Project alternatives selection using an environmental impact global index

Abstract

Licensing activities that may cause significant degradation depends on the environmental impact assessment. However, the lack of a structured logical procedure can impair comparative analysis of locations and technologies available to the venture. Thus, the aim of this paper was to evaluate the use of a global impact index (IGI) for supporting decision related to the selection among project alternatives. For that, the index was applied in a case study of for the implantation of an impactful activity, within the São Paulo State, Brazil. As a result it was found that the IGI is able to evaluate judiciously the project alternatives, subsidizing direct and systematic recommendations for the technologies and most appropriate locations for the project under study.