Using integrated geospatial mapping and conceptual site models to guide risk-based environmental clean-up decisions.
Government and private sector organizations are increasingly turning to the use of maps and other visual models to provide a depiction of environmental hazards and the potential risks they represent to humans and ecosystems. Frequently, the graphic presentation is tailored to address a specific contaminant, its location and possible exposure pathways, and potential receptors. Its format is usually driven by the data available, choice of graphics technology, and the audience being served. A format that is effective for displaying one contaminant at one scale at one site, however, may be ineffective in accurately portraying the circumstances surrounding a different contaminant at the same site, or the same contaminant at a different site, because of limitations in available data or the graphics technology being used. This is the daunting challenge facing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which is responsible for the nation's legacy wastes from nuclear weapons research, testing, and production at over 100 sites in the United States. In this article, we discuss the development and use of integrated geospatial mapping and conceptual site models to identify hazards and evaluate alternative long-term environmental clean-up strategies at DOE sites located across the United States. While the DOE probably has the greatest need for such information, the Department of Defense and other public and private responsible parties for many large and controversial National Priority List or Superfund sites would benefit from a similar approach.
Mayer
Henry J
HJ
Rutgers University, E.J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. hmayer@rci.rutgers.edu
Greenberg
Michael R
MR
Burger
Joanna
J
Gochfield
Michael
M
Powers
Charles
C
Kosson
David
D
Keren
Roger
R
Danis
Christine
C
Vyas
Vikram
V
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005843:Geography; D006076:Government; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D011634:Public Health; D011640:Public Policy; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012984:Software; D014481:United States; D018505:Waste Management
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006256:Hazardous Waste