&EPA
                                   Untied States
                                   Environmental Protection
                                   Agency
                          EPA/540/MR-94/505
                          March 1994
                                   SUPERFUND INNOVATIVE
                                   TECHNOLOGY  EVALUATION
                                    Demonstration Bulletin

                    GIS\Key™ Environmental Data Management System

                                             GIS\Solutions, line.
Introduction: GISVSolutions, Inc.  has  developed a software
system that fulfills a set of needs that is typically answered by
multiple, independently run pieces of software. GIS\Key™ takes
proven software and puts it under one shell. The results of this
integration allow for enhanced database  management activities
that would otherwise be more difficult or  costly to perform. This
Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) demonstra-
tion was undertaken because the data management capabilities
provided by GIS\Key™ are applicable to any Superfund site.

Technology Description: The GIS\Key™ Environmental Data
Management System,  developed by GIS\Solutions, is a custom
developed software system compatible with 386 and 486 micro-
computers. The system uses several  commercial, off-the-shelf
products (i.e., AutoCAD®, FoxBASE™, and QuickSurf™) to cre-
ate a comprehensive environmental database management sys-
tem that  meets the needs of industry and satisfies hazardous
waste site reporting requirements. GISXKey™ facilitates the col-
lection, reporting, and analysis  of  site  management data by
producing a variety of  site-specific tables, graphs, and maps.

The system's capabilities include producing geologic cross-sec-
tions, boring logs, potentiometric maps, isopleth maps, structure
maps, summary tables, hydrographs, chemical time series graphs,
tables, and  other maps and line graphs that meet reporting
requirements. GIS\Key™ site maps typically start with digitized
basemaps, including U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute quad-
 Tablel. GIS\Key™ Output

                Chemistry
          rangle Jmaps, to provide general topography and features such as
          streets-, highways, schools, and bodies of water for the GIS\Key™
          data management system. Site-specific features such as build-
          ings and waste management units are then added. Project maps
          for Resource Conservation and  Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities ,
          and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
          Liability Act  (CERCLA)  sites are  stored inside the  regional
          basemaps and act as the visual starting points from which users
          can obtain  specific chemical, geologic, and hydrologic data for
          each map point.

          A primary benefit of GIS\Key™ is that nearly all project data is
          stored tin a single, unified, and structured database. Data redun-
          dancy | is reduced or eliminated, providing  a greater ability  to
          manage data quality. Environmental data for a project—chemical,
          geological,  and hydrological—is stored in the GIS\Key™ data-
          base, la relational  data  management  system implemented  in
          FoxBASE™.  The database is linked to the other component of
          the geographical information system, GIS\Graphics, which is built
          in  AutoCAD®. The GISVKey™ graphical interface depicts wells
          and boreholes on a map of a site. Data can be entered into the
          GIS\Key™  database either manually or electronically. Table  1
          lists the GIS\Key™ software output.

          GIS\K(by™  can be used both by staff with little computer exper-
          tise or  with  more  advanced data  management or AutoCAD®
          skills. f3IS\Key™ graphical and text-based menus guide the user
          through complex data manipulation  and  display steps.
          Geology
            Hydrology
 • Isopleth maps of soil or water quality plan or section view

 • Chemical concentration time series graphs

 • Chemical versus chemical graphs, inter- and intra-well

 • Trilinear Piper diagrams

 • Chemical concentration versus distance graphs

 • Presentation-quality data tables
•Boring logs with company logos

• Geologic cross section maps
               i
• Isopach maps    \

• Structure maps   ;

• Presentation-quality data tables
• Density-corrected water level contour maps

• Floating product contour maps

• Hydraulic conductivity contour maps

• Water elevation versus time graphs

• Floating product thickness versus time graphs

• Extraction well graphs

• Presentation-quality data tables
                                                                                              Printed on Recycled Paper

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GISSSolutions provides two levels of system training to accommo-
date a range of users.

Applicability: This system is designed to assist managers of
RCRA facilities and CERCLA sites in the graphical characteriza-
tion of applicable sites and the management of data The system
handles both soil and groundwater contaminants but does not
provide a  means  for managing ecological assessment or  air
pollutant data.

Evaluation Results: The evaluation determined whether the
software performs the functions  claimed by the developer and
assessed the  accuracy  of the GIS\Key™  output. Also, the
GIS\Key™ procedures used were reviewed to ensure the data
integrity, to  evaluate the general usability of GISXKey™, and to
compare GIS\Key™ features to user requirements.

The GIS\Key™ software can successfully generate four types of
contour maps to assist in groundwater mapping: hydrogeologic
maps, chemical concentration isopleths, geologic structure maps,
and geologic structure thickness isopach maps. Several standard
chemistry reports and construction and borehole summary tables
can be prepared  using the GIS\Key™ menu commands. The
system can prepare well and borehole logs based on the informa-
tion contained in the database.

GISy
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