Preliminary environmental assessment
Preliminary environmental assessment: a site’s nature issues in a few hours
GP-PREDIAG produces the preliminary environmental assessment of a site from high-resolution satellite imagery, regulatory data and species observation databases. The report is delivered in a few hours, 24 hours at most, with no site visit at this stage.
Definition
What is a preliminary environmental assessment?
A preliminary environmental assessment is a first review of a site’s biodiversity issues before any commitment: acquisition, choosing between candidate sites, project design or the start of regulatory studies. It is also called an ecological desk study or environmental site screening.
It identifies the habitats on the site, the probability of protected species, wetlands, nearby protected areas and inventories (Natura 2000, ZNIEFF, reserves) and the site’s position in ecological networks. The issues are known early, while a project can still be adapted or a site set aside at little cost.
GP-PREDIAG
What does a GP-PREDIAG assessment include?
- Habitat and land-use mapping
- Probability of protected species presence
- Confirmed wetlands (already mapped and listed) or potential wetlands on the site
- Protected areas and inventories nearby (Natura 2000, ZNIEFF, reserves…)
- Ecological connectivity: the site’s position in the green and blue network and nearby corridors
- Protection status of species and habitats (Natura 2000, national regimes)
- Exposure to risks such as flooding and fire
- Biodiversity and risk scores, with red flags by sub-plot
- Comparison of candidate sites to prioritise the best options
- Interactive, downloadable report showing the date of the image used for the analysis
Uses
When should you run a preliminary environmental assessment?
Before acquiring or choosing a site
Compare candidate sites on the same indicators and set aside early those that concentrate ecological constraints.
Before commissioning field surveys
Focus ecological surveys on the areas and seasons where the issues justify them, and prepare the brief with your consultancy.
Across a whole portfolio
Apply the same method to tens or hundreds of assets, then consolidate the results in GP-PORTFOLIO.
Method
Preliminary assessment and consultancy field survey
A field survey takes an ecologist several weeks, often over several seasons. GP-PREDIAG delivers a first picture of the issues in a few hours, at a fraction of the cost, with the same method and indicators on every site.
The preliminary assessment informs decisions upstream. It is not a regulatory assessment: on part of the sites, field surveys remain necessary, and the platform integrates the data they bring back. The methods and indicators used are recognised and documented, and every finding can be traced back to its data source.
Questions
Frequently asked questions about preliminary environmental assessments
How long does a preliminary environmental assessment take?
With GP-PREDIAG, a few hours, 24 hours at most per site. A field survey by an environmental consultancy usually takes several weeks.
What information do you need for each site?
Two inputs per site: its location (address, GPS point, cadastral reference or GIS file) and the nature of the project or activities. No questionnaire to fill in.
How can I tell whether a site contains wetlands?
GP-PREDIAG separates confirmed wetlands, already mapped and listed as such, from potential wetlands flagged by the available data. Confirmed wetlands need no ecologist visit to be identified; potential wetlands show where a field check will be useful.
Does it replace a full ecological field survey?
No. Where a regulatory survey is required, it still has to be carried out. The preliminary assessment lets you focus and anticipate it, and avoid commissioning heavy studies on sites the analysis rules out.
Does it work outside France?
Yes. The same method and indicators apply in France and internationally, so results are comparable from one country to another.
Who uses GP-PREDIAG?
Energy companies, developers, infrastructure and asset managers, environmental consultancies and law firms. References include IKEA, CNP Assurances, SUEZ, NGE and Brun Cessac & Avocats Associés.
See what Green PRAXIS shows on your sites
A preliminary environmental assessment of one of your sites, presented by the team, with no site visit needed.