Method for planning, communicating and evaluating projects that impact the environment

A method for electronically planning, evaluating, representing and communicating environmental information about site characteristics and the impact of proposed activities, through visualization, modeling and/or decision support modules, which support the shared public and private evaluation of project alternatives for improved environmental management decisions. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing an electronic environmental project document comprises the steps of receiving project information regarding an environmental project, indexing the information by attaching metadata, providing a document preparation guide in response to the project information, receiving information requested in the document preparation guide, preparing an electronic environmental project document and employing software to visualize, model and/or provide decision support. In another embodiment of the present invention, environmental project impacts are visualized through the use of graphs, tables, icons, photos, video and/or animation and forecasting and backcasting models are employed to support the development of consensus solutions.