Abstract
As more is learned about the complex nature and extent of environmental impacts from progressive human disturbance, scientists, policy analysts, decision makers, educators, and communicators are increasingly joining forces to develop strategies for preserving and protecting the environment. The Eco-Informa Foundation is an educational scientific organization dedicated to promoting the collaborative development and sharing of scientific information. The Foundation participated in a recent international conference on environmental informatics through a special symposium on integrating information for better environmental decisions. Presentations focused on four general themes: (1) remote sensing and data interpretation, including through new knowledge management tools; (2) risk assessment and communication, including for radioactively contaminated facilities, introduced biological hazards, and food safety; (3) community involvement in cleanup projects; and (4) environmental education. The general context for related issues, methods and applications, and results and recommendations from those discussions are highlighted here.
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Abbreviations
- BSE:
-
bovine spongiform encephalopathy
- DOE:
-
U.S. Department of Energy
- EMPA:
-
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research
- EPA:
-
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- FMD:
-
foot-and-mouth disease
- GIS:
-
geographical information system
- GPS:
-
global positioning system
- ISEP:
-
International Society for Environmental Protection m: meter(s)
- SARA:
-
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
- SPOT:
-
Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre
- TCU:
-
Texas Christian University
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MacDonell, M., Morgan, K. & Newland, L. Integrating information for better environmental decisions. Environ Sci & Pollut Res 9, 359–368 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02987582
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02987582