Too Much or Too Little: Visual Considerations of Public Engagement Tools in Environment Impact Assessments

Recently proposed reclamation works due to take place in the Victoria Harbor of Hong Kong have raised questions about their appropriateness and desirability. Although the plans for reclamation had gone through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and the submitted report available online, its wordy and technical contents were not well received by the public. The report failed to offer the community at large a better understanding of the issues at hand and to visualize what would become of the proposed site upon project completion. Henceforth, the Environmental Protection Department stipulates that future EIA reports be presented in a format more readily comprehensible than written accounts. This requirement calls for more visual displays, including but not limited to, three dimensional models, maps and photo imageries. In compliance with the requirements and recognizing technological impetus, we structured a web-based platform that makes use of the Geographic Information System technology to explore alternative visual presentation, such as maps, graphics, photos, videos, and animations. Our research has demonstrated that visual resources are viable substitutes to written statements in conveying environmental problems albeit with limitations. This paper shares our knowledge and experience in compiling visual resources and hopes that our integrative effort is a step forward in the development of a more effective public engagement tool.