Constraints Mapping

Need GIS skills for taking on large scale projects? Impact GIS can help!

Best practice dictates that from the earliest stages of considering a development, environmental constraints should be fully integrated with the planning process.

With most data sources for archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage constraints now available online, GIS mapping has become an indispensable tool for constraints mapping and the entire impact assessment process.

The following is a brief outline of Impact GIS’s process for archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage constraints mapping.

Prior to commencement, a study area or area of interest will be agreed with the client. Appropriate buffers may also be agreed, based on the proposed development type and the type of affect that it may have on the receiving cultural heritage environment; predominantly affects direct physical affects or affects on setting.

The following archaeological and architectural sources would be reviewed and, where necessary, added to GIS mapping. All would be referenced with the source and date, that is where and when the data was obtained. Given the litigious nature of the planning process, it is vital that this information is not only captured but maintained throughout the planning process, updating it as and when necessary, particularly for large scale infrastructure projects where the planning process may run for several years.

Constraints Mapping

Archaeological Constraints

• World Heritage Sites
• Candidate World Heritage Sites
• National Monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the State
• Walled towns
• Archaeological monuments subject to Preservation Orders
• Archaeological monuments that may be in the ownership of a local authority
• Register of Historic Monuments
• ASD
• SMR Zones of Notification
• RMP Zones of Notification
• NMI Finds database
• INFORMAR surveyed shipwrecks
• Local authority surveys (if available)
• Cartographic anomalies
• Aerial anomalies

Architectural Constraints

• Architectural Conservation Areas
• Protected Structures
• National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
• Local authority surveys (if available)
• Demesne Landscapes and Historic Gardens
• Cartographic anomalies
• Aerial anomalies

Other sites / data sources can be included as required.

Products for the Client

Once the above sources have been compiled in GIS software it can be made available to the client in a number of formats, including:

• GIS maps – Impact GIS works mostly with the free and incredibly powerful QGIS GIS software and can make a mapping package available to the client. This is particularly useful for fieldwork where a laptop augmented with GPS / GNSS can be used with the GIS mapping package.
• Digital maps –  these can be forwarded in a number of different formats. Of particular use are image based maps, .pdf, .jpeg, .png etc. which can be viewed from mobile devices when in the field.
• Analysis spreadsheet – a spreadsheet which contains details of all data sets reviewed including source, date of acquisition and whether it has been included in the mapping. Separate worksheets will contain details of any analysis that may have been agreed with the client, for example lists of all sites located within 1km of a proposed development with distances from the development.

Please note that whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website, it is not possible to guarantee that it is accurate in all cases.