Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
also proud of being able to participate in talks in which these standards are set.
Nevertheless, with the return of epidemiology and large-scale studies, such as
ERPURS [ERP 94]
19
, health risks have once again become the key objective of air
quality monitoring [JOU 07].
Monitoring networks
: the networks used to monitor air quality have been
reorganized since the introduction of LAURE and recognized as the place around
which air quality is focused. Within the four different boards that make up the
Board of Directors, there has also been some controversy as far as the fight against
pollution is concerned. Such controversy has included the debate on
decentralization, which focuses on the distribution of power from the State to the
local authorities, and the debate on the monitoring air quality role, between
knowledge and action with the risk to mixing expertise and management [LAM 07].
The ambiguity of the role of the AASQA is due to the difficult relationship that
exists between communication and action. The ASSQA plays an important role as
far as information is concerned, but were they created to be used in governance
place? The recent report written by Senator Richert also raises this question
[RIC 07].
6.4.2.2.
Geographical information: a tool for communication or for action? is it
used to actively fight against rising pollution levels?
The AASQA is the organization that possesses and produces most of the
information that is available on air quality. How can such an organization produce
and hold such a tool box without changing its focus to concentrate more on
pollution management strategies? Improvements in the knowledge that experts in
the field of climatology have [KOU 00] highlight the weak distinction that exists
between the two areas of expertise and management. There are no real boundaries
between these two areas, which brings into question the process of monitoring.
Maps showing the levels of pollution that have been recorded for a particular
area lead to problems in a political context. This is because the maps are associated
with a process of power and are used to monitor, control, and guide individual
members of the population living in areas prone to high pollution levels as to what
they can do in order to reduce pollution levels. If these urban rules are not adhered
to, the maps can then be used as a method to punish those people who do not respect
the urban rules that are set [FOU 75]. The maps are also used to integrate the notion
of risk into planning strategies that focus on air quality
20
. Are these types of maps
now a product of climatologists' knowledge or are they used as a management tool?
19 Urban pollution.
20 This notion of the power that maps posses can be applied to plans that were introduced by
the French government to reduce the risks of flooding, through the introduction of the risk
prevention plan (PPR) and the risk prevention plan for flooding (PPRI).
