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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Glossary
Appendix A. Overview of How a State Uses a GIS in Ground-Water Program
Management (Florida and Pesticides)
Appendix B. Overview of How a Region Uses a GIS in Integrated Environmental
Analysis (Region IV)
Appendix C. San Gabriel Basin and Chattanooga EMTS GIS Applications
LIST OF EXHIBITS
2.1 An Overview of Major Geographic Information
System Functions 2- 2
3.1 An Overview of EPA GIS Strategy Issues 3- 2
5.1 Relationship Between Surface Water Monitoring Data
and Program Purposes 5- 2
5,2 An Overview of Selected EPA and State Environmental
Agency GIS Applications 5- 6
5.3 Examples of How GIS Technology Can Benefit Program Management... 5-14
11
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1-1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The application of computer technology to environmental data management
and analysis has greatly benefited the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) in the past two decades. Modern environmental data management and
analysis practices now rely on a wide variety of computer hardware, software,
and telecommunications equipment. This document focuses on a specialized set
of environmental data management and analysis tools, called Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), which have the potential to enhance Agency program
management and environmental decision-making. GISs are decision-support
systems that can use spatial data to support interdisciplinary environmental
studies and facilitate cross media analysis with unique data integration and
display functions.
1.1 Purpose of This Document
The purpose of this document is to serve as a guideline both for EPA
managers who want to determine whether a GIS may be appropriate for their
program needs, and for managers who are "sold" on GIS technology and wish to
develop a specific GIS application. This guidelines document provides an
overview of GISs, discusses current and potential EPA and state GIS
applications, and summarizes pertinent GIS management and technical issues.
The Agency is currently in the midst of determining its overall GIS
needs and analyzing technical alternatives for an appropriate GIS
hardware/software/data architecture. This document, which is a joint product
of the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory at Las Vegas (EMSL-LV), the
Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM), and the Office of Policy,
Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE), should be used as a starting point for
further exploration.
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1.2 Intended Audience
The intended audience for these preliminary guidelines consists of EPA
program managers and staff who:
o want to know enough about GISs to determine whether the technology
can be of direct use to them, or
o want to learn about the important issues in acquiring, using, and
developing a GIS.
The document is intended to be useful for readers who have little background
in GIS technology and terminology.
1.3 Format of Document
This document is organized into five main sections:
o Chapter 1 Introduction
o Chapter 2 Geographic Information System Overview
o Chapter 3 EPA GIS Strategy
o Chapter 4 Management and Technical Considerations for Planning a
GIS Implementation
o Chapter 5 Application of GISs to EPA Programs
Chapter 1, the current section, provides a general introduction to the
document, while Chapter 2 functions as a GIS primer. It introduces the
non-technical reader to GIS capabilities and terminology. Chapter 3
delineates some strategic GIS issues which have Agency-wide implications.
Chapter 4 discusses management and technical issues which may be of concern to
program offices and regions as they consider developing GIS applications.
Finally, Chapter 5 reviews current and potential applications of GISs in
selected states and at EPA.
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2.0 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Geographic Information Systems provide data input, storage, manipulation,
analysis and display capabilities for geographic, cultural, political,
environmental and statistical data in a common spatial framework. The data
analyzed are a collection of spatial information (represented by points, lines
and areas) and their associated attributes (characteristics of the features
which the points, lines, and polygons represent). Examples of point data may
include drinking water wells, dams, monitoring stations, and mountain peaks.
Lines are commonly used to represent rivers, roads, or contours. Soil classes,
crop types, political jurisdictions, and drainage basins are represented as
area or polygon data. Some sources of data for GISs include maps, aerial
photographs, censuses, crop records, field notes, satellite photos and
meteorological records.
The advent of sophisticated computers with mass digital data storage
devices has facilitated the integration of spatial data analysis, statistics,
and computer graphics into comprehensive "turnkey" geographic information
systems. GIS technology bridges the disciplines of computer science (e.g.,
image processing and pattern recognition), information management, cartography,
and environmental management. The geographic information system is
distinguished from other forms of information systems by its ability to perform
spatial analysis.
There are many kinds of GIS turnkey systems. Some overlap exists in
terms of their capabilities. Since technology and software are constantly
changing, it is probable that vendors will be able to add extra capabilities
without adding substantially to prices in the near future. One significant
technology change during the last several years has been the availability of
microcomputer-based GISs. These systems, although limited in terms of algorithm
capabilities and computer processing speed, offer viable alternatives to the
more expensive mini and mainframe systems. Selection of an appropriate system
or collection of software tools must be linked to spatial data analysis needs.
A synthesis of the major GIS functions as discussed in this section is
presented in exhibit 2.1.
-------
Exhibit:
An Overview of
Major Geographic Information System Functions
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Analytic Method
DATA INPUT
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NEWLY ACQUIRED SPATIAL DATA
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2.1 Spatial Data Features
The geographic location of each data item (or "attribute") is a key
identifier used to describe and organize data in a GIS. Maintaining the
integrity of this spatial descriptor as part of the data base record permits
normal data base management system operations and adds the capability to
manipulate and analyze data geographically. The concept of data analysis in
relation to geographic position is commonly encountered in map reading.
Conventional maps are used in environmental analysis and natural resource
management for numerous purposes.
One frequently used analytical approach is to assign colors or patterns
to multiple map themes and overlay them with colored transparencies to reveal
spatial relationships. This process of overlaying maps is a ma.ior function of
a GIS. GISs also provide other analyses, including cross tabulations of data,
attribute selections, Boolean combinations, modeling and customized displays.
For example, a map of water well locations may be digitized using an x, y
Cartesian coordinate system. Well attributes such as depth to water, depth to
bedrock, water quality per 100-foot increments or well diameter may be attached
to each well record in a relational data base. The GIS can then generate maps
and associated tabular reports for unique subsets of the data (e.g., only wells
located in areas where the aquifer surface is less than 200 feet deep, with a
salt content greater than 1200 ppm, and within 500 feet of each other).
Geographic data can be represented using either of two formats —
*'"
raster/grid gr vpr-tnr/pnlygpji— ^ia£a — structures. Raster/grid data refers to
attribute values and spatial references tied to specific x, y intersections or
grids in space (e.g., latitude/longitude). Fine grid spacing allows high
resolution, and good definition of spatial characteristics. Scale is also
important in grid spacing since large scale (small area) studies require higher
levels of accuracy and finer grid spacing. In contrast, small scale (larger
area) studies do not require rasters or grids in such fine detail.
Vector/polygon data structures, on the other hand, describe unique lines or
forms of geographic features. A lake, for example, can be described by the
coordinates which comprise the circumference of the outer lake boundary and can
be captured and stored in the GIS as a "tracing" of these features. The
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2-4
geographic attributes of the lake may remain constant even as the resolution of
the lake boundary coordinates changes.
The advantages of raster/grid data structures over vector/polygon
structures include low cost for computation, ease of comparison between data
layers, and relative ease of data overlaying to generate integrated data sets.
The benefits associated with vector/polygon data structures include enhanced
spatial accuracy, more "correct" feature descriptions, and compatibility with
traditional paper map descriptions of geographic features. The difficulties
encountered with vector/polygon data structures include more complex
computational requirements (with concurrent higher costs) due to increased
geometric complexity. Consequently, some GISs have the capability to handle
both data structures, while others are restricted to only raster/grid or
vector/polygon.
2.2 Data Input
The data entered into a GIS often include spatial data from maps, remote
sensors (aerial photography and satellite imagery), and environmental
monitoring. GISs require entry of two distinct types of data: geographic
references and attributes. Geographic reference data are the coordinates
which describe the location of spatial information. This type of data entry
usually occurs via a process known as digitization. A special peripheral
device ~ a digitizer « is used to convert a drawing or map into a digital
format. Most GIS projects require a large digitization data input process
consuming many man-hours of effort. Attribute data entry (e.g., of water
quality parametric values) often occurs via key-entry at a terminal, reading a
magnetic tape, or downloading from a separate computer system (e.g., using a
modem and telecommunication line to extract selected STORET parameter values
from the EPA NCC IBM mainframe).
Since data which form the GIS data base often come from different
sources, and since digitization may be done by staff with varying levels of
skill, most GIS data base development efforts involve extensive levels of
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quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). An Initial and ongoing
commitment to data quality is generally rewarded by confidence in the graphical
and analytical results of the GIS.
2.3 Data Base Management and Data Storage
The characteristic which distinguishes a GIS from other data base
management systems and manual map overlay procedures is the way a GIS stores
the spatial data and makes it available for user access and analysis. Derived
maps and data sets may become part of the GIS data base in a feedback process
that permits future retrieval and display without rerunning the analysis
procedure. These map and data layers can be superimposed during analysis to
produce various map products with the GIS information display functions. This
data generation process requires special spatial analysis and tabulation
capabilities provided through the data base management system. Since the
analysis and processing limits of each GIS vary from vendor to vendor, the
anticipated analytical methods and data base management requirements should be
well understood before selecting a particular system.
Efficient data storage organizes the spatial data in a format which
permits rapid and accurate updates and corrections to the data base. Data
storage refers to how the data formats and structures are supported during data
operations. Frequently a data dictionary is used to organize a data base and
record information about the geographic and attribute information in the
system. Some of the information stored " about data bases includes data
structures, formats, and access methods. Data dictionaries can be very helpful
and important tools, especially for managing active and growing geographic
information systems.
2.4 Data Manipulation and Analysis
The GIS data base management system provides the ability to query,
manipulate, and extract both geographic reference and attribute data. One of
the major functions of a GIS is the analysis of multiple layers of data in a
selected geographic area. With a GIS, standard statistical manipulations of
attribute data are possible, as are boolean queries of attribute data files,
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2-6
generation of mean and standard deviation for numerical data ranges, and
classification of data into mappable units. Other CIS data manipulation and
analysis capabilities include querying unique spatial distributions of data and
asking questions about data to display the unique spatial arrangements which
meet a specific criterion.
2.5 Information Display
Information display includes the representation both of raw data and of
the results of data manipulation and analysis. Outputs fall into several
categories: maps, charts, graphs, surface models, listings, and hybrid
representations. The form in which outputs are presented (medium of
presentation) also varies, and includes: CRT images (monochrome or color),
color slides (from virtual images or directly from graphic bit planes), film
plots (print-ready masters), video disk images (requiring digital to analog
image conversion), floppy disks of digital image data, microfilm (or "fiche")
copies of graphic images, or printed hard copy graphics.
It is important to realize that outputs (as described above) are distinct
from spatial analysis. Geographic/spatial analysis of data usually precedes
data display, although initial display of "raw" data can serve as a useful
hypothesis tester for attribute and/or spatial data analysis. A comprehensive
geographic information system supports various computer -mapping/graphics
peripherals that provide most of the types of outputs described above.
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3.0 EPA 6IS STRATEGY
These guidelines represent a first step in developing an Agency-wide
strategy for GIS acquisition and applications, technology development,
technical support and training, data, and related resources. This strategy is
intended to provide an overall organizational framework in which
administrative offices, regions, program offices, research laboratories, and
supporting contractors can address independent and cooperative needs for GIS.
The rapidly evolving nature of GIS technology and its growing importance to
environmental monitoring, analysis, management, and decision-making makes an
Agency-wide GIS strategy and organizational framework increasingly important.
A coordinated EPA strategy is also necessary to maximize the payoffs from
Agency investments, since acquisition and implementation of this specialized
information management technology will be expensive. The strategy discussed
here is preliminary in nature and will be refined as further experience is
gained in the technology.
This EPA GIS Strategy chapter discusses the four major_steps which EPA
should take to devejop a^ coherent GIS strategy./ The steps are: identify
organizational roles and responsibilities, define Agency-wide GIS
requirements, establish Agency-wide GIS standards, and provide management and
technical guidance, support and assistance. \ Figure 3.1 shows a picture of
. ^ —_—• _J
some—of~~Tfiecritical issues which will likely arise as EPA develops its GIS
strategy.
3.1 Identify Organizational Roles and Responsibilities
EPA program offices and regions have primary responsibility for
analyzing and implementing appropriate GIS applications. OIRM, OPPE, and
EMSL-LV will provide an overall management framework, technical support, and
assistance to GIS users.
Numerous Agency offices have a significant role in developing an EPA GIS
strategy. Key roles and responsibilities have tentatively been identified for
EPA program offices, the Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM),
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Exhibit 3.1
An Overview of EPA GIS Strategy Issues
DATA ACCESS
EPA
STORET, IRIS
HWDMS/RICRIS
CERCLIS, FINDS,
etc.
OTHER AGENCIES
USGS (WATSTORE and
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States
MANAGEMENT AND
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Documentation
SPATIAL DATA
REQUIREMENTS
DATA MANIPULATION AND ANALYSIS
Statistics, Models, Graphics, etc
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3-3
the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory at Las Vegas (EMSL-LV), and
the Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation (OPPE). Although specific,
binding responsibilities would need to be formalized through communication
between all involved parties, the following section outlines likely
organizational roles.
Individual program offices and regions are responsible for identifying
specific programmatic GIS requirements and implementing appropriate CIS
technology, systems, and databases consistent with EPA GIS policies and
guidelines. OIRM, EMSL-LV and OPPE have overall Agency-wide responsibilities
for GIS in the areas of policy, training, technical support, technology
development, research, standards development, and GIS information collection
and dissemination.
Program offices and regions are responsible for:
o Identifying specific programmatic requirements for GIS technology,
systems, data, training, research and development, and related
agency resources.
o Developing GIS capabilities consistent with agency-wide policies and
guidelines.
OIRM's responsibilities include:
o Developing and issuing GIS policy in accordance with all applicable
Federal laws, regulations, and executive orders.
o Managing GIS information resources, functions and activities within
EPA, in association with the appropriate lead offices and programs.
o Developing and publishing GIS acquisition and implementation
guidance for the Agency.
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3-4
o Coordinating with other Federal agencies, State offices, and/or
private organizations for the purpose of sharing GIS .applications
and data bases.
OPPE is responsible for:
o Assisting OIRM in coordinating GIS technology development and use
throughout the Agency and within the various programs.
o Working with appropriate EPA program offices (e.g., ORD, OSWER,
etc.) to provide assistance to Agency programs for incorporating GIS
technology into their decision-making process.
o Evaluating the effectiveness of GIS technology in supporting program
decision-making.
EMSL-LV is to fulfill responsibilities for:
o Providing OIRM and OPPE with GIS technical assistance to support
development of Agency GIS policy, guidelines and procedures.
o Assisting the Agency by providing GIS technical expertise and
support.
g Conducting applications research in GIS technology.
o Keeping pace with developments and innovations in GIS and related
technology for environmental monitoring.
o Developing and promulgating Quality Assurance/Quality Control
(QA/QC) standards and guidelines for GIS data.
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3.2 Define Agency-Wide GIS Requirements
EPA's overall GIS strategy and specific GIS applications must be based on
mission-based requirements and lead to specific improvements in Agency
effectiveness and efficiency.
A second step in developing an EPA GIS strategy is to define Agency-wide
GIS requirements. It will be necessary to analyze the Agency's needs for
spatial data, define the role of GIS technology and systems in environmental
decision-making, and determine geoprocessing requirements.
Agency functional requirements may include specifications for: map
digitizing, editing, and data structuring; data entry and management; map
production, manipulation, and analysis; map and data library management;
statistics; interfaces to modeling; graphics production; and user interfaces.
Agency guidance and technical support issues include: training; system and
software documentation; technical support; specialized algorithm development;
system and data integration; hardware and software maintenance; and staffing.
Key Agency organizational and technical issues that need to be addressed
include:
o Single media versus multimedia applications and program office
mission responsibilities;
o Centralized database, software, and systems development/operation
versus decentralized program office development and operation;
o Multipurpose GIS versus specialized geoprocessing;
o GIS and its interrelationship with EPA headquarters, EPA regions and
state programs;
o Capability of existing Agency data to be used for geographic
analyses, and required data base modifications;
o Data sharing, distributed processing, telecommunications, remote
access by the public; and
o Appropriate levels of GIS technology, systems, and support
commensurate with levels of environmental decision-making.
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3.3 Establish Agency-Wide GIS Standards
All EPA 6IS applications must be implemented in accordance with
appropriate standards for hardware, software, data, and other GIS components
to facilitate sharing, flexibility, and efficiency.
A third strategic step is the development of Agency-wide GIS standards.
Whenever possible, previously established Agency standards should be followed,
but the unique characteristics of GIS technology will require establishing
additional standards. Since spatial data play a significant role in GIS
applications, spatial data standards need to be established for:
o digital spatial data organization
o data georeference definitions
o data interchange formats
o data feature type definitions
o data quality
Other critical standards considerations include: software programming
languages (e.g., Fortran or C); spatial data management systems and query
languages; graphics support to facilitate the transfer of graphics software to
different hardware environments or the output of graphics to a range of output
devices from a single application (e.g., Graphics Kernel System (GKS) or
Initial Graphics Exchange System (IGES)); GIS software packages (e.g.,
ARC/INFO, GRASS, AUTOGIS, or INFORMAP); GIS resident hardware systems (e.g.,
DEC, IBM, PRIME) for facilitating portability or conversion of GIS
applications to different hardware environments; and telecommunications.
In some cases, it will not be appropriate for the Agency to promote
standards but rather provide guidance. For software and systems
documentation, the long term viability of GIS software in a dynamic
technological environment can be facilitated through use of ANSI software
standards. Another area requiring Agency-wide guidance may be GIS training.
Centralized GIS training may prove to be a useful and cost-effective strategy
for disseminating specialized GIS knowledge to program offices.
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EPA should also use existing practical experience within the Agency, other
Federal agencies (e.g., BLM, USGS, SCS), industry and academia to develop
standards which promote the effective use of GIS technology and facilitate
access to GIS capabilities by program offices. Program and research offices
in the Agency should be consulted throughout the development of GIS standards.
3.4 Provide Management and Technical Guidance
EPA program offices and regions should be supported by "centers of
excellence" In GIS planning, acquisition, Implementation, and operations.
The final EPA GIS strategy issue revolves around the provision of
management and technical guidance to program managers considering the
application of GIS for environmental monitoring, management, and
decision-making. EMSL-LV has developed expertise in GIS applications through
a number of studies, and will function as the Agency's first "center of
excellence" to provide detailed GIS assistance to program staff. This
assistance will cover the full lifecycle of GIS applications, from initial
planning to final operations.
EMSL-LV will provide other parts of the Agency with the benefits of its
experiences with:
o spatial data and development of GIS data bases;
o GIS technologies, techniques, and systems; and
o GIS support structures and organizational impacts.
The guidance offered by the Agency's center of excellence will facilitate
development of GIS implementations throughout the Agency. The particular
types of support that EMSL-LV may offer include:
o providing technical support in the use of GIS software;
o developing user-friendly software tools (macros) to perform
repetitive GIS tasks;
o assisting program staff in evaluating and selecting appropriate GIS
software and peripheral equipment (e.g., digitizers, plotters,
graphics display devices);
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3-8
o developing methods to extract geo-referenced data from EPA systems
and reformat them into GIS formats;
-~ .._ — _
o serving as a "clearinghouse" to guide Agency offices to sources and
already-purchased copies of spatial data;
o conducting training sessions, tutorials, and workshops;
o developing and documenting interfaces between important models and
GIS software;
o keeping pace with developments and innovations in GIS and related
technologies for environmental monitoring; and
o developing and promulgating quality assurance/quality control (QA/AC)
standards and guidelines for GIS data.
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4-1
4.0 MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
FOR PLANNING A GIS IMPLEMENTATION
This chapter presents some considerations on which EPA regions and program
offices should focus while planning their development of a GIS application.
Management considerations are addressed first, then technical considerations
are presented. Finally, the chapter concludes with key questions which can
help focus attention on the critical managerial and technical issues in GIS
implementation.
The considerations presented in this chapter do not constitute a final
"cookbook" detailing how to implement a GIS. The considerations do, however,
present a good starting point for further refinement as the Agency makes
progress in developing an overall GIS strategy and framework.
4.1 Management Considerations
The Agency recognizes that numerous program offices and regions may want
to benefit from GIS applications. This section discusses key considerations
that must be addressed by program management desiring GIS support. This
section may help program managers judiciously plan for GIS implementation.
The broad categories of considerations discussed include:
o Mission-based planning objectives
o Scope of the GIS application
o Identification of existing data sources
o Staffing requirements
o Quality assurance
o Life cycle/staffing costs.
4.1.1 Mission-based Planning Objectives
Initially, the program offices, regions, and research laboratories must
thoroughly evaluate their GIS needs before attempting to acquire a system.
Identification of how program activities and decision-making (e.g., issuance
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4-2
of RCRA permits for a TSD facility) will be improved with GIS tools is
mandatory. A thorough analysis of needs requires answers to the following
questions:
o What Agency activities will be supported by the proposed GIS
activity?
o How will these program activities be supported?
o What are the anticipated benefits of these GIS activities
(timeliness, workload, and enhanced management)?
o How can these GIS applications also provide cross-program
assistance?
4.1.2 Scope of the GIS Application
In beginning to plan a GIS implementation, a program office or region
should define the scope of its GIS needs. This means that managers should
determine or take active roles in decisions relating to the:
o number of anticipated users
o number and types of decisions to be supported by the GIS
o geographic and programmatic areas to be covered by the GIS.
o types of data required by the GIS.
These are among the crucial decisions which set the scope of the GIS
application and determine the utility and versatility of the final product.
4.1.3 Identification of Existing Data Sources
The geographic boundaries and scale of data required in the proposed GIS
program need to be detailed. They must be considered in conjunction with the
types of data that will be used in the system and the status of these data.
Some of the data will probably already exist in computerized formats, while
other data will be manual files in a variety of conditions (e.g., hand-drawn
maps and technical reports). The manual files will have to be computerized
using the GIS software/hardware (e.g..digitizer), while the computerized files
will have to be converted to the GIS format. In addition, datasets must be
reviewed to determine which files/fields need to be computerized and which
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4-3
ones, if any, can be eliminated. During this dataset inventory phase,
identification of requirements for entirely new data should also occur. It is
expected that the program will be able, in a parallel fashion, to describe
these datasets in detail and provide a synopsis of their expected use.
4.1.4 Staffing Requirements
The organizational environment in which the GIS will function depends on
the existing ADP support services and potential for incorporating the GIS into
an existing ADP support structure. For example, the choice between the use of
a stand alone dedicated system versus one that is "added on" to an existing
computer system will change the staffing level and expertise required.
Personnel required to operate the GIS may include computer system managers,
computer operators, data analysts, programmers, supervisors, environmental
scientists, cartographers, and specific program experts. Typically, full-time
computer system managers and/or operators will be needed for mainframes and
large minicomputers. The number of technicians required will depend on the
amount of processing to be done, budget constraints, and time allocated for
completion of the initial database.
It is extremely important to also have on hand computer-literate program
management staff who are experienced with Agency regulatory and scientific
requirements. GIS projects are multidisciplinary in nature, and are most
successful when developed by multidisciplinary teams.
4.1.5 Quality Assurance
The issue of quality assurance must be addressed in the early phase of
GIS data base planning. Program managers must determine if incorporation of
existing QA measures for already existing data is sufficient. Furthermore, QA
standards will also have to be established for newly acquired data. Data
acquired from other data bases should always be thoroughly examined to reveal
QA problems. These tasks should become the responsibility of appropriate QA
and GIS staff and follow previously established Agency data quality
objectives.
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4-4
The quality assurance procedures for each GIS application must reflect a
conscious decision, on the part of management, as to the level of data quality
necessary to support decision-making. Required levels of data quality can
vary, depending on the decisions which the GIS will support (e.g., data
quality may have to be higher to support permitting decisions than to support
region-wide planning and assessment). Quality indicators in the GIS data base
or fields which identify data sources should be considered as means of
improving quality assurance.
4.1.6 Life Cycle/Staffing Costs
The implementation of a GIS system includes numerous costs associated
with equipment purchase, installation, database development, etc. In
estimating costs, the program must pay particular attention to software and
hardware prices and the additional costs of:
o Upgrade of CPU or purchase of new CPU to support GIS applications
o Shipping of hardware
o Modifications to existing hardware or purchase of new hardware
o Site preparation and installation
o Training
o Quality assurance
o Data gathering and updating
o Supplemental utility programs
o Regular maintenance to both hardware and software
o System upgrades.
Also included in this cost estimate are required resources for the
manpower staffing. These staffing requirements must be converted to hourly
costs. For example, a 40 man-year effort to create the working database can
be accomplished over a four year period with 10 programmers/analysts or over
10 years with 4 programmers/ analysts. The total staffing costs will vary
significantly between the two scenarios.
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4-5
4.2 Technical Considerations
A number of technical issues must be addressed while planning for 6IS
implementation. This section highlights the following key technical
considerations:
o Data acquisition
o Data input
o Data access, manipulation and analysis
o Quality assurance
o Data updates and maintenance
o Storage requirements
o User access and security
o Technical environment
4.2.1 Data Acquisition
Data loaded into the GIS may come from a multitude of sources. These
data may have been newly collected from environmental observations or acquired
from existing data bases. In either case, decisions will have to be made
concerning quality assurance of the data before incorporation into the GIS.
The spatial data used in the GIS will contain attributes such as raw
data values, test scores, or indices that must meet GIS data input formats. In
addition, the spatial data itself may be in the form of published maps,
printed tables, digital map attributes or digital tabular files.
Incorporation of data attributes such as source, scale, projection, geographic
location, year of acquisition, and reliability must be defined and
standardized prior to data loading.
4.2.2 Data Input
Most GIS projects require significant data input efforts which consume
many man-hours. The method of data input can include downloading, digitizing,
scanning and keyboard entry. The selection of a data input process should be
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4-6
filored to the volume of data requiring input, the peripherals supported by
the GIS, and manpower and time constraints. Digitizing requires many
man-hours of tedious work and establishment of input protocols and quality
assurance measures to maintain acceptable data quality standards. Loading
data into the GIS from other data bases (e.g., STORE!) is often complicated by
a need to reformat the data to comply with the host computer or GIS data
record format. Graphic data is commonly the most difficult data to reformat.
Anticipation of format conversion needs is required for realistic GIS data
input planning since format conversion represents substantial levels of effort
by programming and technical staff. When data are acquired from manual files
of historic or newly collected spatial data, and then automated in-house, the
data input process is generally less complicated because data formats are well
understood.
4.2.3 Data Access. Manipulation and Analysis
Data access and manipulation functions permit retrieval of specific data
any attribute or combination of attributes. Well-designed DBMS software
generally provides these capabilities by using existing structured queries.
However, custom queries are often needed and require DBMS software
modification.
A map library should provide rapid indexing to all digital maps within
the data base. This library can be maintained as an on-line index and provide
the user the capability to query by project identification, geographic area,
or place name. The need for a map library increases as the size and
complexity of a GIS data base grows.
Use of a data dictionary will assist in maintaining an Inventory of map
and other spatial data sources used in the GIS. Additionally, QA standards,
Integrity and data explanation are well served by the use of a data
dictionary. A description of data attributes for each map, photo, or image
used in the GIS data base can be catalogued and described in text form.
Additionally, quality assurance standards can be included in the data
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4-7
^Jictionary. Experience shows that insufficient documentation may handicap CIS
operation. An on-line data dictionary can be part of the GIS data base and
provide the user with any of the preceding information upon request.
Data manipulation can also include tabular and graphic display of the
GIS data. Tables and listings may be displayed and printed on CRTs, printers
or plotters. Data display is an important step for data base verification
and subsequent data analysis.
GIS data analysis requires extensive computer processing for calculating
areas, distances, buffers, volumes, overlays, frequency occurrences and
Boolean combinations. The power and flexibility of the GIS become readily
apparent during these analysis processes. Proper data base design will
fulfill user expectations and avoid disillusionment.
Modeling of spatial data is often an important program analytical need.
The GIS may contain modeling algorithms, or modeling may be conducted in an
independent external computer environment. When using a separate system for
modeling, results can be incorporated into the GIS through the input methods
discussed above and retained as part of the GIS data base for other analysis
objectives.
4.2.4 Quality Assurance
Quality assurance (QA) ensures that acquired data meet acceptable data
quality standards and maintains data integrity throughout GIS data processing.
The spatial data incorporated into the GIS must be verified to ensure proper
formatting. Using reformatted data increases the risk of data conversion
errors. Program management and GIS staff must determine what level of QA is
needed for acceptable data quality. This determination dictates what data
validation processes are required in the GIS. Data quality standards must be
maintained throughout data retrieval, display, analysis and modeling
functions. During data retrieval and display, mechanisms for detecting errors
in base data can ensure improved data quality. Additionally, QA algorithms
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4-8
In be used to check erroneous data ranges and values. It 1s also necessary
that data maintenance activities employ QA standards (e.g., scheduled
backups).
4.2.5 Data Updates and Maintenance
A GIS is a dynamic decision-support system that requires data updating
and revision. Updates should not be confused with data validation corrections
that are associated with QA actions. Updates are provided to maintain the
currency and utility of the data base. Changes to the GIS data records should
only be permitted by authorized staff. Scheduled updates should occur during
specified periods to reduce the possibility of inadvertent alteration of the
data base. Proper data maintenance—peqtrtres tne perio^tc—sy*iejn backup
procedures common to all J^f^fnstallations.
Attention /ihould be paid to reciprocities in data exchange. When data
'are obtained from other systems and are found to be in error, every attempt
rtiould be made to correct the error in the source data base as well as in the
emphasizing communication back to the managers of
source systems from which "data—are—extradtfid*—-£i£*—carscontribute
significantly to the minimization of data quality problems at the Agency and
elsewhere.
4.2.6 Storage Requirements
Realistic understanding of data storage requirements is important to the
long term success of the GIS effort. Disk storage provides the most
accessible but most expensive form of data storage. Often in a multiple
hardware/software environment, competition for disk storage becomes keen as
disk storage space becomes limited by growth in users and data bases. Tape
storage is often a viable alternative but problems may be encountered with
physical storage demands and tape reading delays. Tapes quickly fill limited
shelf space and may become a major handling and storage task. There are
certain risks associated with the transfer of information from disk to tape —
losing or misreading records is possible.
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4-9
Alternative mass storage devices such as laser disks may relieve some of
the on-line data storage bottlenecks. However, this is a relatively new
technology, and is not an available add-on option with all GISs. These
storage requirement issues should be addressed during both the management life
cycle planning and the technical requirement phases of GIS implementation
planning.
4.2.7 User Access and Security
Potential users include GIS staff, program managers, scientists and the
public. Data base access should be carefully evaluated to determine the level
of data base access each user needs. The ability to update, copy and delete
data is not needed by all users. Restricting certain users to "read only"
privileges is sometimes appropriate. Those users who manage the GIS and are
involved with data base development should have a high level of access.
4.2.8 Technical Environment
Numerous hardware and software requirements must be specifically
identified according to the program activities to be supported, such as:
o Amount of computer memory and storage required;
o Number and kinds of peripherals needed;
o Size and number of data sets to be incorporated into the GIS;
o Ability to use existing operating systems, and add-on software/
hardware; and
o Predicted software/hardware demand by task and program (days per
week, hours per day).
Furthermore, if the GIS is to be created by adding software and
peripherals to an existing computer, additional requirements for data
communications and device compatibility may include:
o MuHi-user support and the ability to expand the number of ports as
user demands grow, and
o Ability to access data in a timely fashion (either batch or
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4-10
Interactively), perhaps via remote workstations.
o Ability to support multiple graphics output devices of different
types and makes (e.g., plotters, graphics terminals, printers).
4.3 Guidance for Focusing on the Critical Managerial and Technical Issues
for GIS Implementation
A well planned management approach for implementing GIS technology is
necessary for ensuring development of successful GIS program applications.
This series of questions and corresponding discussion is provided to help
program managers focus on the critical managerial and technical issues
associated with GIS implementation.
1. What types of data should be entered into the GIS, and what addi-
tional data should be collected? Just because certain types of data have been
collected does not justify their entry into a database. Furthermore, the
gathering of new types of data should not occur merely because a new tool is
available to process that data.
2. Should database development be performed in-house or contracted?
Contracting has several advantages: the database may be completed sooner,
funds for contracting may be more readily available than manpower * and
contracting the digitizing may alleviate the need for data entry hardware
and/or software. However, when digitizing is performed by a contractor, any
errors on the maps given to the contractor will find their way into the
digital database. If users familiar with the data do the digitizing, such
errors may be caught prior to digitizing. Also, in-house digitizing produces
trained operators, making the tasks of updating and editing less difficult.
3. What type of data validation needs to be incorporated into the
creation of the data base? Data validation is a matter often confronted in
the justification and implementation of a GIS. The process of computerizing
information will often reveal data errors that may have been present, but
unnoticed, for some time. For example, when maps of adjacent land parcels are
overlaid by a computer for the first time, discrepancies in common boundaries
may be noticed. The initial response to the discovery of such errors may be a
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4-11
costly attempt to improve the accuracy of the data. Some questions that
should be asked first are:
— Are the data accurate enough?
— In the absence of a GIS, would the data be accurate enough?
— What costs might be incurred because of inaccurate data?
— Are inaccurate data better than none?
— What is the marginal cost of improving accuracy/precision?
In the above example, boundary line errors could be corrected by
conducting a new land survey or redrafting the maps to a common base,
solutions that are both costly.
4. How important is accuracy compared to consistency and appearance?
In order to accurately reference a map of a tract of land to known ground
coordinates, the shape, orientation, or total area of the tract as mapped may
change. A user may be forced to choose between keeping the appearance and
acreage of a tract map consistent with legal records, or adjusting the map to
gain locational accuracy.
5. Should more time be taken to build a database that can be accessed
efficiently, or should the database be completed more quickly at the expense
of subsequent data analysis? Because of technical considerations regarding
file formats and database structures, shortcuts taken during database
development can lead to difficulty in the later access of that data.
Conversely, digitization procedures that may seem tedious and time-consuming
can enhance the efficiency of later processing steps.
6. What is the desired spatial resolution of the database? For
example, in a map of water bodies, one may have many small map units repre-
senting small streams, or fewer large map units representing larger rivers.
The choice of map unit size will influence the size of the resultant
computerized database as well as its variability, accuracy, and precision.
The size of the minimum mapping unit should reflect the eventual use of the
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4-12
data. Generally, higher level managers are satisfied with information in a
broader, more general form; lower level managers may require more detailed
fine-resolution data.
7. Is the data base anticipated to be static, or are additions and
deletions anticipated? The answer to this question will have a significant
impact on the development of file-naming conventions and coding schemes used
to represent attributes associated with maps. It is important to devise a
coding system that provides enough flexibility to accommodate changes while
meeting the constraints of a particular GIS. For example, assigning code
numbers or names to map features when digitizing will have a significant
impact on the ease with which items may be later retrieved from the database.
Questions regarding coding systems will arise during pilot projects and are
best resolved through consultation with vendors and other organizations
experienced with the same GIS.
8. How should the digitizing effort be prioritized? Three general
approaches should be considered. The first is the application-oriented
approach, which involves digitizing data as specific analysis needs arise. In
this way, a database is built in pieces in response to certain projects or
problems. A second approach is to build a comprehensive database for the
entire area to be managed, proceeding by geographic or administrative areas.
This is especially useful when an organization has an administrative hierarchy
that reflects geographic regions. This approach provides a useful set of data
for each region in turn, allowing regional users to begin to use the GIS one
at a time. The third approach is to build the comprehensive database by
categories. For example, Superfund site inventory data could be digitized for
an entire region, then soils information, political boundaries, hydrology,
etc., added in sequence. Using this approach, numerous users get access to a
portion of the database at the same time.
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5-1
5.0 APPLICATION OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO EPA PROGRAMS
This chapter describes the value of GISs in improving program management
and decision-making. First, the role of a GIS in program decision-making is
discussed. Next, this chapter presents an overview of selected EPA and State
environmental agency GIS applications and their associated information needs
and programmatic benefits. Lastly, some potential GIS applications are
presented for selected Agency programs.
Four case studies, one discussing ground-water and pesticides in Florida,
another dealing with Region IV's use of GIS for integrated environmental
analyses, and two describing EMSL-Las Vegas applications in the San Gabriel
Basin and Chattanooga, are presented as Appendices to show specific examples of
how GISs are used in program activities and decision-making.
5.1 GIS and Decision-Making
To properly understand the role of GIS applications within EPA, it is
necessary to first understand how data and information are used in program
activities. Agency programs use numerous types of environmental and related
data obtained from a variety of sources. This information may include an
assortment of historic scientific reports available in manual files, data
extracted from current EPA systems (e.g., STORET, PCS) or other state and
Federal data bases (e.g., Soil Conservation Service soil maps), or the results
of other monitoring activities (e.g., sediment or biological samples).
An examination of the role of surface water monitoring data in water
program activities illustrates how data is used for decision-making. Exhibit
5.1 summarizes how surface water monitoring data are used for program
activities and where a GIS can be used. Monitoring of surface water is
conducted to collect and analyze numerous types od data. Both ambient data
(information about water quality conditions and trends) and source monitoring
data (information about the kinds and quantities of pollutants entering the
aquatic ecosystem from specific point dischargers) are extensively collected
throughout the Agency.
-------
Relationship Between Surface Water Monitoring Data
and Program Purposes and Role of a GIS
Maintain
and
Enhance
U.S.
Waters
PROGRAM PURPOSE
Ambient Water Quality
• Water Quality
• Sample Protocol
• Analytic Method
Living Resources
Source Effluent Water Quality
Related Data
• Site Descriptors
• Land Cover/Land Use
• Health Effects
en
i
-------
5-3
The overall goal of the surface water monitoring program is to identify
and characterize the nature, extent and likely causes of water quality
problems. The Office of Water uses this information to make decisions, set
priorities and develop plans to address these problems. The monitoring program
also collects data to determine if pollution controls have been effective or if
they need to be revised. Monitoring data are also used to report on the
effectiveness of Agency programs to EPA policy makers, Congress, and the
public.
For effective environmental decision-making, program priorities and
associated implementation plans should be based on water quality monitoring
information. GISs can provide these linkages by integrating and mapping data
which show water uses, water quality targets, in-stream pollutant
concentrations, pollutant discharges and compliance records over time for
specific water bodies. Decision-makers can then set priorities and develop
pollution control strategies based on this spatial information.
For example, integrating these data to provide pollutant profiles enables
"what-if" and sensitivity analyses. Such integrated spatial analyses, as
provided through GIS applications, can be used to determine emission and risk
implications of alternative control options when comparing various pollutants
and facilities within a watershed or larger area. Similarly, these analyses
can assist in choosing the highest payoff control option within a regulatory or
standard setting context. The types of decisions will vary according to
management level, organizational level and geographic area of responsibility,
but all levels will benefit from improved understanding of the spatial
distribution of pollution sources and effects.
In summary, the benefits realized from use of a GIS in Agency programs are
linked to spatial data integration (e.g., surface water quality data combined
with land use and NPDES data) and the capability to display and analyze these
data on maps at a common scale. Further details about these functions are
provided in the following sections.
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5-4
5.2 Selected Current GIS projects
Presently a large number of Federal agencies use GISs for resource
management (e.g., U.S. Geological Survey, Soil Conservation Service, National
Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, National Aeronautical
and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Bureau of Land Management, and the Tennessee Valley
Authority). GIS uses in these organizations are highly varied in terms of
geographic scope and type of application. Applications include:
o Land Use Planning
— assisting state and local governments in planning
and zoning
— mitigating development impacts on protected natural
areas
o Resource Management
~ forest and crop inventories
~ wetlands mapping
— wildlife habitat inventories and mapping
~ soil mapping
o Environmental Assessment
— mapping aquatic vegetation and water quality
— determining forest pest impacts
— determining fire damage to forest lands
— monitoring land use changes and impacts.
Several EPA programs and numerous state environmental agencies are also
presently involved in GIS applications. Three case studies, one discussing
ground-water and pesticides in Florida and two describing EMSL-Las Vegas
applications in the San Gabriel Valley and Chattanooga, provide examples of how
GISs can assist program management. Exhibit 5.2 gives an overview of some
-------
5-5
agency applications. One major benefit common to all these applications is
that the GIS provides a centralized and integrated archive of information.
Overall, the information contained in Exhibit 5.2 shows that a GIS can
improve program management in six broad categories:
o Improved access to Agency, state and contractor spatial data
o Better integration of environmental information for
cross-media and cross-program data analysis
o Improved ability to determine status and trends of
environmental problems in specific geographic areas
o Improved risk assessment capabilities
o Improved ability to set priorities and target regulatory
actions with environmental data
o Better communication of environmental data in the form of
maps and spatial data overlays.
-------
Exhibit 5.2
An Overview of Selected EPA and State Environmental Agency GIS Applications
Organization
Minnesota State
Planning Agency
Minnesota
Pollution Control
Agency
Florida
Department of
Environmental
Regulation
ERL-
Program
Water
Water
Water
•o
K
•
Jg
06
•
a
C/J
t
•
•
System
ARC/INFO
Intergraph
ARC/INFO
Data Types/Sources
Census
Sewer Pipe Discharges
STORET
Point Source Discharges
Non-point Source Discharge;
Cf\\\
"• MJII
~* rmnicUi
__ cl /in/*
* alLJJJC
-- land cover
-- hydrology
STORET Water Quality Data
Reach File Supplemented
With Hydrographic Data
Water Quality (National
Lakes Survey)
Land Cover/Land Use
Soils
Depth to Bedrock
Geology
Purpose
'
Develop Water Quality Controls
-- Identify new sewer service needs
and sewer maintenance priorities
Conduct Water Quality Assessment
— Determine conditions and trends
~ Determine nature and extent of impact
— Identify violations
-- Identify waters needing controls
- Report on conditions and trends
(305b report)
Develop Water Quality Controls
-- Implement non-point source
controls in priority watersheds
Conduct Water Quality Assessment
-- Report on conditions and trends
(305b report)
- Establish priorities for water
quality monitoring and controls
Conduct Assessment of Acid Rain
Impact on Water Bodies
-- Determine conditions and trends
-- Determine nature and extent of
impact
-- Report on conditions
-- Establish priorities for control
measures
in
cr>
-------
An Overview of Selected EPA and State Environmental Agency GIS Applications
(Cont'd.)
Organization
EPA Region III
ESD
Illinois Department
of Conservation
Minnesota State
Planning Agency
Massachusetts
Hazardous Waste
Facility Site
Safety Council
Region IV
Policy and
Management
Division
Program
Wetlands
Wetlands
DOE
Nuclear
Waste
Siting
RCRA
RCRA/
Super fund
|
g
*!P>
S
•
•
1
c/j
•
•
•
System
Manual
Map
Overlay
ARC/INFO
ARC/INFO
ARC/INFO
ARC/INFO
Data Types
Land Use/Land Cover
National Wetland Inventory
Habitat and Natural Resource
Data (USFWS)
Geology
Surface Hydrology
Infrastructure (roads,
highways)
Land Use/Land Cover
Soil Type
Point-Source Parameters
Infrastructure
Air Photos
Soil Type
Hydrogeology
Land Use/Land Cover
Hydrogeology
Geography
Infrastructure
Wetlands (from USFWS)
Facility Data (from FINDS)
Public Water Supplies
Landfills
Land Use/Land Cover
Depth to Aquifer
Soil Porosity
RCRA/Superfiind Site
Locations
Wells
I lydrogeology
Demographic Data
>
Purpose
Conduct Wetlands Assessment
-- Identify and map valuable/threatened
wetlands
-- Establish priorities for future
program actions
Conduct Wetlands Assessment
— Predict/model potential impacts
-- Report on wetland conditions and
trends
Evaluate Potential Facility Sites
— Determine areas inappropriate for
nuclear waste sites
Identify Potential Facility Sites
— Predict potential impacts from
hazardous waste releases
— Recommend locations for
hazardous waste facility
Evaluate Solid/Hazardous Waste Sites
— Locate and prioriti/e sites based on
I IRS criteria
~ Target water supply well monitoring
-- Prioritize RCRA enforcement actions
en
i
-------
An Overview of Selected EPA and State Environmental Agency GIS Applications
(Cont'd.)
Organization
»
Minnesota State
Planning Agency
EMSL - Las Vegas
New Jersey
Department of
Environmental
Protection
New Jersey
Department of
Environmental
Protection
Program
Superfund
Superfund
San
Gabriel
Superfund
Air
6
•a
8
K
g
«cv
cto
«
to
3
•
•
•
•
- -
System
'
ARC/INFO
ARC/INFO
In-House
GIS
In-house
GIS
-" - <- - ; - ' - '" ' ,"
Datatypes
-.'-
Soils
Hydrogeology
Drinking Water Wells
Ground-water Quality
Ground-water Quality
Demographic
Land Use/Land Cover
Water Purveyor Districts
Aquifer Characteristics
Point Source (FINDS)
Soil Type
Geology
Hydrology
Epidemiological
Radon Measurements
Census
Soil
Geology
Topography 1
4 "" • ^ *" ••
Purpose
Conduct Remedial Investigations/
Feasibility Studies
— Identify contamination sources and
impacts
- Prioritize monitoring
Characterize San Gabriel Superfund
Sifp
— Predict extent of contamination
-- Identify priorities from RI/FS
Characterize RCRA/Superfund Sites
— Predict impacts
— Target permitting and enforcement
actions
Conduct Radon Problem Assessment
— Map nature and extent of known
naturally occuring radon
-- Map potential radon hazard areas
en
i
00
-------
An Overview of Selected EPA and State Environmental Agency GIS Applications
(Cont'd.)
4
Organization
Florida
Department of
Environmental
Regulation
Minnesota State
Planning Agency
Minnesota
Pollution Control
•Agency
Connecticut
Department of
Environmental
Protection
Program
•
Ground-
water/
Pesticides
Ground-
water
Ground-
water
\
I
K
g
&
o
&
9
*
••
System
Intergraph
ARC/INFO
ARC/INFO
- '- - :
Data Types
-
Well Water Quality
Land Use
Vulnerability (DRASTIC)
Well Samples
Water Bodies
Pesticide Application Sites
Well Logs/Drinking Water
MCL's
Ground-water Quality
Hydrogeology
Soil Types
Depth to Bedrock
Land Cover/Land Use
Waste Facilities
Ground-water Quality
Public Well Supplies
Conservation Areas
.,
Purpose
Conduct Ground- Water Assessment
-- Target wells for cleanup and
alternative water sources
— Integrate public and private well
water quality data
— Prioritize monitoring
Identify Contamination Sources
- Identify extent of EDB well
contamination
— Identify responsible panics and
initiate corrective action
Conduct Ground- Water Assessment
~ Determine conditions and trends
of ground-water supplies
- Identify areas needing monitoring
Conduct Ground-Water Assessment
-- Determine conditions and trends
of ground- water supplies
-- Identify contamination sources
-------
ATOvervicw of Selected EPA and State En^onmental Agency CIS Applications
(Cont'd.)
Organization
Region IV Policy
and Management
Division
Wisconsin
Bureau of
Natural Resources
Rhode Island
Department of
Environmental
Management
Program
Pesticides/
Ground-
water
Ground-
water
Water
Ground-
water
Estuary
m
§
^
t*
•
j
•
•
•
System
ARC/INFO
ARC/INFO
and
ODYSSEY
ARC/INFO
Data Types
Depth to Aquifer
Soil Porosity
Land Use (prime farmland)
Hydrogeology
Well Locations
Demographic Data
Depth to Bedrock
Depth to Watertable
Type of Bedrock
Soil Characteristics
Surficial Deposits
Water Quality
Runoff
Soils
Saturated Thickness
Hydraulic Conductivity
Drainage Basin Boundaries
Hydrography
Land Use
Zoning
Pollution Sites
Till and Outwash Deposits
Shellfish Closure Areas
Point Sources Pollution
Land Use
Water Quality
Brown Tide Distribution
Purpose
Target Pesticide Monitoring
-- Identify wells most likely to be
contaminated
Conduct Ground- Water Assessment
— Locate and map highly
susceptible areas in state
Conduct Water Quality Assessment
-- Determine nature and extent of
non-point source impacts
-- Identify areas needing control
- Evaluate BMPs
Conduct Ground- Water Assessment
-- Locate and map threatened water
supply sources
Conduct Water Quality Assessment
— Determine conditions and trends
-- Determine nature and extent of
impact
in
i
-------
An Overview of Selected EPA and State Environmental Agency CIS Applications
(Cont'd.)
Organization
Minnesota State
Planning Agency
EMSL --
Las Vegas
(Chattanooga
Environmental
Methods
Testing Site)
Program
-
UST
Multimedia
|
E
•
g
*FK
CO
s
•
2?
ja
«
•
•
System
f
ARC/INFO
ARC/INFO
Data Types
Underground Tanks
Soils
Land Use/Land Cover
Hydrology
Meteorology
Demography
Health Related
Biological Resources
Point Sources Pollutants
-- air
— water
Purpose
Determine Status of Underground Tanks
— Identify whether tank is empty or
active
-- Target tanks requiring further
testing
Assemble Data for Pollution and Health
Risk Studies
— Determine conditions and trends
across media
— Establish priorities for control
actions
-------
An Overview of Selected EPA and State Environmental Agency CIS Applications
(Cont'd.)
Organization
EPA Integrated
Environmental
Management
Projects
,
ERL - Corvallis
Program
Multimedia
Multimedia
g
f
tt
•
•
•!
&
•
•
a
$
•
•
System
PIPQUIC
ARC/INFO
< •• f •• : •>
' O w ••
Data Types
-
Integrate various EPA data
bases
Air
NEDS
HATREMS
NAPAP
SAROAD
Water
IFD
PCS
STORET
Hazardous Waste
HWDMS
GICS
Other Appropriate State
and Local Data
Land Use/Land Cover
Soils
Water Quality
t * f *
Purpose
Conduct Multimedia Risk Assessments
-- Determine priority problems in
specific locations
— Identify risk management options
and recommend actions
Identify Ecoregions for Water Quality
Standard-Setting
— Map and characterize ecoregions
- Recommend water quality
standards for ecoregions
- Predict water quality impacts
associated with changes in land
use and pollution control
I
t—•
ro
-------
5-13
5.3 Potential Applications
In addition to the numerous current EPA and state environmental CIS
applications described above, there are many other opportunities for
incorporating GIS technology into Agency programs. This discussion presents
only a selection of potential GIS uses by EPA. Virtually any Agency decision
that could be assisted with information about the location of environmental
conditions, contamination sources and exposures represents a potential GIS
application. If reliable data are available, the GIS can be a useful tool for
storing, analyzing, and displaying this information. Exhibit 5.3 details some
potential applications for the Superfund, RCRA, Pesticide, and UST programs.
Other potential applications are discussed below to provide further ideas for
how GISs could benefit Agency programs (it should be noted that some of these
"potential" applications are in fact already being conducted by several states,
EPA Region IV, and other EPA programs):
Drinking Water/Groundwater
o Identify potential sources of contamination to public water
systems that rely on surface waters. A GIS can integrate
and map drinking water intake locations in association with
NPDES effluent discharge data. Data types used in this
application include location of NPDES facility, NPDES I.D.
number, NPDES SIC code, permit limits, and parametric
discharges. Such information would identify the number and
location of upstream dischargers that have the potential to
release pollutants into the drinking water source. The
identification of chemicals used or produced by each
discharger could enhance emergency planning by the public
water system for health threatening accidental releases.
With this information, the public water system could improve
monitoring and notification procedures, establish threshold
action levels (concentrations in the water source, and
discharge quantities from the discharger that will produce
those concentrations) for chemicals that might be released,
and develop appropriate mitigation plans for each chemical.
-------
Exhibit 5.3
SUPERFUND Examples of How CIS Technology Can Benefit Program Management
J
; Program Activity >---;; <\i>
.Information Requirements for
Program Management ; '
Potential CIS Uses
Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation
• Determine ground-water conditions
• Determine nature and extent of
ground-water contamination
• Conduct preliminary risk assessment
• Develop a hazardous ranking score
Ground-water sample data
Drinking water sample data
Identification of site hazardous substances
Hydrogeologic descriptors
Demographic data
Land use/land cover
Health effects data
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
and Remedial Action
• Conduct rigorous assessment of
site contamination and risks
• Conduct a feasibility study to evaluate
clean-up alternatives
• Select a remedial response
Soil permeability
Depth to saturated zone
Proximity to drinking water aquifers
Hydrogeologic data
Chemical fate and transport
Health effects
Demographic data
Ground-water transport model
Clean-up alternatives
Cost-benefit analysis
Site Monitoring
• Monitor long-term site conditions
• Prioritize monitoring
Ground-water quality samples
Drinking water supply samples
Model and map plume direction
and dispersion
Map sources of contaminants
Integrate plume and drinking water
sources to provide maps of
"hot spots"
Model and map results of alterna-
tives for remedial action
Prioritize sites by integrating and
mapping critical parameter data
(e.g., waste type, contaminant
risk, population exposed, drinking
water supplies)
Integrate RCRA and Superfund
site data to map combined program
"hot spots"
Integrated picture of numerous
environmental impacts in
geographic areas of interest
en
i
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Exhibit 5.3
RCRA
Examples of How GIS Technology Can Benefit Program Management
J
Program Activity
Information Requirements for.
Program Management
Potential CIS Uses
Facility Permitting
* Evaluate current and potential facility
sites
• Develop permit conditions
Air emission data
Ground-water sample data
Hydrologic data
Land use
Soil characteristics
Plume modeling maps
Location of monitoring wells
Site descriptors (wastes on site)
Health effects data
Demographic data
Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
Action
• Evaluate solid/hazardous waste sites
• Target water supply well monitoring
• Predict potential impacts from
hazardous waste releases
• Prioritize enforcement actions
Hydrogeologic data
Ground-water sample data
Inspection and analysis data
Plume modeling maps
Contingency action plan
De-contamination procedures
Post-closure Monitoring
• Monitor long-term site conditions
• Prioritize monitoring
Ground-water sample data
Hydrogeologic data
Soil characteristics
• Model and map plume direction
and dispersion
• Map sources of contaminants
• Integrate plume and drinking water
sources to provide maps of
"hot spots"
• Model and map projected results of
alternative remedial actions
• Prioritize sites by integrating and
mapping critical parameter data
(e.g., waste type, contaminant
risk, population exposed, drinking
water supplies)
• Integrate RCRA and Superfund
site data to map combined program
"hot spots"
• Integrate soils, hydrogeology, land
use and other data to map and
designate suitable areas for solid/
hazardous waste disposal sites
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Exhibit 5,3
PESTICIDES
Examples of How GIS Technology Can Benefit Program Management
Program Activity
Information Requirements for
,; , Program Management >; r
Potential GIS Uses
Pesticide Registration/Reregistration
Pesticide Suspension, Cancellation or
Restriction
Prepare exposure profile
Develop labelling restrictions
Reassess permissible residue levels
Prioritize chemicals for special review
Develop exposure and risk assessment
for chemicals undergoing special
review
Ground-water quality data
Hydrogeologic data
Pesticide use in area
Location of drinking water wells
Soil data
Economic benefit
Health effects
Wildlife and plant threats
Weather data
Environmental fate
Demographic data
• Map pesticide ground-water
quality contamination and
vulnerability
• Integrate ground-water quality
data with pesticide application
area and human exposure
information
• Identify wells located in or
adjacent to contamination sites
• Model environmental fate of
pesticide and map "high risk"
areas
• Prioritize pesticide candidates
for review based on environ-
mental and/or human health
risk with map overlays
• Prioritize sampling of drinking
water from wells and surface
water intakes
Ul
I—«
en
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Exhibit 5.3
UST
Examples of How GIS Technology Can Benefit Program Management
mcnt I
Program Activity
Information Requirements for
Program Management
Potential GTS Uses
Site Investigation/Corrective Action
• Develop a monitoring strategy
• Determine nature and extent of
ground-water contamination
• Develop exposure and risk
assessments
• Develop a plan for corrective action
Site Monitoring
• "Monitor site to ensure ground-water
is no longer contaminated
Soil samples
Ground-water sample data
Drinking water sample data
Hydrogeologic descriptors
Exposure assessment data
Demographic data
DRASTIC data
Identify and map tank locations
and status (e.g., leaking, not
leaking)
Integrate ground-water data,
demographic data, and DRASTIC
maps and files to pinpoint areas
of concern
Evaluate environmental and
human health risks
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5-18
o Establish Wellhead Protection (WHP) Areas and develop
ground-water plans. Some of the most promising uses of GISs
are for ground-water protection, which depends heavily on
geographic information. During the next few years, local
governments and states, with EPA assistance, will be
preparing plans for protecting underground drinking water
supplies and other valuable ground-water. WHP management
plans will draw on mapped information such as well
locations, hydrogeologic data (extent of WHP areas, and
vulnerability analysis), populations served, existing and
potential contamination sources, alternative water supplies,
and land use controls or other measures to protect ground
water. GISs will be useful for preparing these maps at
common scales and for overlaying these data types for WHP
planning. Other GIS uses might include regional or national
ground-water vulnerability mapping based on various
hydrogeologic paramaters (DRASTIC model), and mapping of
nonpoint contamination sources. For example, the
incorporation into the GIS of land use/land cover maps
derived from remote sensing imagery would assist in
identification of agricultural lands. Subsequent mapping of
crop patterns, and associated fertilizer and pesticide usage
data for these agricultrual areas would allow identification
of significant nonpoint contamination sources.
Water Programs - Permit Writing/Estuaries
o Establish priorities for permit writing and related analyses
such as THDLs/WLAs, and for developing other management
actions. The Water Program collects ambient water quality
data, point source discharge data, and conducts other
special studies (e.g., bioaccumulation survey, dioxin study)
to determine the nature, extent and significance of water
quality problems. Currently, the ability to aggregate and
display this data for geographical areas such as coastal
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5-19
watersheds or hydrologic units is limited. Watershed
analysis would require integrating STORE! water quality
data, corresponding NPOES data extracted from PCS or
directly from DMRs, information on living resources, and
watershed land use/land cover, soil type, and demographic
data. The integration and analysis of these data with a GIS
would provide Water program managers with a clearer and more
easily understandable visual analysis of water quality
problems. This capability would result in better
environmental management decisions by using all relevant
data on water quality conditions and isolating probable
pollution causes. A scenario for undertaking this type of
analysis first requires identifying degraded water quality
to establish geographic areas of concern. This analytical
step would match the designated use of each water body with
its corresponding water quality criteria and standards and
indicate what parameters exceed acceptable levels. Then,
for the same water -bodies, all point and suspected nonpoint
sources with effluent or runoff data for the same parameters
would be listed and mapped. Next, the reported discharge
values for these parameters would be listed to help focus on
the cause of water quality degradation. Mapping these data
and providing graphic products showing high, medium, and low
pollution impact areas would assist managers responsible for
designing surface water monitoring plans and water quality
controls. Managers could use this information to establish
priorities for writing permits, to implement Best Management
Practices (BMPs), or to initiate other corrective actions.
OSWER - RCRA
Integrate hazardous waste site evaluation data for more
efficient ranking and understanding of hazardous waste
facilities. Using a GIS for the central collection of
voluminous site data will improve hazardous waste facility
permitting and site management. For example, many of the
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5-20
RCRA ground-water program requirements include the need to
analyze spatial information over time. The use of a CIS
could assist the RCRA permit writer and reviewers in various
ways. Evaluation of the status of a facility could be
improved with map overlays showing disposal areas, surface
drainage, areas where chemical seepage or leachate might
affect water resources, discharges to surface waters, and
vegetation damage. This stored spatial data could also be
mapped for use in siting studies to help determine land
suitability for proposed hazardous waste facilities. For
example, maps could show the relationship between a proposed
facility site and areas that should be protected such as
wetlands, marine sanctuaries, endangered habitats, drinking
water sources or recreational areas. In addition, a GIS
could assist compliance monitoring of permitted RCRA
facilities by comparing maps showing original permit
conditions with update maps showing whether the permits are
being complied with. For RCRA facilities no longer in
operation, the GIS database could provide a cost-effective
method for review of post-closure monitoring data. This
method might involve combining remote sensing information
(in the GIS) with other newly acquired leachate, vegetation
stress, or erosion data for the facilities. This data could
also be used for spill or release planning, and to identify
the population at risk for design and placement of
ground-water monitoring wells.
A1r Programs
Analysis of vegetation damage and water pollution as an
environmental Indicator of air quality. Incorporating air
pollutant data with results of vegetation and lake or stream
monitoring data along projected pollutant corridors can
serve as an environmental indicator of ozone, acid rain and
other air pollution. Maps of damaged rangelands, crops,
trees, and water bodies might be useful air pollution
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5-21
"warning signs." The maps could be used to locate
monitoring activities to determine what agents are
contributing to the vegetation damage (e.g., air pollutants,
ground-water contamination, natural chemical stress), or
water pollution. Confirmation of air pollutant impacts
would then warrant analysis of air emission data (e.g., from
NEDS) in association with transport models to identify
specific air emission sources contributing pollutants to the
area of concern. Incorporation of these air emissions data
(e.g., location of stationary source, types and amounts of
air contaminants discharged per source) and transport models
into the GIS would enable mapping and identification of
facilities discharging problem air contaminants. Air
program managers could use this approach to establish
priorities for inspection and compliance activities.
Underground Storage Tanks
Improve the identification of areas highly susceptible to
contamination from underground storage tanks (UST). The
regulated UST community is very large and responsible State
agencies cannot realistically analyze each tank in detail. A
viable approach to this problem would be to use a GIS to
identify geographic areas of highest concern. To accomplish
this task, a GIS would archive DRASTIC maps and files (or
other measures of ground-water vulnerability), ground-water
quality data, and demographic data. The GIS would be used
to map those hydrogeologic zones with a high DRASTIC index
(indicating high vulnerability to ground-water
contamination). The next step would be to overlay
population and water supply data to identify areas having
both high populations dependent on wells and vulnerable
ground-water supplies. This approach would pinpoint
geographic areas of concern and help program managers target
compliance inspections and enforcement action.
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Glossary
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GLOSSARY
Algorithm: a series of specific steps for solving a problem, usually used in
the context of a set of instructions a computer follows as it processes data.
Alphanumeric: consisting of both letters and numbers, and possibly including
other symbols such as punctuation marks.
Analog: an altered version of the same thing. A printed map is an analog of
the digital version of the same map. In electronics, representation of numbers
by physical quantities as electrical voltages or intensity of light.
Attribute: a variable reserved to describe a characteristic of a data element.
Boolean: decision logic which uses the operators and, or, not. Used to
combine attributes of classes of sites into a new class of sites.
Cartesian: a common two-dimensional description of point locations using x and
y distances.
Coordinates: linear and (or) angular quantities that designate the position of
a point in relation to a given reference frame. In a two-dimensional plane, x
and y are commonly used to designate coordinates of-a point.
CPU: an acronym for central processing unit, the part of the computer that
controls the flow of data and performs the computations.
CRT: a cathode-ray tube, similar to a television picture tube, on which an
image is displayed by a pattern of glowing spots produced by directing a beam
of electrons at a phosphorescent screen.
Data: a collection of unorganized facts that have not yet been processed into
information.
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GLOSSARY (Continued)
Data Base: the collection of integrated data that can be used for a variety of
applications.
Data Element: a unit of information used to describe data, data characteristics
and attributes.
Data Standards: refers to the standards generally, but not exclusively, used
for automated systems to ensure that one type of data is defined the same way
in all systems.
Data Validation: the process of providing some confidence limit to data
indicating the degree of accuracy, precision, and general acceptance of the
data value.
Digital Data: refers to those particular data elements which have some
coordinate reference attribute established through conversion from an image or
map to numerical format in an automated system.
Digitizer Tablet: a device used to determine and communicate to a computer the
coordinates of points designated with a cursor or stylus. Locations are sensed
electronically by the tablet bed on which a graphic image or instruction menu
is placed.
Digitizer: a device for converting point locations on a graphic image to plane
(x, y) coordinates for digital processing.
Directory: a look-up table indicating the storage locations in a file of
various data records and used for gaining access to these records.
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GLOSSARY (Continued)
Disk Storage: a rotating plate having magnetized surfaces on which data may be
stored. (Alternate spelling: Disc).
Floppy Disk: a circular, flexible, relatively inexpensive piece of magnetic
material for the storage of digital data.
Geographic Information System (GIS): a computer-based system that combines
geographic and/or cartographic analysis capabilities with a computer data base
management system that can support data entry, data management, data
manipulation and data display capabilities.
Hard Copy: a permanent image of a map or diagram, for example, a paper map
produced on a line printer or pen plotter.
tdware: refers to physical equipment such as the computer and its related
ipheral devices, tape drives, disk drives, printers, etc.
Imagery: the visual representation of energy recorded by remote sensing
instruments. Representation or reproduction of objects and/or phenomena as
sensed or detected by cameras, scanners, radar, etc. Recording may be on
photographic emulsion or on magnetic tape for subsequent conversion and display
on a cathode ray tube.
Information: any communication or reception of knowledge such as facts, data,
opinions, including numerical graphic or narrative forms, whether oral or
maintained in any medium, including computerized data bases, paper, microform,
or magnetic tape.
Interface: an electronic translator of the signals of two devices, such as a
computer and a plotter, so that otherwise incompatible information can be
transferred between them.
Land Cover: cultural objects and natural and cultivated vegetation occupying
the landscape that can be grouped or classified and subsequently mapped.
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GLOSSARY (Continued)
Land Use: utilization of land. A land use map employs categories such as
pasture, wasteland and unimproved land, all of which might conceivably fit into
a grassland category of a land cover map.
Life Cycle: the complete time span of a system from the origin of the idea that
leads to the creation of the system to the end of its useful life.
Map Projections: techniques for depicting the earth's surface (round body) on
a flat sheet (map).
Peripheral: a device that may be added to a computer to provide additional
data storage or to receive or display data.
Polygon: a closed plane figure which may be defined by straight lines, arcs or
combinations of both.. Digitally the perimeter of the polygon is usually
represented by a list of point coordinates.
Program: a set of declarations and logically organized instructions coded in a
computer language in order to direct the operation of the computer.
Programming Language: a formal set of verbal or symbolic instructions and
declarations that can be used to code an algorithm for later translation into
machine instructions.
Raster: the pattern of parallel scan lines consisting of cells digitally
designated by a numerical value. These values are displayed on a CRT either as
shades of gray or color-coded according to red-green-blue intensities.
Record: a group of items in a file treated as a unit. For example, all data
items for a census tract can be grouped as a record and assigned to a single
segment of a magnetic tape file for convenient storage and retrieval.
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GLOSSARY (Continued)
Registration: the mathematical or visual alignment of multiple maps or images.
Remote Sensing: the non-tactile imaging of an object by virtue of its
electro-magnetic properties.
Software: refers to the computer programs, procedures, rules and associated
documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system.
Spatial: refers to the location of, proximity to, or orientation of objects
with respect to one another.
Spatial Data: Discrete symbols (numbers, letters, or special characters) used
to describe some entity, organized according to the location of that entity in
the three-dimensional world.
»
Turnkey: an adjective used to describe a computer system consisting of
compatible hardware and software.
Vector: a directed line segment, which can be represented by the coordinates
for the pair of end points. Vector data refers to data in the form of a list
or lists of point coordinates.
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APPENDIX A
Overview of How A State Uses A GIS
In Ground-Water Program
Management
FLORIDA AND PESTICIDES
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Overview of How A State Uses a GIS in Program Management:
The State of Florida and Pesticide Contamination of Ground-Water
Ground-Water Contamination Concern
Florida's ground-water is especially susceptible to contamination because
of the state's thin soils, high ground-water table, and porous limestone
formations. Over 90% of the state's population relies on ground-water as a
source of drinking water. Four major aquifers supply this drinking water to
the populace. The Floridian aquifer is highly susceptible to pesticide
contamination due to the large concentration of citrus groves in the central
portion of the state.
Initial concern over the potential threat to Florida's ground-water supply
from a specific pesticide, ethylene dibromide (EDB) occurred in July of 1983
when the Commissioner of Agriculture was convinced by his staff that
contamination of ground-water supplies by EDB in California, Hawaii, and
Georgia warranted his attention. It was well known that EDB had been used for
years in the citrus growing regions of Florida . Futhermore, previous
discovery of aldicarb ground-water contamination in Florida had sensitized the
Department, legislature, environmental action groups and citizens to the
potential for drinking water contamination by pesticides.
Role of Data in the Decision to Ban EDB Soil Fumlgant Use
Numerous state agencies cooperated in providing the following critical
pieces of information:
o the location, dates and amounts of state EDB application in citrus
groves determined from detailed maps
o the location of wells in close proximity to known pesticide
application areas
o monitoring data from sampling irrigation and drinking water wells in
several central Florida counties
o laboratory analysis of the water samples using standard water quality
analytical techniques.
Integration of the above information culminated in the temporary
suspension of use of EDB as a soil fumigant in Florida through issuance of an
emergency order on September 16th, 1983. This was shortly followed by the
permanent ban prohibiting sale, distribution and use of EDB as a soil
fumigant.
The Use of a GIS for Ground-water Protection Programs
Following the suspension of EDB use as a soil fumigant by the State of
Florida in late 1983, the Department of Environmental Regulation (DER) began
the creation of a spatial data base containing both well site and EDB
application information:
-------
o Initially a computerized data base was created on a Sperry computer
using "Mapper" to retain both well name and address and EDB sampling
results.
o Eventually this data base was transfered to an Intergraph mapping and
data base management system at Florida State University.
o A dedicated Intergraph workstation and plotter was made available at
OER for analyzing monitoring data for EDB and other pesticides within
the ground-water protection program.
This GIS has been used to produce maps showing the sites where EDB and
other pesticides were applied. The GIS was then used to target sampling of all
wells within 300 feet of EDB application sites. Priority was given to sampling
public drinking-water wells located within 1,000 feet of EDB applications (see
exhibit 1 for an illustration of how the GIS integrates tabular file data with
map data). To date, more than 11,000 drinking wells have been sampled to
determine ground-water quality. This information enables program managers to
determine if susceptible wells have been sampled, prioritize sampling
activities, and identify contaminated wells requiring remedial action.
Corrective Action for those wells identified as being contaminated by EDB
included use of charcoal filters, drilling of new wells, or hook ups to city
water supplies. These actions have resulted in classifying as uncontaminated
90% of the previously identified EDB contaminated drinking water wells.
The EDB monitoring program conducted over the last four years in Florida
has provided a relatively good picture of the extent and severity of
ground-water contamination with EOB. In conclusion, this review demonstrates
how a GIS is used to identify a ground-water problem, assess the extent and
severity of the problem and provide pertinent information to undertake
corrective action.
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Exhibit 1
Integrating Florida EDB Application Data
With Ground-water Sample Data
81* 35'
81°30X
Sample Descriptors Data Ftte
Well ID Number
Well Location
Well Ownership
Water Quality
Sample Protocol
Analytic Method
EDB Application Area PC-22
/~ "3s-"
DataMte
Area: PC-22
Location: 8 1° 3$" 27° 25 '
Date: 12/8/65
Pesticide: EDB
Application Method: Plug
Application Rate: 2 Ibs./acre
Date: 8/20/68
Pesticide: Aldicarb
Application Method: Broadcast
Application Rate: 10 Ibs./acre
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APPENDIX B
Overview of How a Region
Uses GIS in Integrated
Environmental Analysis
REGION IV
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OVERVIEW OF HOW A REGION USES A GIS IN
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Project History
The Regional Administrator (RA) and senior management consider multimedia
analysis a keystone to their approach for environmental decision making. This
approach has been endorsed by the EPA Administrator as evidenced by the
guidance for preparation of the FY-87 Operating Plan calling for an increased
emphasis on multimedia, environmental results-oriented decision making.
EPA efforts to enhance communication networks and computer hardware at
RTP, Washington, and the Region, although improvements for the conducting of
EPA business, does not, in the opinion of Region IV, provide mechanisms for
improving the use of environmental data in decision making. Similarly, Region
IV feels that projects developed and managed at Headquarters by the Office of
Water and the Regulatory Integration Division (formerly IEMD) of the Office of
Policy Planning and Evaluation are too far removed from the day to day
environmental decision making needs of the Regions and States.
Subsequently, Region IV and the Environmental Protection Division of the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GAEPD) have implemented two
overlapping, yet distinct, GIS activities. At the time of this report, June
1987, GAEPD's GIS applications were being supported by the U.S. Geological
Survey's (USGS) Water Resources Division (WRD), Doraville Dis-trict Office.
Region IVs GIS applications were also initially conducted at the same
facility, but Region IV recently acquired its own ARC/INFO GIS. The State of
Georgia Pilot will be discussed first, followed by the Region IV experience.
The State of Georgia Pilot
In early 1986, the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution
Control Administrators (ASWIPCA) and EPA agreed to undertake a collaborative
effort to show how GIS can assist Water Management programs. The USGS WRD
Office was selected as the GIS work site since they already were operating an
ARC/INFO GIS that contained several useful Georgia data sets. A memorandum of
understanding was developed between Region IV and USGS that outlined a GIS
demonstration project for developing several state-wide spatial data bases
(e.g., geology, land use).
Environmental Regulatory Program Applications Using GIS for the GAEPD Pilot
The GIS applications supported by the Georgia Pilot were undertaken by the
USGS Doraville office in two phases. The first phase focused on a 3-county
(Terrell, Lee and Dougherty) area in the southwest section of the state; and a
second broader application covering the entire state. A summary of the
important GIS data management and analysis processes associated with the phase
I activities are presented below:
o Several digital data sets (e.g., elevation, digital line graphs,
outcrop features, surface hydrography) were purchased by USGS for use
in both phases of the project.
-------
o The USGS GIS technical' staff reformatted several of the data sets.
— The 1978 State MIADS Soil Base had to be converted from 4-acre
grids to polygons by creating a new data base through digitizing
the grid-based maps into polygon files.
— The location of hazardous waste sites was determined using the
HWDMS EPA National data base by downloading to INFO and then
transferring electronically to ARC/INFO at USGS.
o Maps that did not exist in a digital format had to be digitized by the
USGS GIS staff to create new data files and other non-graphic data
sets had to be entered into the GIS with new geographic identifiers
(e.g., RCRA land disposal sites).
o The GIS technical staff used the ARC/PLOT routines to overlay the
following files: RCRA land disposal sites (with 500 and 1000 meter
buffers), municipal withdrawals, and potentiometric maps. This process
consisted of displaying these files on a color video display screen,
and evaluating several display scenarios (e.g., color assignments,
scales and symbol selection). An acceptable display scenario was then
produced as a -map on the plotter.
The GIS data base was used in the Phase I pilot to assist in the
evaluation of potential sanitary landfill sites and to map the location of
hazardous waste sites to assist in planning drinking water monitoring
activities.
o The evaluation process of sanitary landfill siting used the GIS data
base to locate and map aquifers and recharge areas vulnerable to
subsurface ground-water contamination. These sites were eliminated
from further consideration and decision-makers dedicated resources to
investigating other potential sites.
o In addition, RCRA land disposal sites with 5000 and 10000 meter buffer
zones were mapped in conjunction with the location of municipal
surface water and ground-water -withdrawals that are the sources of
drinking water supplies. This analysis provided a mechanism to assist
decision-makers prioritize monitoring of drinking water sources to
those most vulnerable to ground-water contamination.
The Phase II GIS applications are similar to Phase I but have an expanded
geographic coverage to the other 156 counties in the state. The Phase II
applications will be continued for the next several years. Examples of the
ARC/INFO map products are provided in figures 1-6.
The Region IV Approach
Region IV participated in the GAEPO pilot and evaluated the GIS as part of
an overall Regional data integration initiative. This initiative was based on
a data and reporting requirements analysis that concluded that EPA managers
and staff in Region IV needed better ways to:
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o Analyze and report trends in environmental results;
o Assess ambient data for intermedia impacts;
o Identify emerging problems; and
o Set priorities for program actions based on actual problems.
Furthermore, this study emphasized the need to access various EPA and
other Federal data systems to assess relevant permit, enforcement, and grant
actions for effective environmental results management. A high priority
requirement was the integration of ambient (e.g., STORET, SARODS) and other
program data (e.g., PCS, GICS). Consequently, Region IV endorsed the use of
GIS technology to access and analyze these important EPA data bases.
Additionally, the study recommended that Region IV establish an Office of
Integrated Environmental Analysis (OIEA) to develop the advanced technology
and information management tools required to support effective Regional and
State environmental decision making. The RA implemented many of the report's
recommendations, including the creation of OIEA with the following mandate:
o Develop integrated environmental analysis techniques using the latest
technology ( including but not limited to GIS);
o Provide leadership and act as a catalyst for development of analytical
tools to support multimedia decision making;
o Maintain liaison with Headquarters integrated information management
developments;
o Develop analysis and report techniques for assessing environmental
results;
o Assemble a high quality staff with programmatic and ADP technology
capabilities;
o Provide leadership and serve as a catalyst for joint data integration
projects with other federal agencies;
o Coordinate data collection activities by the Region; and
o Liaison with Regional States,
To date, the- OIEA has developed several geographic data integration
products including GIS applications through the use of a recently installed
ARC/INFO system.
Environmental Regulatory Program Applications Using GIS in Region IV
Region IV has used its GIS capabilities to support several EPA programs.
Progress to date is highlighted below.
o The OIEA has developed a geographic analytical technique that displays
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all water monitoring stations and identifies all water quality
violations on a computerized map. Incorporation of NPDES permit
information allows the mapping of point sources of discharge. Computer
maps showing violations for different time periods are also generated
to track water control progress and prioritize water body problems. At
present, these applications are not conducted with ARC/INFO, but with
other computer tools. OIEA plans to incorporate these functions into
the GIS in the near future.
o Computer analysis techniques have been developed to display ambient
air quality monitoring stations and associated violations of air
quality standards. Violations are depicted on the maps to show where
air quality problems exist. Trends analyses are also possible when
data from different time frames are analyzed and displayed.
o The OIEA staff has developed a mapping capability for the ground-water
program that identifies sources of ground-water pollution from
facilities (such as RCRA and Superfund sites) in association with
drinking water wells and population served. Other environmental
information such as geology, soil permeability, and depth to the
aquifer can also be displayed for analytical purposes.
Future Applications
The GAEPO plans to expand its pilot GIS activities, with the ARC/INFO
fystem at the USGS/WRD,, to the entire State for several other program
activities:
o Siting sanitary landfills. The State Geologist would like to expand
their pilot study conducted in Dougherty county. The integration of
the environmental data enables the local government to make better
informed decisions.
o Hazardous waste management. GAEPD has a need to identify the location
of both RCRA and Superfund sites throughout the state. This will
assist, for example, in ranking Superfund sites to determine
priorities for conducting preliminary assessments and subsequent site
investigations.
o Locating sites for regional reservoirs. In the past, county level
decision-makers have designated potential reservoir sites in areas
unsuitable for such use. The GIS can integrate geologic, topographic
and hydrologic data to enable analysts to better predict water quality
degradation (e.g. as a result of heavy siltation) at potential sites.
Region IV's interest in GIS application parallels that of the State of
Georgia. In addition, the Region is interested in using GIS to assist State's
develop their Community Water Systems (CWS) vulnerability analysis.
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Spatial Environmental Data
GAEDP and Region IV have used some of the same environmental data. These
common and other appropriate data sets and sources are summarized below:
o USGS l:2,000,000-scale Digital Line Graph Data (derived from USGS
National Atlas separates)
Political Boundaries
— state and county
Water Bodies
— perennial lakes or ponds
~ intermittent lakes or ponds
— marshes/swamps
~ reservoirs
— islands, etc.
Rivers and Streams
~ shorelines
— river/stream centerlines (coded by length)
— canals
— ditches
-- intercoastal waterway
o USGS Hydrologic Unit Boundaries
o EPA River Reach File
o U.S. Bureau of the Census Block Group Centroids
Thiesson polygons generated from centroids
o U.S. Bureau of the Census DIME Files
o U.S. Bureau of the Census Summary Tape File (STP #3)
demographic and socio-economic date tied to census geography
o USGS l:250,000-scale Land Use/Land Cover Data (GAEPD only)
Land Use/Land Cover
Census Tracts
Political Boundaries
Hydrologic Units
Federal Land Ownership
o U.S. Defense Mapping Agency (sold by USGS) 1:2,500,000 Digital
Elevation Models (GAEPD only)
o USGS Public Water Supply Data (GAEPO only)
o U.S. EPA (derived from STORET, PCS, WHDMS, GICS)
o Soil Conservation Service MIADS Soils Data (GAEPD only)
o USGS Geographic Names File (GAEPD only)
-------
o District Data Bases 1:500,000-scale (GAEPD only)
Rivers
Lakes
Cities
Physiographic Provinces
Runoff Contours
Precipitation Contours
Population Density
Depth to Top of Aquifer
Recharge/Outcrop Areas
Faults
Surficial Geology
Soils Data
Slope Data
o EPA Pesticide Data
o USGS 1:100,000 Digital Line Graphs (June-July 1987)
Overview of 6IS Hardware/Software
The discussion below provides details about the ARC/INFO systems.
USGS ARC/INFO
The ARC/INFO software is maintained at the USGS/WRD Douraville office on a
Prime 9952. Peripheral hardware includes two Tektronix color graphics
terminals (4111 and 4107), a Calcomp 9100 digitizer, and a HP 7586 plotter.
The GAEPD has access to the USGS Prime via a 2400 baud port. The ARC/INFO
software includes the basic INFO DBMS from Henco and ARC, the ESRI software
developed for storing cartographic data. Other functionally linked ARC/INFO
software subsystems include:
o NETWORK- applications module for modeling network files (e.g..minimum
path, routing optimization, address matching);
o Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN)- applications module for
structuring and modeling digital terrain data (e.g., contour maps,
viewshed creation, slope mapping);
o ARC/COGO- applications module for processing legal land descriptions
and related survey data; and
o GRID/TOPO- applications module similar to TIN except for handling
regularly spaced (as opposed "to triangulated) three-dimensional
terrain data.
Region IV
Region IV installed its ARC/INFO in November of 1986. The software runs
on a PRIME 2655 with a standard 3200 BPI tape drive. Two Textronix 4125 are
used for interactive data processing and analysis. Data entry is accomplished
using a Tektronix 4857 digitizer. At the present time OIEA does not have a
-------
high quality, large format plotter but plans to acquire one in the near
future. Optional ARC/INFO software acquired by the Region includes NETWORK,
TIN, and ARC COGO.
Organizational Structure/Staffing
The State of Georgia
The initial GIS applications supported by USGS used the services of two
highly-trained GIS experts for developing the Phase I and Phase II products
for GAEPD. GAEPO has not allocated any technical or program manpower support
to this activity, with the exception of the State Geologist's liaison role and
occasional other staff involvement with GIS output evaluation.
Region IV
The Regional IV use of the ARC/INFO, as previously mentioned, is supported
by the OIEA. At present, OIEA staffing consists of:
o A chief;
o A Ph.D. air program scientist with extensive computer programming
experience;
o A M.S. remote sensing/environmental scientist;
o A M.S. water pollution engineer familiar with permit, grant, and
technical support activities; and
o An ADP/GIS technical expert familiar with EPA data systems and
ARC/INFO.
Plans are to add two other staff positions; one ground-water and one
Superfund specialist. The assignment of these "program" positions is
accomplished by each program allocating an FTE to OIEA.
Costs
The State of Georgia did not buy any software/hardware for conducting the
pilot but entered into an interagency agreement in which $10,000 was committed
by EPA to USGS to support the GAEDP GIS applications. Participation by GAEPD
staff was not calculated as a separate cost. USGS indicated that the actual
project costs exceeded the funding provided, but USGS gained an understanding
of new applications through this project.
The costs associated with the Region IV ARC/INFO acquisition include:
PRIME Upgrade $90,000
2 Graphic Terminals $15,000
ARC Info Software $17,500
Digitizer $12,000
It is important to note that there are additional costs associated with
data purchase and OIEA staffing. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide
dollar values for these costs.
-------
8
Benefits
The benefits to GAEDP and Region IV as a result of GIS implementation
include data Integration, identification of environmental problems,
prioritization of resource allocations based on potential risk, and
information dissemination.
o The use of the GIS for siting sanitary landfills at the county level
saves innumerable resources by reducing the number of sites needing
field investigation. The ability to assemble numerous data sets in one
central computer system with common geographic dimensions provides a
useful analytical capability for State and Regional environmental
regulatory programs.
o Region IV OIEA staff feel that the use of GIS will accelerate the
Superfund site ranking process. At present, only two sites per year
in each state are being added to the NPL. Integration and analysis of
the various environmental data layers has enabled Superfund staff to
identify and prioritize sites. Without using the GIS, these sites
would have to be evaluated by contractors in the field. Consequently,
the Agency is able to reduce expenditures in this program activity.
o Program managers and senior management can analyze and track
environmental trends more efficiently. This is possible because of the
creation of a state-wide GIS environmental data base containing
pollution impact information (e.g., emission and discharge data) and
ambient data across media for numerous time periods. This data base
also provides a capability to geographically analyze the effectiveness
of controls and conduct risk assessments.
Critical Success Factors
The successful use of GIS at GAEDP and Region IV can be attributed to the
factors summarized below:
o Technical support "for the GAEPO pilot was provided by highly trained
GIS professionals. This minimized the "learning curve" time lag
associated with such projects. The "information center" role of the
Region IV OIEA serves a similar role to provide GIS support to various
programs without requiring program staff to become GIS experts.
o Management/infrastructure support has been instrumental in backing the
original GAEPO effort and Region IV GIS acquisition and
implementation. The EPA Region IV RA and the Commissioner of the
Georgia Department of National Resources have been strong advocates of
this technology. Such high level backing has resulted in EPA Regional
IV program support for the OIEA multidisciplinary team concept.
o Communication/information exchange has been encouraged between
technical GIS staff at USGS and the appropriate senior GAEPO and EPA
Regional IV management. This process has resulted in important
synthesis of ideas. The dialogue and interaction existing between
Regional, State, and local management levels has been also extremely
important.
-------
o GIS implementation has been a deliberately slow paced process that
avoided a large expenditure at the early stages. Region IV has also
stressed that GIS applications are only one "tool" in the "tool box."
Constraints
Several factors need to be addressed that are limiting the full potential
of the GIS:
o Developing a GIS data base requires extensive data entry processing
before any analysis can be done. The resources required for this
process, the need for "results", and the concern for data validation
compete with each other in trying, to get an application up and
running.
o Both GAEPD and Regional IV are concerned with establishing a mechanism
for indicating some kind of confidence limit for each data set. At
present, this is absent in the ARC/INFO environment.
o There is a great need to establish data standards for use in all
phases of state and local data base development to enable data to be
used effectively in the GIS arena.
0 ARC/INFO contains hundreds of software routines. The non-expert will
need some type of user-friendly tools (e.g., macros) to be able to use
• this technology without AOP support.
o Region IV has states and agencies using several different GIS systems
(e.g., Intergraph at TVA and the Florida Department of Environmental
Regulation). The OIEA is presently determining how these important
data bases can be easily linked and incorporated into ARC/INFO.
-------
Examples of ARC/INFO Products
Figures 1-6
-------
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-------
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-------
TERRELL
o
~^irwJ
THREE-COUNTY
STUDY AREA
« UUNKPAL WmCRAWALS - CW
- RCRA LAND DISPOSAL SITES
-------
APPENDIX C
Geographic Information System
Briefing for the Administrator
and Deputy Administrator
SAN GABRIEL BASIN GIS DEMONSTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL METHODS TESTING SITE*
* Including only a selection of the plates listed in the Table of Contents
-------
vvEPA
United States
Environmental
Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
TS-AMD-87650
January 1987
Research and Development
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SYSTEM BRIEFING FOR THE
ADMINISTRATOR AND DEPUTY
ADMINISTRATOR
EMTS
CHATTANOOGA
SAN GABRIEL BASIN GIS
-------
TS-AMD-87650
January 1987
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM BRIEFING
FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR AND DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR
by
L. K. Fenstermaker
Environmental Programs
Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Company, Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Contract No. 68-03-3245
Technical Monitor
E. N. Koglin
Advanced Monitoring Division
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Part 1 - San Gabriel Basin GIS Demonstration
Abstract 3
Section 1 4
Section 2 11
Section 3 16
Part 2 - Environmental Methods Testing Site
Project Summary 27
Section 1 1-0
Section 2 2-0
PLATES
Part 1 - San Gabriel Basin GIS Demonstration
Section 1
San Gabriel Basin GIS Boundaries ; 5
San Gabriel Basin GIS Municipal Boundaries 6
San Gabriel Basin GIS Census Tracts . • 7
San Gabriel Basin GIS Landuse Coverage 8
San Gabriel Basin GIS Landuse Classification 9
Landuse Classification, Zoom 10
Section 2
Contaminated Wells by Contaminant Type and Level 12
Water Purveyor Districts 13
Contaminated Wells and Associated Water Purveyor Districts . 14
Population by Census Tract for Contaminated Water Purveyor . 15
Section 3
Potenticmetric Surface Contours 18
Basingrid Coverage 19
Hydraulic Conductivity 20
Reverse Trajectory Model 21
Sub-areas Selected for Historical Aerial Photographic ... 22
Sub-areas 4 & 5, July 10,1948 .24
Part 2 - Environmental Methods Testing Site
Section 1
Study Area Boundaries 1-1
Topography (DEM, 1:24,000) 1-2
Hydrography (DLG, 1:24,000) 1-3
Hydrography (DLG, 1:100,000) 1-4
Political Boundaries (DLG, 1:24,000) 1-5
Political Boundaries (DLG, 1:100,000) 1-6
Political Boundaries (LESS) 1-7
Transportation Network (DLG, 1:24,000) 1-8
Transportation Network (DLG, 1:100,000) 1-9
Transportation Network (LESS) 1-10
Land Use/Land Cover (Aerial Photographs) 1-11
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.)
PLATES (Cont.)
Page
Part 2 - Environmental Methods Testing Site (Cont.)
Section 1 (Cont.)
Land Use/Land Cover (Landsat TM) . 1-12
Land Use/Land Cover (SPOT Satellite) 1-13
Land Use/Land Cover (LESS) 1-14
Soils (Soil Surveys) 1-15
Soils (Digitized Soil Surveys) 1-16
Census Geography (ETAK) 1-17
Census Geography (LESS) 1-18
Census Demography (Donnelley Marketing) 1-19
Point Source Polluters (GTS) 1-20
Point Source Polluters (NPDES Data Base) . . 1-21
Point Source Polluters (IFD File Data Base) 1-22
Point Source Polluters (FINDS Data Base) . 1-23
Point Source Polluters (HWDMS Data Base) 1-24
Point Source Polluters (TN Dept. of Public Health) .... 1-25
Geology (State Geologic Map) 1-26
Geology (Hamilton Co.) 1-27
Section 2
Potential Point Source Polluters . 2-1
Monitoring Stations 2-2
1:24,000 DLG, Transportation Coverages 2-3
1:24,000 DLG, Fairmount Quadrangle, Transportation .... 2-4
1:24,000 DLG, Pipeline Coverages 2-5
1:24,000 DLG, Fairmount Quadrangle, Pipelines 2-6
1:24,000 DLG, Boundary Coverages 2-7
1:24,000 DLG, Fairmount Quadrangle, Boundaries 2-8
1:24,000 DLG, Stream Coverages 2-9
1:24,000 DLG, Fairmount Quadrangle, Streams 2-10
1:24,000 DLG, Water Body Coverages 2-11
1:24,000 DLG, Fairmount Quadrangle, Water Bodies 2-12
1:100,000 DLG, Road Coverages 2-13
1:100,000 DLG, Road3 2-14
1:100,000 DLG, Railroad Coverages 2-15
1:100,000 DLG, Railroads 2-16
1:100,000 DLG, Pipeline Coverages 2-17
1:100,000 DLG, Pipelines 2-13
1:100,000 DLG, Hydrography Coverages ..... 2-19
1:100,000 DLG, Hydro3 2-20
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INTRODUCTION
This briefing document summarizes two geographic information system
(CIS) projects undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency's
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in Las Vegas/ Nevada
(EMSL-LV). The material presented demonstrates a few of the
applications the EMSL-LV is able to provide with its CIS system.
Part 1 of this book is extracted from the "San Gabriel Basin
Geographic Information System Demonstration" final report
(TS-AMD-85742-0, October, 1986). The San Gabriel Basin GIS project was
undertaken as EMSL-LVs first GIS project. As such, the primary purpose
of the project was to demonstrate the utility of GIS as a tool in
CEPCLA/RCRA investigations.
Part 2 is extracted from the "Environmental Methods Testing Site
Data Status" book (TS-AMD-86534, September, 1986). The Environmental
Methods Testing Site (EMTS) encompasses the Chattanooga, Tennessee
standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA), an area of 2100 square
miles. The primary purpose of this project is to build a comprehensive
data base to be utilized in the testing of exposure methods.
-------
United States
Environmental
Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
TS-AMD-85/4-2-0
October 1986
Research and Development
EPA SAN GABRIEL BASIN
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION
Los Angeles County, California
LOS ANGELES COUNTML1NE_ ,
• Lancaster i
0 10 20 30 Kilometers
Approximate Scale
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ABSTRACT
The San Gabriel Basin Geographic Information System (GIS)
Demonstration project was undertaken by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory In Las Vegas, Nevada
at the request of EPA's Office of Emergency and Remedial Response and EPA
Region IX. The purpose of the study was to examine the utility of GIS
technology in support of regulations for environmental monitoring and
recovery. The objectives were to develop a GIS data base, examine some
of the spatial environmental relationships, and interface with a
ground-water flow model. Existing data were acquired from EPA Region IX
and Its contractors, and automated into a GIS data base. The data
automated either described cultural features or features detailing the
geohydrology of .the area. The data base can be separated into two
general types of computer files, coverages and attribute tables.
Coverages contain the points, lines, and polygons which describe a
feature, and the topology or relationship of one feature to another.
Attribute tables contain the information which provide definition of
those points, lines, and polygons. Combined, the two sets of files make
1t possible to analyze attribute Information in an accurate spatial
context. The analyses performed 1n this study examined certain feature
attributes, and relationships among selected features and their
attributes to characterize the ground-water contamination and its impact
1n the San Gabriel Basin. Other GIS techniques were performed to prepare
a set of aquifer data for direct input to a ground-water flow model. The
modeling utilized potentlometric surface data from different years to
estimate flow pathllnes from contaminant sink to potential source. A
series of historical aerial photographs were acquired and analyzed for
potential point sources of contamination. The area surrounding the
endpolnts of the flow pathllnes were selected for the historical aerial
photographic analysis. Of the eight study areas chosen for photographic
analysis, five yielded potential hazardous substance sources. These
results clearly Indicate that GIS technology is a valuable tool for
environmental assessment and monitoring.
-------
SECTION 1
Section 1 contains plots displaying arcs (lines) of several
coverages within the San Gabriel CIS Data Base. The plots which are
described below were generated by overlaying several coverages (data
layers). The individual coverages are displayed in different colors to
provide feature separation. Plot 1 displays the boundaries for the 7.5
minute U.S. Geological Survey quadrangles, aquifer, and watershed
(hydrologic boundary). Plot 2 maps the boundaries of the municipalities
within the San Gabriel Valley. Plot 3 maps the census tract boundaries.
Plot 4 consists of arcs defining land use polygons. Anderson Level III
land use classification was used to define the boundaries of the
polygons. Plot 5 is an aggregation of plot 4 into 13 general land use
categories. In this plot the polygons were color encoded and shaded to
pictorally display the 13 land use categories. Plot 6 is a zoom of the
bottom right corner of the previous land use classification plot.
-------
SECTION 2
Section 2 is a sequence of plots describing the relationship
between contaminated wells and the population serviced by those wells.
The first plot maps the location of wells by contaminant type and
quantity. The contaminants are trichloroethylene (TCE),
perchloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC). The second plot
displays boundaries of water purveyor districts within the San Gabriel
Valley. The third plot utilized the information from the previous two
plots to distinguish between water purveyor districts which either do or
do not have contaminated wells. The final plot of the series maps the
population densities within the contaminant-impacted water purveyor
districts. This application of the CIS could be used to examine
potential risks to the populace and prioritize areas for clean-up.
11
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SECTION 3
Section 3 depicts interim steps and results of the reverse flow
ground-water modeling which was performed for the San Gabriel Basin CIS
Demonstration. The first plot in this series maps the potentiometric
surfaces for the three dates that were used in the model.
The second plot displays the grid that was developed for the basin
(aquifer). The ground-water flow model that was used required that the
data be input into the model in a regular gridded format. Once the grid
was developed, hydraulic conductivity, effective porosity, and the
potentiometric surface arc data were interpolated to the grid. The next
plot depicts hydraulic conductivity after interpolation to the grid.
Since the model required a rectangular grid, the largest
rectangular area containing a majority of the contaminated wells was
chosen. The rectangle chosen was in the center of the basin and
contained 21 contaminated wells. The UIM coordinates of these wells
were input to the model as starting points for the pathlines generated
by the model. As the goal of the modeling procedure was to locate
potential source areas of contamination, it was necessary to start the
reverse trajectory pathlines at known points of present contamination.
The historic potentiometric surface data was then used to by the model
to estimate the reverse flow of water from sink to source. The first
step was to generate 10 pathlines within a radius of 200 meters of each
starting point (i.e., known contaminated wells) and calculate the
ground-water flow path from 1980 to 1975, five years. The endpoints of
the resulting pathlines were then used in the next iteration of the
model. In this iteration the average of the 1980 and 1965
potentiometric surface data was used to continue the pathlines back in
time 7.5 years to 1967. The endpoints of the pathline continuations
were then used for the next model iteration. In this .iteration 1965
potentiometric surface data were used to take the pathlines back in time
another 7.5 years to 1960. This same process was used for two more
iterations of the model, each continuing the estimation of flow paths
back in time 7.5 years using the 1965 and 1950 averaged potentiometric
surface data, and the 1950 potentiometric surface data sequentially.
16
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The end result was a series of ten pathlines for each contaminated well
(a total of 210 pathlines) estimating the flow path of contaminated
water from sink to potential source for the period of 1980 to 1945.
Based upon the existing information for the basin, EPA Region IX staff
believed contamination occurred during the 1950's. To examine whether
or not the model accurately estimated the flow paths from sink to
source, eight sub-areas were chosen for historical aerial photographic
analysis. Of the eight sub-areas selected, five sub-areas showed
evidence of potential contaminant sources. The results of the modeling
effort, the eight sub-areas, and an example from the historical aerial
photographic analysis are displayed in the remaining three plates.
17
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SUB-AREAS 4 & 5 - 1948
Analysis of the 1948 photographs reveal a potential pollution source in
the northwest corner of Sub-area 4. There is a small industrial facility
which has a rail access and a loading rack for the transfer of liquids. At
least three railroad tank cars are present as are two tank trucks. Just west
of the rail line 1s an area of heavy stains indicating numerous spills in the
past. There are no storage tanks present so it is possible that this transfer
point 1s at the end of an underground pipeline. A larger industrial facility
to the southeast has one small lined pond which appears to contain liquid.
Also there are two areas of mounded material which appears to be construction
rubble. The only other significant developments within these two areas are
the sand and gravel operations. There was no indication of any type of
disposal within these pits.
INTERPRETATION
BOUNDARIES AND LIMITS
IMUWM FENCED SITE
BOUNDARY
mummm^m UNFENCEDS1TE
BOUNDARY
X x X x x x FENCE
__ — _ STUDY AREA
DRAINAGE
•+--- DRAINAGE
< FLOW DIRECTION
--.*>_- INDETERMINATE
DRAINAGE
TRANSPORTATION / UTILITY
= = = = = VEHICLE ACCESS
CODE
SITE FEATURES
mumim/ DIKE
^& STANDING LIQUID
SU STANDING LIQUID
O EXCAVATION. PIT
(EXTENSIVE)
O MOUNDED MATERIAL
(EXTENSIVE)
uu MOUNDED MATERIAL
MM (SMALL)
CR CRATES/BOXES
OR DRUMS
HT HORIZONTAL TANK
PT PRESSURE TANK
VT VERTICAL TANK
CA CLEARED AREA
DC DISTURBED GROUND
Ft FILL
I M IMPOUNDMENT
LG LAGOON
OF OUTFALL
SO SLUDGE
ST STAIN
SW SOLID WASTE
TR TRENCH
VS VEGETATION STRESS
WO WASTE DISPOSAL AREA
WL WETLAND
23
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Sub-areas 4 & 5, July TO, 1940.
Approximate scale 1 inch = Q70 feet.
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ENVIRONMENTAL METHODS TESTING SITE
CHATTANOOGA SMSA
&EPA
-------
TS-AMO-86534
ENVIRONMENTAL METHODS TESTING SITE
CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
Data Status, September 1986
by
L. K. Fenstermaker and F. Mynar II
Environmental Programs
Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Company, Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
Contract No. 68-03-3245
Project Officer
S. 3. Williamson
Exposure Assessment Research Division
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114
NOTE
This document contains data inventory information collected by Lockheed
Engineering and Management Services Company, Inc., for Phase 1 of the EMTS
project. More information will become available as new data sources are
identified. (September 1986)
26
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PROJECT SUMMARY
Project History
The Environmental Methods Testing Site (EMTS) was initiated by
EPA's Office of Research and Development to provide a well characterized
site for evaluation of various monitoring methods and models. This will
enable better assessment of human exposure to toxic substances and
support regulations in The Toxic Substances Act of 1976.
The EPA's Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in Las Vegas,
Nevada, (EMSL-LV) has the responsibility of site management, while the
EPA EMSL at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (EMSL-RTP) is
responsible for data management. The tasks being performed by EMSL-LV
and its contractors fall under three general headings: project
management, Environmental Research Center, University of Nevada, Las
Vegas (ERC-UNLV); quality assurance ERC-UNLV; and collection of data
and implementation into a Geographic Information System (CIS) data base,
Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Company, Inc (LEMSCO).
The first planning decisions were made during the week of August
12-15, 1985 when representatives of the Office of Toxic Substances
(OTS), the Office of Research and Development (ORD), EMSL-RTP and
EMSL-LV met. It was decided at that time that EMSL-RTP would manage
non-spatial tabular data and EMSL-LV would manage spatial data.
Integration of non-spatial data with spatial data would occur at EMSL-LV
after pre-processing at EMSL-RTP.
The group also developed a list of data sets considered to be
important to the development of a complete CIS data base. Listed below
are the data sets selected.
1. Base Map -political boundaries
-transportation
-drainage/water bodies
-topography
-land use/land cover
-soil/geology
-census geography
27
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2. Sewerage System
3. Public Water Supply Pipe/Source Network
4. Public Buildings
5. Zip-code Boundaries
6. Industries: location, type, chemicals used, potential for air
and/or water pollution
7. Geohydrology: well locations, groundwater characteristics
8. Demography: population, age, sex, economics, residence, and
work place
9. Agricultural Practices
10. Monitoring Sites: locations, media, and sample data
11. Climatology: averages, and daily for specific sites
12. Other data sets: to be defined by individual projects and
their objectives
Of these data layers, it was decided that the items listed under
II, Base Map, would be acquired first and incorporated into a CIS data
base.-
The first steps taken toward acquiring data for the CIS were to
contact Federal, State, Regional, and local agencies, and inventory
their existing data. This information was compiled into a data matrix
book, and later inserted into the dBASE III Inventory File developed by
ERC-UNLV. From the inventory information gathered, the base map data
layers were purchased or acquired from the best source for that data.
Table 1 lists the data sets acquired by LEMSCO and ERC-UNLV along with
quantity, scale/resolution, and cost.
28
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Table 1: A list of data sets purchased during FY86
associated with purchaser, scale/resolution,
quantity, and cost. Combined, these data
sets provide all of the information required
for the base map except geology, plus some of
the other desired data sets.
DATA NAME ERC/LEMSCO
PURCHASE
DUG
DUG
DEM
SPOT MSS
AERIAL PHOTO
ETAK
DONNELLY
MARKETING FILE
MONITORING
STATIONS
SOIL SURVEYS
REACH FILE
PUBLIC WATER
SUPPLY NETWORK
LEMSCO
LEMSCO
LEMSCO
LEMSCO
LEMSCO
ERG
ERC
ERC
ERC
LEMSCO
ERC
ERC
SCALE/ QUANTITY
RESOLUTION
1:24,000
1:100,000
1:24,000
20 meter
1:24,000
ii
STREET/
CENSUS TRACT
BLOCK
POINT
SOIL TYPE
POINT/STREAM
PIPE
16 (quads)
2 (quads)
43 (quads)
2 (SMSA)
3 copies
1 original
1 (metro)
1 (SMSA)
1 (SMSA)
2 (counties)
1 (SMSA)
1 (metro)
(200 maps)
COST
$1920.
$325.
$4325.
$4020.
$8640.
$10000.
$5100.
$1800.
0.
o«
0.
0.
UTPP ERC
Urban Transportation
Planning Package
UNKNOWN
1 (SMSA)
$4300.
29
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SECTION 1
This section contains plots displaying data acquisition status of
key data layers for the EMTS CIS data base. The plots are color encoded
to show the availability of data based upon acquisition unit. Data for
the EMTS is commonly available by quadrangle, county, or SMSA. The
availability of data has been broken down into four categories.
* Obtained - the data has been acquired.
* Current availability - the data is currently available but has
not been acquired for the EMTS at this time.
* Future availability - the data is not available, but will be
available at sane future date.
* Unavailable - the data is not available and is not presently
scheduled for future availability.
1-0
-------
SECTION 2
Section 2 contains plots of the data (coverages) presently
incorporated into the EMTS data base. Selected features have been color
encoded in most of the plots to demonstrate the ability of the CIS to
attach attributes to map data. Attributes define point, line, and
polygon features. For example, on page 2-4 red lines represent primary
hard surface routes and hatched red lines are foot trails. The plots
also display the extent of the data for the EMTS.
2-0
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