BACI Design
Abstract
The purpose of impact assessment is to evaluate whether a stressor has changed the environment, which components are adversely affected, and to estimate the magnitude of the effects. The evaluation of impact involves comparative methods. Early approaches to impact assessment involved the use of computer simulation models to predict the impact. Decisions were then made based on the soundness of those predictions. Although the data used to interpret effects are quite varied, the methods for analysis are often quite similar and involve comparison of impact areas with control areas. When information is available prior to the potential impact, the design is often referred to as a Before–After Control‐impact (BACI) design. Several variations on the basic design have been proposed and are discussed in this article.
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The reference in BACI accounts for natural variability that may influence the dependent variable of both the reference and treatment over the duration of the study.
“The reference accounts for natural variability that may influence the dependent variable of both the reference and treatment over the duration of the study (Smith 2002).”
From Assessing shortnose sturgeon response to estuarine dredging in the Savannah River using a before-after control-impact (BACI) approach (2026) · cites this paper as Smith 2002
BACI models use concurrent data from a reference that has not been subject to disruption as a comparison to data from a treatment that has experienced a disruption to assess how the treatment has potentially responded to the disruption over the same time.
“To evaluate the effects of the SHEP on the Savannah River population of shortnose sturgeon, we used BACI models, which use concurrent data from a reference (control) that has not been subject to disruption as a comparison to data from a treatment (impacted) that has experienced a disruption to assess how the treatment has potentially responded to the disruption over the same time (Underwood 1991;S”
From Assessing shortnose sturgeon response to estuarine dredging in the Savannah River using a before-after control-impact (BACI) approach (2026) · cites this paper as Smith 2002
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Rider, H. J., Morgan, K. M., Bond, A. T., Nolan, J. D., Fox, A. G., & Hamel, M. J. (2026) · Environmental Biology of Fishes · doi:10.1007/s10641-026-01901-0 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Smith, E. P.
- Affiliations
- Virginia Tech (US)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Eric P.
- ORCID
- Smith, Eric P.
- Venue
- Encyclopedia of Environmetrics
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-08-31
- OpenAlex
- W2904457609
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2013: 1
- Type
- reference entry
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Encyclopedia of Environmetrics (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Environmental and Social Impact Assessments
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Keywords
- BACI design, before-after-control-impact design, environmental impact assessment, control areas, comparative analysis, computer simulation model
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