A PLANNING SYSTEM TO MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT APPLIED TO ROUTE SELECTION Available to Purchase

The authors describe a computer‐based planning system which can be used to find continuous near‐linear routes for utilities subject to numerous constraints. A major difficulty resolved was to analyse accurately the discrete valued impact surface over an area in excess of 2700 square miles in extent. The planning system involves the application of computer procedures to an extensive data bank and the use of computer graphics techniques. The authors discuss the determination of orthogonal impact factors, data base development and the development of computational modules to provide discrete impact scaling. Of particular importance is the development of the Newkirk Cascade Algorithm to combine impact predictions.