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Monday 17 October 2005: Session 1, 1:30:00 PM
Environmental and Geospatial Elements in Homeland Security: The Nuclear Question
Presentation Abstract
The events of September 11, 2001 have focused detailed attention to the vulnerability of the nation’s resources. A National Academy of Science (NAS) Report has addressed this issue that has become the top priority to federal, state, and local government leaders and agencies, and the public at large. The NAS report highlights the need for a national program aimed at making the nation safer and outlines the technical elements necessary for homeland security. Geographic information systems (GIS) are identified as a critical component to this program within the context of information technology (IT) in general. Another report by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (EPA) addresses the human and environmental risks associated with toxic chemical releases to the atmosphere associated with the destruction, combustion, and collapse of the N.Y. World Trade Towers. In the future, geospatial data and technologies are expected to be crucial analytical tools in both the collection of relevant environmental data and in making data available to emergency management personnel, government leaders, clean up crews, and the public. An overview of geospatial technologies, environmental instrumentation and data, and applications will be provided and discussed relative to the needs of environmental managers. Concerns with protecting and measuring air quality and water quality will be covered.
Speaker Biographical Information
Prahlad Murthy Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering: RGIS-Wilkes, Wilkes University
Dr. Murthy is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering and the former (2002-05) chairperson of the GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department at Wilkes University. His research interests are in outdoor and indoor air quality including air quality modeling. He has taught courses in areas of air quality management including air quality modeling, water quality management and meteorology over the past 12 years. He also worked in consulting for nearly four years and was involved in the design and analysis of wastewater treatment facilities. Dr. Murthy received his Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Anna University in India and his Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. Dr. Murthy is an active member of the Air & Waste Management Association and is a certified ABET program evaluator. He is a registered professional engineer in Delaware and Pennsylvania. He is a certified Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) by the Institute of Environmental Practice.
Dale Bruns Professor, GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering: RGIS-Wilkes, College of Science and Engineering
Dr. Bruns received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Arizona State University and Idaho State University, respectively. He was an environmental scientist for seven years with EG&G Idaho, Inc., a prime contractor at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. His work at the national lab involved research in environmental monitoring and assessment and he served as a network facilitator for seven national labs regarding integration of environmental databases. At present, he is Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at Wilkes University. Dr. Bruns has taught a wide range of graduate and undergraduate courses at four different academic institutions; these courses have ranged from Aquatic Ecology, Water Pollution Ecology, and Environmental Toxicology to Geographic Information Systems, and Environmental Data Analysis. His research program encompasses environmental monitoring in Chile and China at Biosphere Reserves and a major watershed study (on an American Heritage River) to characterize environmental landscape features and river water quality based on GIS, GPS, and remote sensing. Dr. Bruns has over 45 technical publications, has been a member of a National Academy of Sciences subcommittee, is on the editorial board of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, and has served on review panels for NSF, EPA, and DOE. He recently co-chaired a regional task force on technical and geospatial needs for Homeland Security.
