Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 11.9
Data, information and decision making in environmental management.
expressing the situation in an iterative way (involving all stakeholders and charac-
terizing the environmental problem), creating definitions and building the conceptual
model (generally in a stepwise and iterative procedure). After having established the
conceptual model of the environmental problem, one has to compare this model with
the real situation and verify the model. Comparing the present environmental situa-
tion to the desirable one (legal requirements, no risk situation) one can decide which
risk management option (RMO) is the best. Finally, a feasible intervention is selected
after the comparison of the available RMOs and technological alternatives, for exam-
ple the application of a restriction or an environmental risk reduction technology. The
outcome of the environmental management activity should be verified (demonstrating
the improvement of the environment) and the lesson learned disseminated.
With regard to ERM, specifically, contaminated site management, the Euro-
pean knowledge base EUGRIS (www.eugris.info) and a Hungarian initiative, ENFO
(Environmental Information, 2013) (www. enfo.hu) should be mentioned. Both are
dynamic knowledge bases with continuously growing and organized information,
search machines, navigators and other decision-support tools. Both are public web-
sites, where registered users can upload new data and information. EUGRIS currently
contains 4026 resources (documents, websites, tools, systems and products), 59 fund-
ing programs, 377 projects, 3961 registered users, 402 organizations, 500 glossary
terms, 463 current news items, 10 events, meetings and trainings. ENFO uses two
languages (English and Hungarian) and contains 2,200 glossary terms, 800 in English,
700 detailed descriptions of environmental monitoring methodologies and remedial
technologies, 12,000 items in the form of maps, e-courses and pictures with explana-
tions (as of August 2013). ENFO contains a dynamic map system, with online upload.
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