Modelling and Evaluating an Environmental Damage Scenario: Discussing an Assessment Model Predicted Through a Geographical Information System Procedure

This paper illustrates the main phases of an environmental damage assessment method that is aimed to solve the considerable underestimation that affects the methods used to calculate the reparations amount according to the Italian law and jurisprudence, as they usually consider only the reclamation costs for the damaged areas. This “old” approach can be easily adjusted to the actual context, using, on one side, a scenario approach, on the other side, Geographical Information System (GIS) tools and procedures. After the reference scenarios have been recognized, the model develops a prospective comparison referred to the reduced capability of the environment to sustain the human activities of its three components and to the assessment of “value parameters”, depending on the meaning given to each element, in order to recognize the damage costs. At this stage, the damage value could be measured, on one side, pondering the actual reclamation costs, on the other side, outlining the rareness of each area/ecosystem and the actual failure of restoring the previous configuration in an accurate way.