Environmental Assessment
Volume E-3.11
Tailings Facility
Visual Aesthetics
Ambatovy Project
144
January 2006
3.11.5 Impact Assessment
During construction and operation phases, vegetation will be cleared, landscape
features will be altered, industrial buildings will be constructed and at times, dust
will be released from the tailings facility. Following closure, most sources of
visual impacts will be removed, but altered landforms will remain.
3.11.5.1 Assessment Methods
Topographic information, photographs and on-site observations were used to
describe current views. Baseline topographic data and project topography
models were used to develop digital elevation maps from which to generate
viewsheds. Key viewpoints affording “worst case” views from locations close to
the tailings facility were selected and ground-level views were generated using
topographic models.
An overall overhead view of the tailings facility topography at its maximum
development phase (year 27) was generated to provide a visual impression of the
project as a whole for readers; however, this view is not representative of a
typical view to be seen by local residents or tourists from ground level, and was
not used to evaluate visual impacts.
3.11.5.2 Assessment Criteria
The assessment criteria used for visual aesthetics are presented in Table 3.11-2.
Table 3.11-2 Impact Description Criteria for Visual Aesthetics
Direction
Magnitude
Geographic
Extent
Duration
Reversibility
Frequency
positive
: change
in landscape to
more natural
appearance
negative
: change
in landscape to
less natural
appearance
negligible
: no measurable
effect on visual aesthetics
low
: key viewpoints allow
distant or minor views of
project effects
moderate
: key viewpoints
allow direct but not
overwhelming views of project
effects
high
: key viewpoints allow for
close-in, overwhelming views
of project effects (views
representing a large
proportion of the visible
landscape)
local
: effect
restricted to the
LSA
regional
: effect
extends beyond
the LSA
short
term
: <3
years
medium
term
: 3 to
30 years
long term
:
>30 years
reversible or
irreversible
low
: views
occur rarely
medium
:
views occur
intermittently
high
: views
occur
continuously
