Environmental Data Visualization for Litigation Support€¦ · 24.11.2011 · o Interactive GIS...
Transcript of Environmental Data Visualization for Litigation Support€¦ · 24.11.2011 · o Interactive GIS...
Environmental Data Visualization for
Litigation SupportRaphael Siebenmann, P.E.
2011 Georgia Environmental Conference
Savannah, GA
The Problem• Environmental problems are complex and
solutions are difficult to visualize.
• Stakeholders are often not technical experts.
• All sites are different and there is no such thing
as “one-size-fits-all”.
• Understanding, managing, and communicating
environmental data is time-consuming and
challenging.
A way forward
• Interactive and three-dimensional (3D) data
visualization provides a set of tools to address these
challenges
I want to see my data in 3D!
Environmental Data Visualization
• Past, present, and future data visualization
• What is data-driven visualization?
• Capabilities
• Case Studies:o Cost Allocation
o Volume Estimation
o Photo Realistic Models
o Interactive GIS
• Final Thoughts
The Past: Hand Made Maps
• Sample location map – early 1990s
• Photo copied USGS base map with hand placed overlays.
Still Useful: Computer Assisted Drawings
• Chemistry data posting – mid 1990s• Black and white AutoCAD file with surveyed points• Static, manually created data boxes
• 2000s – Color Data Postings with Aerial Base Map
• Surveyed sample locations can be “georeferenced” to a base map or air photo for accurate mapping
• Colors, symbols and annotations can be used to convey relative metrics
• Live link to a database allows maps to always be up-to-date
• Sometimes the data alone (no interpretation) tells the best story
Story: TCE data color-coded in Vapor
Monitoring Wells suggest that some
plaintiff exposure addresses are closer to
contamination than others
Standard Practice: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Story: Time-series concentration
data suggest transport of vinyl
chloride is to the west, off-site.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Cont.
• 2000s – Automated data charting with site feature base map
• Concentrations can be presented in many powerful formats…limited only by one’s creativity
• Easy and accurate automated mapping allows one to create many different formats to select the most convincing image(s)
Traditional Conceptual Site Model
• Artist’s rendering of site conditions, contaminant sources, and pathways
Data Driven Conceptual Site Model
• 3D visualization of site characterization data, bedrock topography, historical site features, and remediation system components
Anatomy of Data Driven
Visualization
Air Photo
Base Map
Wells
Geology
Interpret
Claimants
Fac
tual
Dat
aIn
terp
reta
tio
ns
Leg
al
GIS
Capabilities
• Post characterization data in three dimensions
• Interpolate chemical, geologic, and other data to provide estimates of plume size and shape
• User friendly, 3d rotatable, powerpoint-like
outputs that can be shared with stakeholders
• Gives users the ability to interrogate the data
and view the spatial context
• Import data from wide variety of sources,
including groundwater flow models and
engineering designs
Capabilities cont.
• Estimating volume of chemical mass in specific geologic zones
Case Study #1 Contaminated Soil Cost Allocation
• Company A operated facility until purchase by Company B• Site soils are above the risk reduction standard (RRS) due to
presence of numerous chemical manufactured by both Company A and Company B
• Spatial analysis performed to allocate site remediation costs
Case Study #2 Compliance with
Cleanup Objectives
• Quarterly monitoring program – VOCs in groundwater
• No off-site migration to date• However, still need to
demonstrate mass reduction
Plume Mass Over Time
y = -0.0012x + 50.218R² = 0.2067
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14To
tal
VO
C M
ass
in
Gro
un
dw
ate
r (kg
)
Results from the Mann-Kendall trend test indicate decreasing total VOC
mass in groundwater at a confidence level of 95%.
Linear
Trendline
• Chemical mass estimated at each sampling event and then evaluated statistically
Case Study #3 Photo-Realistic 3D Models
• Engineering design drawings can be converted into navigable models
• Facilitates communication between stakeholders
• Can be used to assess visual impact of site design elements; for example, will new construction be seen from the river?
Dollars and Sense
• Advances in data management technologies, computing, and awareness have lowered the cost of producing 3D data visualizations.
• Site investigations require a significant investment of time and money. The added benefit of a more thorough understanding of site geology and chemistry is often worth the extra cost.
• If you don’t use 3D visualization, others may use it against you.
2000 2005 2010 2015
Cost of 3D
Visualization
• Fictional compilation of several VI sites
• Former ponds accepted TCE-impacted waste for decades
• Plume of TCE in groundwater downgradient of ponds
• TCE vapors present in soil gas
• Potential risk to residents via intrusion to indoor air
Facility with ponds
Case Study #4 Interactive GIS for Litigation Support
Site manager and associated stakeholders need to:
• Identify degree and extent of impacted residences
• Calculate associated risk to residences
• Plan mitigation
• Defend against potential litigation
• Identify source(s) of contamination
Case Study #4 Interactive GIS for
Litigation Support
Navigation tools(pan, zoom, etc.)
Case Study #4 Cont.
Information tool(access data associated with features)
Find tool(locate address, well, etc.)
Hyperlink tool(access document associated with features)
Table of Contents(select data to view on
map)
Table of Contents shows grouping of layers and serves as map legend
Use database forms to select specific data to view
Use navigation tools and labels to customize view
Use hyperlink tool to access data in reports
Only “checked” layers and groups will appear on the map
Final Thoughts
• 3D visualization and analysis is a powerful tool that
can be used to convey complex site information
and can be used to achieve better outcomes
• It is critical that the information and methods used
to create the 3D visualization are accurate and
defensible
• Interactive GIS tools are effective in sharing data
with a broader audience than just “expert” GIS
users
Questions?