Innovative decision-support tools for risk-based environmental management [antikvár]

Land Contamination Reclamation, 17 (3-4), 2009 DOI 10.2462/09670613.971 2009 EPP Publications Ltd Introduction: smart environmental management Katalin Gruiz and Tamás Meggyes Our environment is a complex and dynamic system, encompassing both natural and built elements, with people as its key actors. Our past eiiorts at industrialization have attempted to separate humanity and the natural environment, often motivated by the short-term goals of exploiting or excluding the natural world. With our ultimate goal of conquering and controlling the natural world, it was inevitable that nature and humanity would come into conflict Eventually, realizing the extent of the damage that this approach had caused, a new philosophy of sustainable development was introduced, with the aim of satisfying ail participants. Humans would be permitted to carry on with development, but they would be forced to take care of nature without the benefit of sophisticated technology - another patronizing approach. For the benefit of current and fiiture generations, nothing is more desirable than a future govemed by a philosophy that appreciates the significance of nature while taking care of humankind's interests. However, this can only be achieved successfully if humans appreciate their identity and place within the natural environment. The key to a sustainable future is to adopt a humble attitude toward nature, otherwise we will put oiu-selves in jeopardy by inflicting unsustainable damage on the environment. To a certain extent, this controversial situation has stemmed from the fact that we humans, as the planet's dominant species, are extraordinarily capable and ambitious. Nevertheless, we are still unable to correctly identify our place in nature. Moreover, we do not yet fiilly understand the basic scientific trends and rules of nature. Therefore, the general public, industrial leaders and decision-makers can easily be infiuenced, manipulated and deluded by misleading ideas. To bridge the gulf between humanity and the natural environment, scientists have to improve their knowledge, rendering it 'humble' in the face of nature. Scientists also require suitable engineering tools in order to reconcile the conflicting interests of nature and humankind. We should estabhsh appropriate environmental-management practices to prevent the environmental damage caused by natural elements and human activities, and we should instigate appropriate remedial action if the damage is unavoidable. Environmental protection is a science- and engineer-ing-based management practice. Regrettably, however, even current best-management practices are insufficient to achieve the goals of 'humble' and holistic environmental protection and land use. Environmental protection initiatives aim to maintain the quality of the environment over the long term - not just for our grandchildren, but for many generations to come. Despite the gloomy outlook, there are signs that we are heading in the right direction. The Hungarian MOKKA project aims to increase the range of available scientific and engineering tools. It will establish methods for selecting the most appropriate tools for environmental management and for developing technologies that surpass the best that are currently available. Within the auspices of this project, our objective has been to develop engineering and management methods that are highly effective and innovative in terms of technology, the enviromnent and cost. The intention was to rely on our common sense, itself an intrinsic part of nature, and to implement our new knowledge by using modem scientific and engineering tools. The innovative methods and technologies developed by the MOKKA project form a complex scheme of so-called horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal components are made up of environmental compartments, such as surface water; groundwater; soil and sediment; land use; and the people living in the (oflen polluted) environment. The horizontal components can be complemented by fiirther elements, such as waste and waste management, or air and noise, etc., to encompass the total enviroimient The vertical structure