Development of a database of projects related to pollution hazards on the natural environment

ABSTRACT

The increase in population and urbanization has necessitated the monitoring of hazards to the environment. The Ministry of Environment and Parliamentary Affairs of Sri Lanka had identified the need to execute a survey of environment pollution related projects to create a database. The present work comprises of the collection of pollution related data from projects in Sri Lanka and the construction of a database for the effective storage, retrieval and presentation of such information. A survey was carried out by development of a questionnaire identifying the key areas relevant and adequate to achieve the ministry needs. Data sources were identified and data collectors were assigned after training. The developed database is founded on information from actual projects exceeding two hundred and collected from over fifty contacted resource personnel and/or organizations. The developed database provides information pertaining to the current projects and interests, the available information and their sources, and the contact of current practitioners related to the pollution hazard management of the natural environment. The database would certainly help a developing country like Sri Lanka to avoid executing expensive project activities. Therefore the present database would initiate steps to create an environment to disseminate the information not only to managers but also to a much wider audience. The database technology provides such facilities to enhance the much needed optimum utilization of available resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of a developing country like Sri Lanka