The Integration of Network-Based Models for Spill Response and Homeland Security

William B Samuels,Rakesh Bahadur,Christopher J Ziemniak,Mondher Chehata,Michael C Monteith,David E Amstutz,Jeffrey P Johnson,Maria E Herrera,Jonathan M Pickus

doi:10.3844/ajessp.2008.544.550

Abstract

The integration of three hydraulic GIS (Geographic Information System) applications is presented which represent the water infrastructures of cities and urban areas and US streams and rivers. The water infrastructures include drinking water distribution systems, wastewater collection systems and source water. The National Research Council[1] states that problems dealing with the collective behavior of networks such as river systems, water distribution systems and waste water collection systems are complex because they include feedback loops, produce counter-intuitive behaviors and exhibit behaviors that cannot be predicted from the attributes of individual components. A complex system includes all of the above individual components, yet also exhibits emergent collective behavior caused by the interactions among its features. The integration of these applications have been developed for use in planning, response, training and development of monitoring strategies to address potential deliberate or accidental toxic contamination events.

Highlights

Many of the streams and rivers in the US are sources for drinking water
This study introduces the concept of integrated water security by including and hydrologically connecting each component of the water infrastructure: drinking water treatment and distribution systems, wastewater and runoff collection and treatment systems and the surface waters which serve for both source and disposal
The source water application (ICWater) (Fig. 4) focuses on providing Incident Commanders with critical information they need to protect the public during contamination attacks on drinking water

Summary

Introduction

Many of the streams and rivers in the US are sources for drinking water. Water from these surface sources are processed and distributed through pipelines throughout cities and suburbs. Three hydraulic GIS applications (network-based models) have been developed and integrated to address water infrastructure: water distribution, wastewater collection and source water (Fig. 1).

Results

Conclusion