Site Development and Ecological Impacts

Since a wide range of technological needs and ecological impacts will be discussed in this section, we have prepared Table 1, which visually displays the relationship between these two subjects. When a technological need may result in an ecological impact, the corresponding box in the below table is marked with the likely intensity of that impact. In cases where the intensity of the impact is dependent on multiple factors, a footnote has been added for explanation. This table provides an at-a-glance summary of which site engineering processes are the most likely to have potentially serious effects to the surrounding ecosystems as well as which site engineering processes appear to be less problematic. The needs of different solar technology types, associated land manipulation practices, and overall impacts of these factors on the environment are discussed in more detail below.