title: Integrated environmental assessment of the Mid-Atlantic region with analytical network process.
abstract: A decision analysis method for integrating environmental indicators was developed. This was a combination of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Analytic Network Process (ANP). Being able to take into account the interdependency among variables, the method was capable of ranking ecosystems in terms of environmental conditions and suggesting cumulative impacts across a large region. Using data on land cover, population, roads, streams, air pollution, and topography of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States, we were able to point out areas which were in relatively poor condition and/or vulnerable to future deterioration regarding various environmental aspects. The method offered an easy and comprehensive way to combine the strengths of conventional multivariate statistics (PCA) and decision-making science tool (ANP) for integrated environmental assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography and Geology, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA. ltran@fau.edu
authors.forename: Liem T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: C Gregory
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003657:Decision Making; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants