ID: 22
Presenting Author: John Alvsvåg
Status: pending
When planning new power lines in early phases, exact knowledge about nature can be poor. Statnett’s new Land Use Index (SAI) helps identifying areas with potential high value for nature.
Statnett’s Land Use Index (SAI) quantifies land use intensity by integrating national datasets on buildings and infrastructure with Statnett’s geospatial data. SAI uses a weighted, raster-based model combining three components: buildings, land cover, and human-made interventions. Each is assigned a weight reflecting its environmental impact. The index classifies land into six categories, from untouched to heavily impacted, and is visualized in a map for easy interpretation. This classification helps identify areas with potentially high ecological value in early planning phases, when detailed knowledge is lacking. The assumption is that less disturbed areas are more likely to hold such values, though this still requires empirical validation.
SAI is calculated for mainland Norway using publicly available geospatial data, supplemented by Statnett’s internal data on high-voltage infrastructure. To make SAI a practical planning tool, two ArcGIS Pro tools have been developed. One allows planners to draw and evaluate alternative power line routes based on environmental impact. The other simulates removal of existing lines by recalculating the index, enabling assessment of new routing options without current infrastructure. This supports nature gain by removing old lines and aligning new ones with existing infrastructure.
SAI enables simulation and comparison of environmental impacts for new or removed transmission lines, supporting informed decisions early in project development—even when ecological data is limited.
John Alvsvag and Gunn Elin Frilund Bjerkan are Environmental advisers in Statnett, TSO in Norway, both working on systems to reduce negative impacts on nature during early-phase planning.
Coauthor 1: Gunn Elin Frilund Bjerkan