Applied Geographic Information Systems
Today’s environmental projects
generate an immense flow of data that needs to be managed well in order to become
effective. A proper interface tool is needed in order to take advantage of the
new information and make it available for the decision-making process. Eon has
extensive experience at efficiently applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
to environmental projects. GIS enables us to streamline all data management and
analysis tasks and present pertinent information to our clients. Through effective
visualization of modeling and analysis results, you are able to participate in
the technical aspects of the decision-making process. Efficiently managed and
visualized data also enables you to monitor our progress. Additionally, this data
provides for improved QA/QC through cost-effective multiple peer reviews.
Eon professionals possess
a wide variety of GIS expertise. Our team members have managed county GIS systems,
such as those of Prince William County, Virginia, and Adams County, Pennsylvania.
Our personnel developed a method to evaluate the sensitivity of geographic analysis
to model and data inaccuracies in the Chesapeake Bay Decision Support System,
which enabled methodological inconsistencies to be identified and corrections
proposed. A diverse range of government and industrial clients has utilized
GIS applications and graphical user interfaces which our staff designed and
programmed. For example, at the Kendall oil refinery in Bradford, PA, a GIS
interface was developed that enabled scientists to analyze modeling and analysis
results, and allowed refinery personnel to participate in the remedial design
decisions.
Specialists in Arc/Info,
we are also familiar with all other major GIS applications and are on the cutting-edge
of vector-based GIS integration with the Internet.
Typical Special Services
Projects:
Name of Project: "Site
Prioritization Model" In a pioneering agreement
with Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection agency (DEP), PP&L
took on the responsibility for evaluating and mitigating, if necessary, their
own sites. From a total of 250 sites throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania,
DEP required that 30 sites per year be addressed. Pursuant to the agreement,
the sites were evaluated for their potential risk to the public, sensitive ecosystems
and natural resources. The selected were then assigned cleanup priority’s based
on a DEP approved site prioritization model.
In support of the model,
our professionals created a 1:24000 scale GIS database for the entire PP&L territory.
In addition to planimetric data, the database consisted of such themes as public
and private wells, stream classifications, wetlands, endangered species and
land use categories. Using various spatial analysis techniques, all requisite
data were generated to run the site prioritization model. The programming of
several graphical user interfaces and automated mapping routines provided for
efficient management and access to the data.
In addition to the original
project scope, our professionals assisted PP&L in further populating the database
through Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, aerial photographs and existing
CAD drawings. This enabled PP&L to leverage their investment for a GIS that
was initially designed to satisfy environmental compliance issues, into a functional
automated mapping and facilities management tool.
Accomplishments:
Work for the project involved
the development of a GIS to support the investigation of acid mine drainage
in the vicinity of several underground coal mines. Hard copy maps were scanned
and vectorized. Surveyed borings were used to generate sub-surface three dimensional
data sets. Seeps and outcrops were mapped using GPS and a variety of other data
themes were transposed from existing maps.
Digital elevation models
were created for surface topography and subsurface strata. These data were used
to successfully interpolate coal seam outcrops, which were mapped, and verified
with GPS. A graphical user interface was developed in Arc/Info that enabled
scientists to interactively analyze cross-sections of the sub-surface data.
Advanced Visualization System software was used to create a true three dimensional
data structure that enabled scientists to interactively visualize sub-surface
relationships.
Accomplishments:
Client: Pennsylvania Power & Light (PP&L), Allentown, PA
Name of the Project: "Greenwich
Collieries"
Client: Pennsylvania Mines Corporation, Barnesboro, PA