A decision support system for environmental effects monitoring

  • Authors:

  • William G. Booty;Isaac Wong;David Lam;Oskar Resler

  • Affiliations:

  • National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON, L7R 4A6, Canada;National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON, L7R 4A6, Canada;National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON, L7R 4A6, Canada;University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

  • Venue:
  • Environmental Modelling & Software
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

The Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Statistical Assessment Tool (SAT) Decision Support System (DSS) has been developed to provide a user-friendly data analysis, display and decision support tool for Canada's federal environmental effects monitoring program for the pulp and paper and mining industries. The target users include industries, consultants, regional EEM coordinators, National EEM Office and scientists involved in EEM-related research. The tool allows the assessment of the effects of effluent from industrial or other sources on fish and benthic populations. Effect endpoints, which are used as indicators of potentially important effluent effects, are measured at effluent-exposed sites and are compared statistically to measures at reference sites, in order to determine if changes have occurred and the magnitude of the changes. The main driver of the EEM-SAT DSS is its rule-based expert system. The results are used in assessing the adequacy of existing regulations for protecting aquatic environments.