Publisher Description

Two basic tools for integrated management of the environment are modelling and environmental data. Both tools were available and valid in the past; however, the recent requirements for integrated environmental management have also led to a significant evolution of both modelling procedures and data management systems. This volume provides a systematic approach to various aspects of environmental data management. The contents of the book follow the basic steps that constitute an environmental data management system. These steps cover in sequence: collection of environmental data for assessing air quality, surface water quality and solid waste management; reliability considerations in data collection; storage, handling and retrieval of available data; transfer of data into information via data analysis and environmental modelling; and finally the use of available data in decision-making for environmental management. This volume should be useful to researchers, professional engineers, planners and managers and graduate students, who are involved in environmental management, data collection and dissemination, and information should also interest research and data centres, international programmes and organizations related to environmental management.

Table of Contents

I Needs for Environmental Data Management.- II Air Quality Modeling and Measurement.- III Data Needs for Solid Waste Management.- IV Water Quality Monitoring and Network Design.- V Risk in Water Quality Monitoring.- VI Environmental Data Management: Storage, Handling and Retrieval.- VII Data Analysis.- VIII Stochastic Environmental Modeling.- IX Modeling of Environmental Processes.- Decision Making for Environmental Management.

Long Description

The diverse nature of environmental problems mankind has encountered within the last decade has developed a new understanding of the nature of environmental processes. Currently, the environment is considered as a continuum of air, soil and water as the vital components for sustaining life on earth. The interactive nature of these components requires that the environment is managed and protected as a cohesive whole. This can only be accomplished through an integrated approach to environmental management. Besides the concept of environmental continuum, prospects for sustainable development of natural resources and the recent recognition of global climate change impacts have also necessitated such an integrated approach to environmental management. Two basic tools for integrated management of the environment are modeling and environmental data. Both tools were available and valid in the past; however, the recent requirements for integrated environmental management have also led to a significant evolution of both modeling procedures and data management systems.

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