The International Handbook of Social Impact Assessment : Conceptual and Methodological Advances

Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is the process of analysing and managing the intended and unintended consequences on the human environment of planned interventions (policies, programmes, plans, projects) so as to bring about a more sustainable and equitable biophysical and human environment.

This handbook presents an overview of the range of new methods and of the conceptual advances in SIA. Increased attention to social considerations has led to substantial development in the techniques useful to, and the thinking in, SIA.

A distinguished group of contributors provides an up-to-date and comprehensive account of the cutting edge in SIA-development.

This handbook outlines a new understanding and definition of SIA and, as such, should be a useful reference tool for both practitioners and scholars at different levels working in the fields of SIA and environmental studies (including both impact assessment and management).