Wind:
GIS-based Visual Impact Risk Analysis and Mitigation Identification System

Wind Turbine

Argonne is developing a prototype GIS-based system for creating risk maps for visual impacts from wind energy development and specifying location-specific visual impact mitigation measures and best management practices.

Visual impact risk maps are generated by running viewshed analyses from locations of high-value scenic resources and from sensitive viewing locations within an area under consideration for wind energy development. Mitigation measures and best management practices (BMP) appropriate for a given geographical setting or feature can be assigned by applying rules to spatial entities in the GIS so that placement of wind energy project elements within, or within a specified distance from, the relevant geographic entity would trigger assignment of the appropriate mitigation measure to the project element.

The system will be tested at two pilot locations, and the results verified through independent assessments by visual impact assessment professionals.

September 2010