIA
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