Valuation of the impacts of major projects on land artificialization
Stratec was commissioned by SGP to analyze the territorial and environmental impacts of land artificialization by transport infrastructure and to develop a simple and operational framework for future socio-economic evaluations in France.
Location: France
Client: Société des Grands Projets (SGP)
Date: 2024-2025
Partner: Setec
Cover photo credit: ©Getty – Huber & Starke
Context
Since the LOTI law of 1982, methods for the socio-economic evaluation (SEE) of transport projects have evolved with academic and institutional contributions. The Quinet report (2013) and the Royal instruction (2014) marked a key stage by combining economic calculation and strategic analysis.
The fight against land artificialization has, in the meantime, become a major public policy issue, which is not yet reflected in transport project evaluation methods. An infrastructure project indeed has significant effects on land use: it consumes land, sometimes natural or agricultural, but can also induce land artificialization through the human activities it attracts (housing, industry, tertiary sector).
Objectives
The mission had two complementary goals:
- To draw up an inventory of issues and knowledge related to the socio-economic value of land and the impacts of transport infrastructure on land,
- To propose a clear and operational framework, usable in future SEEs of infrastructure projects in France.
Methodology
The process unfolded in two stages.
The first involved identifying relevant issues, indicators, and available data.
The second allowed for the valuation of the selected impacts, by choosing the most relevant sources and defining appropriate methods.
The limitations of the exercise were clearly presented by a reliability indicator for the proposed values. Four researchers specializing in these topics supported the mission with their documentary expertise, critical thinking, and reviews.
Contact
Questions, specific needs? Speak to our expert now
- Georges Fuchs
- g.fuchs@stratec.eu
- Head of Studies
- +32 2 738 78 67