Implementing GIS technology. A spatial decision support system tool to study the impacts of land uses

The need of soil consumption control and of the conservation of eco-systemic values of existing resources are the basis of this attempt to implement the GIS technology as a web-based Decision Support System. Following the European Community guidelines, an instrument for limiting, mitigating and compensating soil sealing is set in place, ensuring that the hydrological response of a given area during precipitation must remain constant before and after transformation. It is presented a practical approach with a technological improvement through a GIS evolution in the field of anthropic impact analysis. The web application makes use of the SCS-CN Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number method developed by the USDA in 1972 to study the phenomenon of the run-off. The web application, built as a webGIS service, based on the online interoperability of multiple users, defines a tool for the control of man-made impact and for a BMP-Best Management Practice driven policy for boosting eco-systemic values in Regional Planning. The challenge is to bring together GIS tools and evaluation models in a networked environment by implementing them towards online interoperability. Public officials, in charge of evaluating new projects, can be guided by the tool in the ex ante and ex post simulation of the land transformation. The effects that the land transformation causes are reflected in the CN as shown trough the web application therefore BMP to improve the hydrological solicitation response can be promoted. The tool is able to help the decision-making actors to cope with the complexity of reality and can help the planner towards strategic decisions based on spatial data