ment to review which processes are needed to per 

Lake Pontchartrain Basin Study

form the required task.  Based on this, shipyard

processes, environmental engineering and science,

The University of New Orleans, College of Engi 

and  environmental  regulations  must  be  deter 

neering developed and validated numerical models

mined  and  made  accountable.    Presently,  this  is

of the complex Pontchartrain Basin with intercon 

performed by reviewing hardcopy documentation,

nected lakes, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), environmen 

Mexico.  Models included a wide range of sensor data

tal regulations, and permit requirements.

and characterized pollution sources, dynamics, and

The University of New Orleans, College of Engi 

environmental hazards.   The model will evolve to

neering (UNO COE) has developed an expert en 

address the entire Pontchartrain Estuary.

vironmental  management  system  for  shipyards.

This expert system is a software application that

Since past flood control efforts have essentially

combines  shipyard  processes,  environmental  en 

eliminated the historical flood cycles of the Mis 

gineering and science, environmental regulations,

sissippi  River,  seawater  intrusion  into  the  basin

and  information  technology  skills.   The  applica 

has increased appreciably.  In addition, data ex 

tion can be used to help shipyards prevent non 

ists to show that the southern portion of the basin

compliance and fines, minimize waste, reduce risk

is subsiding at approximately one inch annually.

and reliability, provide cost savings, improve pub 

A considerable range of impacts related to these

lic  image,  and  increase  productivity.   This  is  ac 

actions and the introduction of man made contami 

complished by the shipyard populating the data 

nants and pollutants have engendered a range of

base with information about the facility, sources,

options to consider.

stacks,  national  pollution  discharge  elimination

The Lake Pontchartrain Basin is comprised of a

system permit limits, air permit limits, outfalls and

complex  and  interconnected  hydraulic  system

watershed, air pollution control devices, and waste 

among the lake, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf

water treatment facility data.  With this data in 

of Mexico.  The University of New Orleans,  College

corporated  into  the  software  program,  material

of Engineering (UNO COE) has developed and vali 

usage, MSDS information, abrasives, paints, sol 

dated finite element analysis models to character 

vents, filler/weld rods, rainfall data, ambient air

ize and assess this dynamic system.  The effort in 

quality data, and fuel are included to manage the

cludes collection and analysis of data from an array

shipyard s  processes  and  environmental  impact.

of surface, subsurface, and satellite sensors.  Not

This software can also be uniquely configured to a

surprisingly, the scope of this effort included a num 

shipyard s specifications.  As a result, routine re 

ber of additional interested parties, which included

ports  can  easily  be  produced,  such  as  discharge

regional and state entities, the Environmental Pro 

monitoring reports (storm and process water), haz 

tection Agency (EPA), and the Tulane Medical Cen 

ardous  waste,  Tier  II,  emission  inventories,  and

ter.  Model results described the range of dynamics

toxic release inventory.  Furthermore, analyses and

initiated by the region, the river, and the sea.  Addi 

decisions can also be performed using data already

tionally, the sources and characteristics of contami 

contained in the database.  Some of this data may

nants and pollutants were incorporated.  Together

include historical trends, planning and pollution

with  the  flow  and  mixture  dynamics  the  models

prevention implementation, troubleshooting, emis 

provided, this system and its vulnerabilities are now

sion calculations, and comparisons (e.g., year to 

better understood by the combined user and plan 

year, source to source, material to material, job to 

ner communities.  UNO and these capable models

job, and limits versus actual).

will be directly involved in the evaluation and as 

UNO COE s tailorable expert system for ship 

sessment of the proposed projects.  Additional re 

yard environmental management allows a ship 

gional groups have requested further characteriza 

yard to easily manage its usage of materials and

tion of the entire Pontchartrain Estuary, specifically

environmental impacts.  Reports to environmen 

to  include  detailed  characterization  of  those  con 

tal  authorities  are  easily  produced  and  made

taminants and pollutants introduced from the riv 

available, and changes in regulations and limits

ers at the northern portion of the basin.

can  be  easily  incorporated  and  updated  with

little or no effort.

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