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Constraints Mapping

A constraints map is a visual support tool that displays, in a geographic information system (GIS) format, areas determined to be of environmental and cultural importance. Sensitive features may include habitat used by animals for food and shelter, rare plant locations, or protected areas such as traditional land use sites or parks.

The constraints map shows areas of environmental or cultural importance as well as a rating of their importance (e.g., from low to high). For areas where numerous sensitive features occur, the constraints map takes into account the combination of overlapping areas of importance. For example, if two or more sensitive features, such as a cabin and a berry-picking area, were found in the same area, this location would have a higher environmental constraint than a location with just one of the sensitive features.

The constraints map also helps to identify areas that require monitoring or mitigation before the project facilities are built. Environmental constraints maps can be modified and customized to account for engineering and/or cost constraints.

Why Use Constraints Mapping?

The goal of constraints mapping is to identify opportunities and restrictions ('constraints') to project construction at any specific site in a project area. The constraint map helps guide the placement of surface facilities into the least constraining locations. This can lower the environmental impact, and possibly the cost of facility development.

Client Customization

The level of constraints mapping detail can be customized to a client's needs. Costs can often be lessened with the use of data as acquired for an environmental application or environmental impact assessment. A screening level constraints map with limited derived layers of data may be sufficient for initial placement of surface facilities. A higher level constraints map, with many more layers of spatial information, will have increased cost but offers the benefit of more precision and flexibility.

Sample Constraints Map

The sample constraints map below shows the environmental and cultural areas ranked by importance and in relation to the proposed project facilities, such as roads, pipelines and wellpads. The inset detail shows a riparian area, where 30 m buffer zones are required adjacent to watercourses.

Benefits

Accelerated Project Approval

When a proponent shows that they have used constraints mapping to identify areas to lessen their environmental impact, the regulators will take this into account during the approval process.

Environmental Benefit

The effects on surface, cultural and environmental features (e.g., surface water, soils, vegetation, wildlife habitat) will be minimized. Environmental approval requirements, mitigation measures and monitoring commitments will be reduced when sensitive features are avoided.

Project Management Benefit

The time required to identify a preferred project footprint and the associated costs may be reduced when environmental issues are identified prior to route scoping and siting.

Engineering Benefit

The capital costs may be reduced by balancing the siting and routing of project facilities with the environmental constraints.

Long-term Management Tool

Constraints maps are easy to update and modify, and can be used as a dynamic tool over the lifetime of a project.