Environmental Data Visualization for

Litigation SupportRaphael Siebenmann, P.E.

2011 Georgia Environmental Conference

Savannah, GA

The Problem• Environmental problems are complex and

solutions are difficult to visualize.

• Stakeholders are often not technical experts.

• All sites are different and there is no such thing

as “one-size-fits-all”.

• Understanding, managing, and communicating

environmental data is time-consuming and

challenging.

A way forward

• Interactive and three-dimensional (3D) data

visualization provides a set of tools to address these

challenges

I want to see my data in 3D!

Environmental Data Visualization

• Past, present, and future data visualization

• What is data-driven visualization?

• Capabilities

• Case Studies:o Cost Allocation

o Volume Estimation

o Photo Realistic Models

o Interactive GIS

• Final Thoughts

The Past: Hand Made Maps

• Sample location map – early 1990s

• Photo copied USGS base map with hand placed overlays.

Still Useful: Computer Assisted Drawings

• Chemistry data posting – mid 1990s• Black and white AutoCAD file with surveyed points• Static, manually created data boxes

• 2000s – Color Data Postings with Aerial Base Map

• Surveyed sample locations can be “georeferenced” to a base map or air photo for accurate mapping

• Colors, symbols and annotations can be used to convey relative metrics

• Live link to a database allows maps to always be up-to-date

• Sometimes the data alone (no interpretation) tells the best story

Story: TCE data color-coded in Vapor

Monitoring Wells suggest that some

plaintiff exposure addresses are closer to

contamination than others

Standard Practice: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Story: Time-series concentration

data suggest transport of vinyl

chloride is to the west, off-site.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Cont.

• 2000s – Automated data charting with site feature base map

• Concentrations can be presented in many powerful formats…limited only by one’s creativity

• Easy and accurate automated mapping allows one to create many different formats to select the most convincing image(s)

Traditional Conceptual Site Model

• Artist’s rendering of site conditions, contaminant sources, and pathways

Data Driven Conceptual Site Model

• 3D visualization of site characterization data, bedrock topography, historical site features, and remediation system components

Anatomy of Data Driven

Visualization

Air Photo

Base Map

Wells

Geology

Interpret

Claimants

Fac

tual

Dat

aIn

terp

reta

tio

ns

Leg

al

GIS

Capabilities

• Post characterization data in three dimensions

• Interpolate chemical, geologic, and other data to provide estimates of plume size and shape

• User friendly, 3d rotatable, powerpoint-like

outputs that can be shared with stakeholders

• Gives users the ability to interrogate the data

and view the spatial context

• Import data from wide variety of sources,

including groundwater flow models and

engineering designs

Capabilities cont.

• Estimating volume of chemical mass in specific geologic zones

Case Study #1 Contaminated Soil Cost Allocation

• Company A operated facility until purchase by Company B• Site soils are above the risk reduction standard (RRS) due to

presence of numerous chemical manufactured by both Company A and Company B

• Spatial analysis performed to allocate site remediation costs

Case Study #2 Compliance with

Cleanup Objectives

• Quarterly monitoring program – VOCs in groundwater

• No off-site migration to date• However, still need to

demonstrate mass reduction

Plume Mass Over Time

y = -0.0012x + 50.218R² = 0.2067

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14To

tal

VO

C M

ass

in

Gro

un

dw

ate

r (kg

)

Results from the Mann-Kendall trend test indicate decreasing total VOC

mass in groundwater at a confidence level of 95%.

Linear

Trendline

• Chemical mass estimated at each sampling event and then evaluated statistically

Case Study #3 Photo-Realistic 3D Models

• Engineering design drawings can be converted into navigable models

• Facilitates communication between stakeholders

• Can be used to assess visual impact of site design elements; for example, will new construction be seen from the river?

Dollars and Sense

• Advances in data management technologies, computing, and awareness have lowered the cost of producing 3D data visualizations.

• Site investigations require a significant investment of time and money. The added benefit of a more thorough understanding of site geology and chemistry is often worth the extra cost.

• If you don’t use 3D visualization, others may use it against you.

2000 2005 2010 2015

Cost of 3D

Visualization

• Fictional compilation of several VI sites

• Former ponds accepted TCE-impacted waste for decades

• Plume of TCE in groundwater downgradient of ponds

• TCE vapors present in soil gas

• Potential risk to residents via intrusion to indoor air

Facility with ponds

Case Study #4 Interactive GIS for Litigation Support

Site manager and associated stakeholders need to:

• Identify degree and extent of impacted residences

• Calculate associated risk to residences

• Plan mitigation

• Defend against potential litigation

• Identify source(s) of contamination

Case Study #4 Interactive GIS for

Litigation Support

Navigation tools(pan, zoom, etc.)

Case Study #4 Cont.

Information tool(access data associated with features)

Find tool(locate address, well, etc.)

Hyperlink tool(access document associated with features)

Table of Contents(select data to view on

map)

Table of Contents shows grouping of layers and serves as map legend

Use database forms to select specific data to view

Use navigation tools and labels to customize view

Use hyperlink tool to access data in reports

Only “checked” layers and groups will appear on the map

Final Thoughts

• 3D visualization and analysis is a powerful tool that

can be used to convey complex site information

and can be used to achieve better outcomes

• It is critical that the information and methods used

to create the 3D visualization are accurate and

defensible

• Interactive GIS tools are effective in sharing data

with a broader audience than just “expert” GIS

users

Questions?