The role of spatial data to support strategic environmental assessment for general spatial planning

Abstract

Abstract Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) aims to ensure that sustainable development principles are mainstreamed into development Policies, Plans, and Programs (PPPs). Spatial data play an essential role in supporting SEA to achieve the goal. This study aims to describe the role of spatial data in supporting SEA in integrating sustainable development principles into PPPs. This study uses literature as data sources and performs qualitative descriptive analysis in discussing the research objective. Spatial analysis were also performed to provide examples on how spatial data can be used to support SEA. This research begins by introducing spatial data and spatial data analysis characteristics. Then, the discussion explains spatial data roles in SEA. Aspatial approaches and analysis techniques to support SEA are also elaborated. Next, examples of spatial analysis outputs in SEA are provided. Finally, this study provides suggestions to enhance spatial data contributions in SEA. This study has successfully shown examples of how spatial data can estimate the potential environmental impacts of PPPs stipulated in spatial planning. Spatial data provide information that can be used to recommend alternative formulations to mitigate or prevent environmental risks. This study adds to the literature related to the spatial data role in SEA for general spatial planning.