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Using GIS in Risk Analysis: A Case Study of Hazardous Waste Transport
Author(s) -
Lovett Andrew A.,
Parfitt Julian P.,
Brainard Julii S.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1997.tb00903.x
Subject(s) - geographic information system , spillage , hazardous waste , transport engineering , vulnerability (computing) , hazard , geospatial analysis , routing (electronic design automation) , transport network , environmental science , risk analysis (engineering) , environmental planning , computer science , engineering , business , geography , waste management , computer security , remote sensing , chemistry , computer network , organic chemistry
This paper provides an illustration of how a geographic information system (GIS) can be used in risk analysis. It focuses on liquid hazardous waste transport and utilizes records archived by the London Waste Regulatory Authority. This data source provides information on the origin and destination of each waste stream, but not the route followed during transport. A GIS was therefore employed to predict the paths used, taking into account different routing criteria and characteristics of the available road network. Details were also assembled on population distribution and ground‐water vulnerability, thus providing a basis for evaluating the potential consequences of a waste spillage during transport. Four routing scenarios were implemented to identify sections of road which consistently saw heavy traffic. These simulations also highlighted that some interventions could lead to risk tradeoffs rather than hazard mitigation. Many parts of the research would not have been possible without a GIS, and the study demonstrates the considerable potential of such software in environmental risk assessment and management.