Report on Data Quality for Weed Control and Groundwater Protection Project

Report on Data Quality for Weed Control and Groundwater Protection Project

Critical Review of the Methods Groundwater Contamination from the Application of Herbicides for Weed Control

During the past half century has seen dramatic growth in the use of groundwater, usually due to the efforts of millions of farmers, with a little planning and control of conventional water authorities. This extraordinary development of groundwater has been described as a quiet revolution. This quiet revolution has produced great benefits to humanity, and has contributed significantly to reducing malnutrition in poor countries and provides drinking water in rural and urban poor. Furthermore, the risk of groundwater is generally a positive engine of social change. Problems, however, the current situation and often a general lack of adequate planning and control of groundwater exploitation has also caused, which are primarily related to adverse ecological impacts on aquatic ecosystems and degradation of the quality of groundwater.

Groundwater is the water located below the ground's surface. This reservoir of freshwater supports multiple domestic, agricultural, and industrial sectors of society. Groundwater is a renewable resource if properly managed, but it can also be mined faster than it is replenished. Groundwater is susceptible to contamination from pollutants and saltwater intrusion. As the human population continues to grow and intensely develop the Earth, management of groundwater reserves is essential to the survival of the human species (Tomlinson, 2007).

In the first stage of the response phase, GIS can assist decision makers in understanding the scope of the damage; analyze critical infrastructures for health services, food and goods supply, and transportation routes for potential evacuation and operations management; identify suitable locations for rescue officers and civil protection command posts, in case these areas have not yet been identified in emergency territorial plans; identify locations where people may be trapped or require rescue and medical assistance; and identify shelters and possible camps for refugees.

In the recovery phase, GIS can identify locations and best paths for obtaining and delivering supplies, communicate with people to reduce their sense of uncertainty on the condition of their homes and rescued people, and keep participants informed about the status of operations. If the disaster persists, GIS can assess and model the secondary effects of the event to warn people and organize a public safety response. GIS can produce mapping for the media, communicate the extent of damage, and enable field operations for outsiders. GIS can produce maps and documentation for all responsible levels of public safety in both logistical and financial resource support. During the reconstruction phase, GIS can be used to support decision making and monitor land planning and to redefine hazard zones and distribution of risks both equal and unequal across various residents. During the preparedness phase, GIS-based applications may include indicators of vulnerability at specific places, early warning systems, and systems to ease emergency response as well as community learning, simulations with citizens to build their awareness, communicating risk and proper behavior, and also receiving ...