Environmental Monitoring: Architecture of a Global Model

The concept of monitoring has different meanings ranging from a management overview function to the collection of data by a single sensor. This context-dependant uses of the term presents problems in applications such as the environment, safety, trade and arms control where measurements by single sensors or inspectors as well as oversight by management exist as part of the same monitoring system. For large scale processes monitoring systems may be complex, poorly-defined and costly. One of the reasons is that large scale processes consist of imbedded subprocesses with their own monitoring subsystems. Some of these subprocesses may be either disconnected or weakly linked. Thus, a monitoring system can be defined as a hierarchical structure consisting of multiple monitoring levels each optimized to measure a corresonding set of processes or, in the case of disconnected subprocesses, as a collection of independent systems. For complex processes there.is a need for a systematic approach to evaluating monitoring concepts and procedures. This paper discusses some of the reasons for such an approach and presents a conceptual framework for evaluating compliance with regulations and optimizing the design of complex monitoring systems.