Semantic and spatial Proximity Modeling of Equitable Sustainability in Proctor Creek, Atlanta: Merging Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development

Abstract

This study employs spatial and semantic modeling to formally specify the intersection of environmental concerns and social justice, focusing on the unequal impact of environmental hazards on the economically disadvantaged people living in the Proctor Creek watershed within the Atlanta Metropolitan area. Our 'Public Health-Urban-Socio-economic-Environmental Justice' (PUSH-EJ) ontology formally integrates environmental justice indices and all concepts from the EPA’s EJScreen, such as Environmental Indicator, Demographic Indicator, EJ Index, Particulate Matter, Risk, and Proximity to hazardous sites. PUSH-EJ also formalizes the National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA)’s Air Toxics Cancer Risk, Air Toxics Respiratory Hazard Index, and Diesel Particulate Matter. The modeled environmental indicators include levels of ozone, particulate matter 2.5 (micrometer or smaller-sized particles), and lead paint (for houses built before 1960) in the air, count of underground leaking storage tanks, and count and proximity to wastewater discharge areas. The ontology also models proximity of housing units to waste and hazardous chemical facilities or sites related to National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Program, Risk Management Plan (RMP) sites, Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs), and Traffic volume. Environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic indicators are mapped to the objectives of UN SDGs 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10, bridging the gap between environmental justice, public health, urban dynamics, and socio-economic aspects. Our analysis of Proctor Creek's socioeconomic indicators reveals a combined Demographic Index of 73%, driven by Low Income (61%) and People of Color (90%). These findings indicate that Proctor Creek exhibits the lowest scores across all categories when compared to other regions in Georgia, EPA Region 4, and the nation. Our results call for minimizing contamination in the Proctor Creek area and uplifting socioeconomic conditions by the authorities responsible for the watershed. Our spatial analysis highlights urgent priorities in the Proctor Creek area, for the management of air toxic sources, emissions, and addressing proximity issues linked to environmental pollutants from hazardous waste sites, lead paint, and traffic.