Improving data usability for environmental indicators in
Strategic Environmental Assessment
1Peter Mooney & 2Alison Donnelly
1National Centre for Geocomputation, NUI Maynooth.2School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin.
Environmental Research Centre, Environmental Protection Agency.IRELAND
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
There are many sources of baselinedata/information in SEA
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
“Data Gaps” occur in a variety of ways
Data does not/never did exist
Data is physically in-accessible
Data is too old or just not applicable
Data is of very poor quality
Wrong level of aggregation
(temporal or geog) or wrong scale
Data distributed in an in-accessible way political or human barriers
software or cost barriers
Dec
reas
ing
Opp
ortu
nity
For
Usa
ge
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
Responsibility for “Data Issues” from Collection to End Usage
-- (No Responsibility) ++ (Responsibility)
Data collectors
Data managers
Data
users
Data does not exist -- -- +
Data is physically inaccessible + + --
Data is too old – out of date -- -- --
Very poor quality ++ + --
Incorrect level of aggregation -- + --
Distribution/Access (human barriers) + ++ +
Distribution/Access (cost barriers) + ++ +
Distribution/Access (Software/Format) + ++ ++
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
Post-SEA can provide for feedback
EnvironmentalData
Stored
EnvironmentalData CollectionAnd Analysis
SEA
Predict SignificantEnvironmental Effects
Monitoring Actual Effects of the Plan
Used By
FeedbackInform/Identify Problems
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
Midlands Waste Management Plan
Are there any clues as to why there is a “lack of human health data”?
Are these data hidden from public access? Are they only available in paper format?
HUMAN HEALTH
There is a lack of human health data available at national, or regional level in relation to waste management, however an overview is given here. A literature review in 2003 on the effects of various forms of waste diaposal ‘Health and Environmental Effects of Landfilling and Incineration of Waste – A Literature Review’, concluded that Ireland has insufficientinsufficient resources to carry out adequate risk assessment.
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
Midlands Waste Management Plan
Which of these “data gaps” are as a result of data access problems?
Which of these “data gaps” are as a result of data not actually existing?
Data gaps:
Three are a number of areas where there is insufficient
data or where the level of detail is not sufficient for the
purpose of baseline.
•Groundwater vulnerability and aquifer classification data
for Westmeath, Longford and Offaly
•Air quality data that is specific to the impacts due to
waste (main source; Annual Environmental Reports)
•Human health data relevant to waste facilities
•Biological water quality data upstream and downstream
of significant waste facilities
•Traffic or number or journeys related to waste transport
and waste activities
•Energy consumption data for waste facilities
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
Greater Dublin Water Supply
What are the reasons for these gaps? Can the Environmental Report speculate or provide
examples?
Data Gap: Impacts on otter activityImpacts on breeding waterfowl listed in Annex 1 of the EU Birds DirectiveImpacts on the wetted perimeter downstream of Lough Ree and impacts of the predicted increase in the duration in minimum downstream flows of approximately 12m3/sec (54 days to73 days) on biodiversity and the River Shannon.
Data Gap: Unknown sites of cultural heritage
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
Draft Rural Development Plan Wales
Transboundary problems are evident here Ontological problems also evident Data Scale problems Data providers need to improve their service
A. Donnelly, 7 June 2007IAIA, Seoul, Korea
SEA can provide very useful feedback for data collection/management
SEA Breaks away from traditional producer/consumer data model
SEA needs - good data – quickly – at useful scales and levels of aggregation
In a unique position to provide feedback on problems encountered when collecting baseline data and information
Thank you for your attention!