4. METHOD OF SOLUTION
The SITE2 methodology is based on the
quantification of three major site-related vectors. A cost vector
is determined which identifies site-specific costs, such as
transmission costs, cooling costs as related to water
availability, and costs of specific controls needed to protect the
surrounding environment. An impact vector is also computed for
each potential site, using models of health and environmental
impacts incurred in areas adjacent to the site. Finally, a site
attribute vector is developed which reflects such characteristics
as population, seismic conditions, meteorology, land use, and
local ecological systems. This vector can be used to eliminate
certain sites because of their inability to satisfy specific
constraints. These three vectors can be displayed as density maps
and combined in a simple overlay approach, similar to that
developed by I. L. McHarg in reference 2, to identify candidate
sites. Alternatively, the vector elements can be computationally
combined into a weighted sum to obtain quantitative indicators of
site suitability.
