A web-based application to increase public awareness about wind turbine site selection challenges: A case study for the Netherlands
Summary
The Netherlands has challenges to meet the climate goals in 2020. The public opinion and awareness of measures to reduce CO2 emissions is one of the challenges. This public opinion is mostly based on subjective reasoning, emotions. The Netherlands is a small and densely populated country; every location has a meaning and significance for someone. If the public would be more aware of the spatial options for wind turbine placement a more objective reasoning and opinion could be formed.
Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) is a widely used method within the field of Geographic Information Systems to select suitable areas for specific objects. It has been applied to find suitable locations for wind turbines, but not as web-based tool designed for citizens. The objective of this research is to develop a web-based MCA application for Dutch citizens and to verify whether the use of this application affects the users opinion or awareness towards the possibilities for wind turbine installations in their municipalities. Key to this research is the idea that the users of this application are directly confronted with the consequences that their choices have on the increase or decrease of the suitable area for wind turbines installations.
A literature analysis is conducted to find out the most important criteria for wind turbine site selection. Additionally 5 interviews with Dutch citizens were held to get more information on how citizens would use an MCA application. Based on this literature analysis and interviews a web-based MCA application was designed and developed. 45 respondents have filled in an online questionnaire before and after the application was used. By processing and interpreting the responses the effect of
spatial information on the respondents opinion and awareness is demonstrated.