The last thing you want is mistakes when you’re conducting an environmental analysis. The whole point of your work is to assess the existing situation and devise an appropriate plan of action for remediation, if that’s needed. You can’t do that without complete, accurate data. Using an environmental database management system (EDMS) can give you confidence and peace of mind.
An EDMS can support your business in many ways, but these five features will help you reduce the risk of errors:
1. An EDMS assures accuracy.
You can collect and upload data in the field, gathering more information in far less time. It’s immediately available from your central database to anyone who needs it, from anywhere. No one has to waste time re-entering data back at the office. That saves time and, more importantly, eliminates the possibility of transpositions, misreadings, etc. that could cause disastrous analytical errors later on.
Information is available in commonly-used formats that support project-specific efforts of lawyers and regulatory officials as well as the geologists, engineers and hydrogeologists working the scientific side. That greatly reduces risk of someone misunderstanding or misinterpreting data.
2. An EDMS helps you gather complete data.
You can easily produce a wide variety of visualizations in 2D or 3D that depict every detail of the site you’re evaluating. These images can show every core sampling location, and with a simple click you can see the chemical breakdown of that core. No rummaging around with multiple maps and printed analyses, it’s all at your fingertips.
And since you can see the big picture at a glance, it’s easier for you to show clients or other non-scientists on your team what you’re dealing with.
3. Your EDMS will do the math for you.
Every environmental analysis relies on mathematical computations. One of the most valuable aspects of an environmental database management system is its ability to do that for you, saving time and ensuring accuracy.
Your EDMS will automatically convert metrics as you enter data, so you never have to worry about mis-matched figures. As you’re working through your analysis, you can pose endless queries to quickly evaluate and compare potential solution scenarios, helping identify the most effective option. And the EDMS will even perform a detailed cost analysis of each proposed solution, ensuring you choose not only the most effective but the most cost-effective alternative.
4. You can build a library that’s just a click away.
The more information you have to review, the better your environmental analysis will be. An EDMS automatically stores all data and related information as you take on new projects. But you can also upload historical documents, visuals, etc. to create a legacy library. That eliminates the need for redundant research, interviews, testing or analysis, which reduces risk of mistakes. Not to mention the time it saves.
5. An EDMS greatly improves collaboration.
There are a lot of people involved in performing your environmental analysis, and they’re frequently located in different places. Sometimes far away. Since any of them can access your EDMS any time, from anywhere, collaboration becomes a reality rather than just a great concept. You can instantly share and discuss information within your team or with outside consultants, etc.
You can get your work done faster, without the added delay and expense of traveling to in-person meetings or cumbersome shuffling and shipping of documents, etc. And since everyone can truly participate, you’ll get the broadest thinking. That produces the best solutions and keeps everyone invested in the final solution.
Your business reputation and a profitable future depend entirely on your ability to provide thorough, reliable analysis and reports that clients can use for decision-making and compliance submissions. Adopting an EDMS and implementing it throughout your environmental analysis processes, from the field to final reports, ensures your work always meets those expectations.
Photo Credit: squidish via Flickr