Integration of Infrastructures in Landscape – An Opportunity to Landscape Planning Improvement

Maria Jose Curado and Teresa Portela Marques CIBIO – Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto

Portugal

1. Introduction

This paper presents a work that was developed during three years, in a partnership between the company EDP Distribuigao, SA (Grupo EDP – Energias de Portugal SA) and the Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the University of Porto (CIBIO/ UP), financially supported by the PPDA – Promotion of Environmental Performance Plan – approved by the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE). The objective of this work was the production of a Manual of Good Integration Landscape Practices of the Infrastructure of the Distribution Network. This manual aims to present a set of strategies, guidelines and practices for landscaping integration, in mainland Portugal, of electrical infrastructures, namely: Substations, Lines of High, Medium and Low Voltage, Transformer Stations and Urban Cabinets.

The work had two major challenges: on the one hand, the development of technically sound solutions and proposals from the standpoint of landscape integration of these infrastructures, minimizing their impact; on the other hand, ensure ease of use and the application of this technical manual for non-specialists in the field of landscape. Thus, it was essential to know how the planning and design of these infrastructures in the company was carried out, developing a compatible methodology for landscape integration.

Updated: October 11, 2015 — 3:22 am