Environmental monitoring with GIS maps: how to optimize risk management and infrastructure safety

Environmental Monitoring ( MA ) or Environmental Monitoring (EM) using GIS maps is a key technological breakthrough to improve environmental risk management. With advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) systems, companies and organizations can collect and analyze critical data, planning targeted actions to preserve the environment and minimize infrastructure damage.

But what is it specifically about? In this article we explore what is meant by MA, how GIS maps work, and what application benefits they offer.

Environmental Monitoring refers to the process of collecting and analyzing data on factors such as air, water, soil and climatic conditions to assess theenvironmental impact of human and natural activities. It is an essential activity to identify risk situations in advance and take timely action, both for the protection of the environment and for the safety of infrastructure and populations. Its applications can be different:

• • Pollution source detection: environmental monitoring enables the identification and mapping of major sources of pollution, such as industries, transportation, and urban discharges.
  • Climate change monitoring: through the collection and analysis of climate data such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, and winds, climate changes over time can be detected.
  • Protection of biodiversity and natural resources: monitoring of ecosystems and natural habitats provides detailed information on flora, fauna and water resources, helping to identify threats to biodiversity.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) maps are tools for analyzing spatial data related to the environment, combining geographic information with thematic data (such as air quality, water resources, or environmental hazards) to obtain a comprehensive view of the territory and the changes taking place. GIS thus makes it possible to monitor the environment and provide information on the dynamics of natural phenomena. With the ability to visualize and analyze large volumes of data, GIS is particularly useful in resource management, natural disaster prevention, and climate change adaptation.

Global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) are complementary tools, but with distinct functions and applications. GPS is a satellite navigation system that uses signals from satellites to determine the exact location of a person or object on Earth. It works well outdoors, but can have difficulty operating indoors or in areas with obstacles.

GIS, on the other hand, is a system that collects and analyzes geospatial data, that is, information about geographic locations. Unlike GPS, GIS does not just determine location, but can also show complex relationships between phenomena, comparing, for example, the location of an area, related environmental hazards, infrastructure at risk, or particular weather conditions.

With GIS, it is possible to monitor environmental changes in real time, detecting the evolution of natural phenomena such as floods, fires, and landslides. This supports organizations and governments in making rapid and informed decisions aimed at reducing the impact of critical events on the environment and communities and optimizing structural damage monitoring and taking timely action. For example, GIS maps make it possible to collect data on stream levels and rainfall, creating predictive models that identify areas at risk of flooding, or to collect data on the ground to identify areas most at risk of landslides.

The use of GIS maps inEnvironmental Monitoring offers a number of significant benefits, both for natural resource management and infrastructure security.

• More precise risk analysis: GIS maps provide a detailed, georeferenced view of areas exposed to environmental hazards, such as floods, landslides, or earthquakes. By integrating data from IoT sensors, such as those related to traffic, weather conditions and the state of infrastructure (roads, bridges, tunnels), GIS maps can be used to monitor and predict hazards in real time.
• Access to up-to-date data: the web-based monitoring platform enables the collection and display of up-to-date data in real time. Traffic, weather, and structural vibration data can be quickly processed to identify any anomalies in mobility infrastructure and prepare timely interventions.
• Decision support: institutions and companies can visualize results through graphs and 3D representations of infrastructure, enabling targeted planning of maintenance and prevention interventions, improving infrastructure reliability and reducing long-term operating costs.

Environmental monitoring using GIS maps offers advantages in risk and natural resource management by providing advanced tools foranalysis and prediction of critical phenomena. To support the implementation of GIS solutions, specialized IT solutions are essential to ensure the efficiency and reliability of the systems. With the ability to visualize and interpret large volumes of data, GIS emerges as an indispensable resource for addressing environmental challenges effectively and sustainably, helping to create intelligent and proactive management of natural resources and infrastructure.