GIS & Environmental Data Management
For many environmental projects, there is often an abundance of data collected over many years. EPS has developed a collection of standard and customized tools for integrating and interpreting vast amounts of data to create spatial data sets as part of an Environmental Data Model. These tools support techniques that are effective in communicating the spatial nature of the data to clients and regulators.
Our experienced consultants follow a proven, formal design process to identify the end-user’s requirements. One of our strengths is its ability to convert and manage large volumes of data into a normalized relational database structure where all records are formatted and categorized during validation in order to be stored in standardized tables, while at the same time retaining original values. The database is designed to be complete, efficient, accurate, flexible and stable. A front end database can be created for easier data retrieving and manipulation.
The data may be obtained from multiple sampling events in a variety of formats: hand written in field notes, hard copies of laboratory data, electronic copies of laboratory data, and published papers. The data is tracked using a document tracking library.
The Environmental Data Model incorporates hydrogeologic and contaminant information, which can then be used and visualized within a Geographic Information System (GIS). The GIS allows unlimited data theme overlays to facilitate the most completed and accurate interpretation of the information. EPS staff is knowledgeable about and experienced working and manage complex conversion projects, which require creation of data from multiple sources of varying scale, vintages and quality. The sources could be a combination of aerial images, field observations, CAD drawings, and topographic maps. If additional information is needed EPS owns and are trained using a mobile GPS unit which updates surveyed positions in GIS automatically.
The GIS will be developed to the client’s particular needs and can be optimized or automated to provide immediate productivity gains. The GIS data can be showing three-dimensional visualization models and groundwater flow and transport models. After model development, the integrated information which may include wellhead protection areas, contaminant plumes, and water balance information, can be used for remediation plans, public presentations, or incorporated into land use policies.
