Table of Contents

Abstract

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

3. Quality of Life: Background, Components, Indicators, Measurement and Conceptualization

• 3.1. Background Summary
• 3.2. Quality of Life Components
• 3.3. Quality of Life Indicators
  • 3.3.1. Definition
  • 3.3.2. Subjectivity and objectivity
  • 3.3.3. Choosing the indicators
• 3.4. Basis for Measuring Quality of Life in Linear Project Assessments
• 3.5. Review of Four Models for Conceptualizing Quality of Life
  • 3.5.1. Conceptualizing environmental quality of life
  • 3.5.2. Conceptualizing community quality of life
  • 3.5.3. Conceptualizing urban quality of life
  • 3.5.4. Conceptualizing the quality of life in alpine cities

4. Assessing the Impacts of Linear Projects on Quality of Life

• 4.1. Case Studies
  • 4.1.1. The Des Cantons-Lévis power transmission line, Quebec
  • 4.1.2. The partial extension of Highway 407, Ontario
• 4.2. Review of reports by the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE)
  • 4.2.1. Quality of life and power lines in BAPE reports
  • 4.2.2. Quality of life and highway infrastructure projects in BAPE reports
  • 4.2.3. Review of the BAPE reports
• 4.3. Interviews with environmental assessment experts
  • 4.3.1. Integrating quality of life with project impact assessments
  • 4.3.2. Assessments of projects that dealt best with quality of life
  • 4.3.3. Complexity of integrating quality of life with linear project impact assessments
  • 4.3.4. Elements or components to consider in the special case of linear project impact studies
  • 4.3.5. Quality of life analysis by project category or case by case
  • 4.3.6. How impact studies improve people's quality of life
  • 4.3.7. Distinguishing and integrating objective and subjective quality of life components in linear project impact studies
  • 4.3.8. How impact studies improve quality of life: A few suggestions

5. Conceptual Basis and Methodological Framework for Evaluating the Impacts of Linear Projects on Quality of Life

• 5.1. Quality of Life, an Individual and Social Concept
• 5.2. Conceptualizing Change
• 5.3. From Conceptualization to Application

6. Conclusion

References

Appendix 1List of Key Words and Databases

Appendix 2List of Experts Interviewed

Appendix 3 Selected conceptualized quality of life models

Appendix 4 List of BAPE Reports Consulted for Power Line and Road Projects

List of Tables

Table 1. Possible quality of life indicators

Table 2. Conceptualization of the social construct of environmental quality of life

Table 3. Development phases of linear projects and associated activities

Table 4. Impacts of project phases affecting the relationships between neighbouring groups and the environment

Table 5. Proposed methodological approach

List of Figures

Figure 1. Conceptualization of changes in environmental quality of life associated with project implementation

Figure 2. Stages in the methodological process