SOCIAL IMPACT FOLLOW-UP OF A NEW ALUMINIUM SMELTER IN URBAN ENVIRONMENT (ALMA, QUEBEC) by CHRISTIANE GAGNON Professor, Ph.D. in Planning and GILLES CÔTÉ Master in Geography Annual meeting of the IAIA June 1999, Glasgow, Scotland

PRESENTATION Physical and human environment Industrial mega project Research project Why follow-up of social impacts ? Variables Methodology Results

ZONES OF STUDY

SOCIAL CONTEXT City of Alma Downtown Area 1998

TERRITORY OF THE PROJECT

INDUSTRIAL SITE AND INFRASTRUCTURES

INDUSTRIAL PROJECT State of progress February 1999

SOCIAL IMPACT FOLLOW-UP WHY IS IT RELEVANT? Implantation of a mega industrial complex is certainly a matter of interest toward local and regional development, and an opportunity to train researchers in the field of social impact assessment Determine of social impacts following the evolution of the situation in real time versus Prediction made in the impact assessment study previous to the construction

Definine positive and negative impacts on individuals, communities, local as well as regional Improve environmental management from the perspective of sustainable local and regional development Facilitate social learning and technological transferts to the community Assist community to maximize the benefits of the project and minimize the negative impacts Use experience acquired to facilitate the development and implementation of futur projects in communities

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMING (themes) No 1: Local development and regional economy No 2: Risk perception, risk analysis No 3:Landscape and heritage No 4: Perception and values of social actors regarding their environment and quality of life No 5:Planning, and resource management No 6:Spatial and social dynamics No 7:Participation process

METHODOLOGY Longitudinal Study Baseline Study Case Study Impact Assessment Partipatory Research Survey Geographic Information System (GIS)

EXAMPLE OF RESULTS ON QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY

EXEMPLE OF GIS APPLICATION

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