How much does it cost to lower a decibel? CONEIA 2015

“Do you know how much it costs to reduce a decibel with an acoustic screen on a road?” , I have been thinking about this question since Thursday morning, or rather, the answer given to us by Carlos Castelotte Varona (European University of Madrid), in the communication: Analysis of the effectiveness of acoustic screens: in situ evaluation of the behavior of different measures on roads. This communication was presented in the green room, as part of the discussion table on Good Practices in Environmental Assessment, which took place at the National Congress of Environmental Impact Assessment (CONEIA)

I leave the answer to the question to the author, and I invite you to read the summary of the paper he presented at CONEIA, which is part of his doctoral thesis Analysis of Emission and Propagation Hypotheses and Comparative Evaluation of Proposals for the Application of the Road Acoustic Impact Model in Spain.

But back to the question, without needing to know the answer. I want to highlight the importance of these studies, the information they provide, and the value that this thesis can represent for any agent involved in the environmental evaluation of a highway project, since, apart from the capacity to write a study, the deadlines of a law, the composition of a multidisciplinary team, the teaching hours of a subject,... This type of information is what values the discipline of Environmental Assessment in all its phases. These data provide answers to all the questions posed by environmental assessment in this type of project. From the choice of an alternative, to the collection of data, the description of the environment, the impact, and the corrective measures to be applied.

It's not that we can't learn about these theses, or studies, or share this information through any other medium, but it's clear that these types of forums are necessary to grow and acquire knowledge, but above all as a meeting place to share and discuss. Therefore, I would like to take advantage of this publication to defend the need to continue to have this congress. In the same way, and obviously, CONEIA has to adapt to new forms of communication and work; although today it is the only academic and application reference for Environmental Assessment in Spain.

As we told you, the eighth National Congress on Environmental Impact Assessment (CONEIA) took place on March 11, 12 and 13. On this occasion, the celebration took place in Madrid, at the Higher Technical School of Road, Canal and Port Engineers, and like previous editions, Ideas MedioAmbiental came as an environmental consultant, and as partners and territorial delegates in Castilla-La Mancha of the Spanish Association for Environmental Impact Assessment (AEEIA), which is the entity responsible for organizing this congress.

Unfortunately, our presence this year, although active, has been less participatory than what we have been doing at previous congresses. The reasons for these circumstances are not interesting, although they are mainly due to the impossibility of dedicating greater resources to this forum, a national and international reference in environmental assessment.

Returning to the way in which we have developed our participation in CONEIA. This time we have divided our efforts into three events.

The first, main and academic. With the publication of a communication, which under the title MONITORING BIRD MORTALITY ON POWER LINES WITH TRAINED DOGS, described, detailed and analyzed our experience during the prospecting of a power line in search of bodies, carried out by trained technicians and dogs.

Along with this publication, we collaborate with the university and the Castilla-La Mancha Community Board, and two other communications. Which, under the title of VISIBILITY ANALYSIS OF THE EL BONILLO 16 +2 MW PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PLANT (ALBACETE- SPAIN), and ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ON SOIL GENERATED BY THE “EL BONILLO 16 +2 MW” PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PLANT (ALBACETE- SPAIN). They completed the communication we presented at the CONEIA in Oviedo in 2013: LOCAL BIODIVERSITY AS AN INDICATOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES INDUCED BY A PHOTOVOLTAIC PLANT. The abstracts and posters of these communications can be downloaded in the publications area of our website.

At this point, we take this opportunity to congratulate TAXUS, Environmental Management, Ecology and Quality S.L. for obtaining the award for the best poster, entitled:”Establishment of the dynamic basic state in reservoirs: variability of ecological potential and trophic state and applicability to environmental responsibility” by Montes Cabrero, E.; Cordón Ezquerra, J.; Granero Castro, J.

The second, social and committed. After the attendance of our manager, Óscar García Zamora, at the conference as co-delegate of the Spanish Association for Environmental Impact Assessment in Castilla La Mancha, he proposes some ideas for future congresses, such as the creation of B2B meetings that promote knowledge management or meetings between companies, universities, research centers, professionals, etc., proposing hot topics, thus avoiding the treatment of recurring issues with respect to other CONEIAs, provided that there are no significant advances.

The third, the most pleasant. Attend communications, round tables, workshops and conferences as an assistant, etc.

Greetings, and we'll see you at another CONEIA in two years' time.