Advanced Environmental Monitoring Systems Flashcards
Monitoring vs Measurement
o Monitoring: regular surveillance over a system to derive knowledge about it
o Measurement: assigning numbers to objects, parameters or events
o You cannot recognise, understand, improve or maintain what you do not measure
o Measurement – data – information – knowledge – understanding – wisdom
General Monitoring program design
o Aim: tracking condition over time & space
o Reference values/conditions: un-impacted site/system
o Stationarity: assume range of variability is constant
o Measure: appropriate spatial and temporal scales to achieve aim
o Adapt: ensure monitoring program is achieving its aim
Ecosystem health assessments
o Identify reference sites, establish guidelines, compare to other sites
o Reference condition represent highest biological conditions found in a system undisturbed by anthropogenic stressors (human impacts)
o Very careful in site choice, and require extensive background knowledge
SEQ Ecosystem health monitoring program
o Three stage process (1993 – 2001)
o Aim: the evaluate effectiveness of environmental protection strategies implemented by council & industry to restore and protect SEQ waterways
o Achievements: wastewater plants upgraded, reduction in point source nitrogen loading, riparian zone rehabilitation, recognition as ‘excellent model’,
o Report card grade
• Water quality (70%): TN, secchi, lyngbya, turbidity, DO
• Biological (30%): seagrass, depth range, coral, riparian assessment, nutrient mixing
Reference Site Selection
o Key step in generating reliable monitoring program
o What drives one system may not drive another
o Need to understand all process in reference systems
Problems
o Total nitrogen dominated by organic nitrogen – chlorophyll concentration
o Stimulate phytoplankton – increase chlorophyll
Site Specific Issues
o Danger to longevity of monitoring programs if unrealistic/misguided management problems are recommended
Maximum Error Allowable
o Probe sensitivity, laboratory protocols
o Does not include natural variability
Actual Sampling Time
o Monthly sampling, generally 10-12 minutes per site
o Total annual sampling time: 2-2.5 hours – site sampled for 0.2-0.3% of the year
Events Often Missed
o Natural events often unpredictable
o Floods & cyclones cause dramatic changes
Instrumentation
o Huge advances in technology – still needs effective program to derive full benefit
o Sensors are smaller/bigger, more accurate & quicker
o Remote sensing: generation of information without physical contact
EHMP
o Needs to adapt & innovate, but it best of a bad bunch
o Patience & more investment into research & management actions
Geographical Information Systems
o Spatially relevant database system that captures, stores & analysis spatial data
o Wide variety of types of data
Big Data
o Collection of data seems so large & complex that it becomes too difficult to process using traditional data processing tools
Advanced Monitoring Systems
o Support aim of monitoring system
o Address inadequacies of current program
o Adaptable & performance based
o Autonomous monitoring:
• Autonomous surface vessel, laser scanner, retractable sensor arm,
o In-situ adaptive sampling
• Ability to work under changing conditions
