One of its most broadly useful facets of an environmental database management system is the ability to pull virtually unlimited reports. That’s especially valuable when you consider that each report can be uniquely customized by any member of your project group, because everyone has 24/7 access to centrally-stored digital data.
Assembling information, preparing it and generating reports can be extremely time-consuming. And there’s always an underlying risk of errors that could be missed. Mistakes that go undetected can create exponential problems because you’re basing assumptions — and therefore solutions — on incorrect data. You can’t devise superior solutions without reliable reports.
An environmental database management system enables you to generate any type of report you need, quickly and with assured accuracy. Reports are instantly available to everyone who needs them. On the flip side, anyone can generate their own reports without interrupting other team members or waiting around because someone else is using documents, graphics or other data they need.
Here are just five reports you can generate with your EDMS:
Facts and figures.
The fundamental value of an environmental database management system is that all project information is stored in one place, ready to use. The system automatically converts metrics if necessary, so units are always consistent without manually doing the work.
You can organize facts and figures to create data reports in the most usable format. Because an EDMS is far more robust than other commonly-used software applications such as Excel or Access and all your data is linked, you can create data reports that better support your efforts to understand and analyze each property’s condition.
Visualizations.
Environmental investigations are always highly involved, sometimes acutely complex, with vast volumes of data. Yet virtually every project involves some number of non-scientist players, and it’s critical that everyone be able to understand the situation. There’s nothing like visual depiction to help people more readily grasp the full nature and extent of contamination.
You can easily export data from your EDMS to virtually any visualization software, to create charts and graphs, multi-dimensional and full color renderings in 2D, 3D, GIS, etc. to see contours, surface or subsurface details. For instance, you can produce a single multi-color graphic that shows the extent of a plume with markers denoting each sampling site and a chart showing the approximate chemical composition of each sample
Non-scientific reports.
An environmental database management system allows each team member to easily organize and quickly assemble whatever they need, in reporting formats most appropriate their own use or their intended audience. For example, attorneys may need reports or graphics for courtroom presentations or legal documents.
Queries.
Use your EDMS to assist in analyzing possible remediation solutions, too, including projected costs so you can fully compare value of each option. You can pose infinite queries, changing variables as often as you want, and get virtually immediate responses.
You can concentrate on solution-oriented assessment and contemplation rather than spending time on calculations, fiddling around with Excel charts, etc. You’ll never have to wonder if you overlooked something or your conclusions are inaccurate.
Compliance submittals.
Regulatory agencies are always part of the equation. They often need to see reports during the process of environmental investigation, as you work to identify the scope of potential contamination and devise and best remediation solutions. Regulators are also involved when ongoing monitoring is required.
Even ongoing stewardship of properties where remediation has taken place or where hazardous substances or chemicals are being stored requires periodic submittal of reports to regulatory agencies. An EDMS has you covered, information right at your fingertips.
You rely on myriad reports throughout every project, from initial on-site data gathering to producing your final report of findings and recommendations. An EDMS simplifies and streamlines your work by enabling you to quickly generate precisely the reports you need, in the format you want, whether for scientific or general use.
Photo Credit: Math Plourde