Great Lakes Toxic Chemical Decision Support System

In support of the 1994 Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA) to reduce pollutants in the Great Lakes, a decision support system is being developed and applied to answering management questions regarding the implementation and post-auditing of the zero discharge and virtual elimination strategies for Tier I and Tier II toxic chemicals. The RAISON for Windows Decision support system, which was developed at the National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, is the software that the application is based upon. It integrates data, text, maps, satellite images, pictures, video and other knowledge input. A library of software functions and tools are available for selective extraction of spatial and temporal data that can be analysed using spatial algorithms, models, statistics, expert systems, neural networks, and other information technologies. Results of the analyses can be shown as combinations of maps, graphs, contours, and animations of model outputs in 2 and 3 dimensions. Examples are presented of the various data analysis and visualization techniques being used within the Great Lakes for providing essential knowledge on the fate and effects of Tier 1 and Tier II toxic chemicals.