Two basic tools for integrated management of the environment are modelling and environmental data. Both tools were available and valid in the past; however, the recent requirements for integrated environmental management have also led to a significant evolution of both modelling procedures and data management systems. This volume provides a systematic approach to various aspects of environmental data management. The contents of the book follow the basic steps that constitute an environmental data management system. These steps cover in sequence: collection of environmental data for assessing air quality, surface water quality and solid waste management; reliability considerations in data collection; storage, handling and retrieval of available data; transfer of data into information via data analysis and environmental modelling; and finally the use of available data in decision-making for environmental management. This volume should be useful to researchers, professional engineers, planners and managers and graduate students, who are involved in environmental management, data collection and dissemination, and information retrieval.
It should also interest research and data centres, international programmes and organizations related to environmental management.