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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-1472
Vol. 11, No. 8, 2014, pp. 2281-2290
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Bioline Code: st14219
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology, Vol. 11, No. 8, 2014, pp. 2281-2290
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Ecological valuation in a transportation project: value transfer and spatial decision support systems
Kim, H.Y.
Abstract
The main purpose is to identify the possibility
of calculating ecological impact as an opportunity cost to
estimate total costs of each alternative and to test the feasibility
of the high-speed rail routes designed with different
variables. If ecological impact can be accounted for as
economic costs are, would it be safe to say a route with the
shortest physical (Euclidian) distance is the most economically
viable option? If the difference in construction
and operation costs, the two most commonly used cost
elements in conventional feasibility studies, is compensated
by ecological benefits, is it reasonable choose a route
that is environmentally beneficial, albeit slightly more
circuitous than the shortest route? These are the main
questions of this study, and the author answers using the
spatial decision support system and ecosystem valuation
approaches. The results imply that the saved ecological
benefits may compensate for the induced losses in the long
run, and thus, choosing a route with more ecological benefits
could become a viable solution.
Keywords
Ecological valuation; Transportation externalities; Texas Urban Triangle; Spatial decision support system; High-speed rail; Total cost analysis
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