GIS-based spatial analysis of perceived discomfort with polluting industries: the case of windows industrial complex, Chile

Abstract

The environmental effects of human activities shape the so-called externality fields around them, portrayed either as emissions and physical impacts, or as negative experiences affecting population. The measurement of this social bad-being and its spatial expression is the main issue of this contribution, where the case of residents near a large industrial complex in Chile is tackled. To this end a home survey, lately geo-referenced, was designed and achieved to determine the perception of various environmental impacts. To elucidate the amount of socio-spatial bad-being a kernel density estimator was applied, provided it enables to obtain GIS based surfaces and expressive maps representing the various negative experiences, and a synthetic index of them too. In this way it is intended to provide a way to capture, both in quantity and place, these elusive effects and to spread awareness about it.

Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Volumen 8, Número 2 Otoño, 2015; 304-325