Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
quality of the methods and technologies applied is an important factor: verified tools
improve quality and further reduce uncertainty and costs. Information flow and dis-
semination of scientific and technological knowledge to the wider professional society
is another important tool that can increase ERM efficiency.
11 DECISION MAKING AND DECISION-SUPPORTTOOLS
Decision making is the focal point of environmental management. Decision making
on environmental questions and tasks is carried out at political, management and
engineering levels and, accordingly, its scope may be global, regional and local as well
as short term or long term.
The handling of environmental problems usually requires non-programmed deci-
sions (Simon, 1982), and constitutes a series of individual measures with long-term
effects involving unstructured decision mechanisms. The difficulty is increased by the
fact that the measures may affect many people.
It appears to be a general problem that the available resources are limited, and these
resources must be most effectively utilized. The responsible decision-makers involve
professionals with relevant background, who provide advice, objective evaluation and
compare the alternatives for a decision. After having the experts' opinion and recom-
mendation on the suitable options of scientific and engineering tools, the final decision
should also take into account the economic and social aspects.
The
following
are
the
main
steps
of
decision
making
in
environmental
management:
-
Identifying the problem: collecting all possible historical data and acquiring neces-
sary new data, evaluating and interpreting them in the proper way, for example, by
risk assessment or life cycle assessment, or both. Data quality must be attributed
high priority;
-
Setting a target, based on a “no-risk'' scenario and comparing the risk of the actual
case with the target. The ratio of the measured value to the target together with the
absolute values of the amount of contaminant, extent of contaminated area and
the size of endangered receptors characterize the risk, determine the intervention's
urgency and orientate about the acceptable costs;
-
Enlisting the risk management and risk reduction options and evaluating them
from the point of view of technological efficiency, environmental efficiency (eco-
efficiency), cost and social (socio-economic) efficiency;
-
Considering the capability of industry, land, local government and residents, as
well as the quality and services of the ecosystem in question;
-
Making the decision by choosing the best possible managerial options and risk
reduction technologies;
-
Validating all steps of the decision-making process and making the necessary
corrections.
Environmental decision making has special problems and difficulties, uncertainties
being one of the main issues. The environmental risk posed by an activity is theoretically
uncertain, and therefore, it can be stated that environmental managers “practice the
art of the impossible'' (Wynne, 1993).
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