ABSTRACT
Integrated impact assessment (IIA) is the study of the full range of the consequences, immediate and long range, intended and unanticipated, of the introduction of a new technology, project, or program. IIA emphasizes the policy options available for dealing with the impacts. Impact assessment began with an idea -- that it would be very good to know the effects of new technological developments before they occur so that society could deal with them. Technology assessment denotes comprehensive study of the prospective impacts on society resulting from the introduction or modification of a particular technology, emphasizing the unintended, indirect, and delayed impacts. While early practitioners of IIA assumed its "value-free" character, the field has evolved to the point where almost all workers recognize that all assessments, for better or worse, are value-laden. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
