An enhanced environmental multimedia modeling system based on fuzzy-set approach: I. Theoretical framework and model development

Abstract

Multimedia environmental modeling is extremely complex due to the intricacy of the systems with the consideration of many related factors. Traditional environmental multimedia models (EMMs) are usually based on one-dimensional and first-order assumptions, which may cause numerical errors in the simulation results. In this study, a new user-friendly fuzzy-set enhanced environmental multimedia modeling system (FEEMMS) is developed, and includes four key modules: an air dispersion module, a polluting source module, an unsaturated zone module, and a groundwater module. Many improvements over previous EMMs have been achieved through dynamically quantifying the intermedia mass flux; incorporating fuzzy-set approach into environmental multimedia modeling system (EMMS); and designing a user-friendly graphic user interface (GUI). The developed FEEMMS can be a useful tool in estimating the time-varying and spatial-varying chemical concentrations in air, soil, and groundwater; characterizing the potential risk to human health presented by contaminants released from a contaminated site; and quantifying the uncertainties associated with modeling systems and subsequently providing robustness and flexibility for the remediation-related decision making.

Keywords

environmental multimedia modelling / fuzzy-set approach / theoretical framework / environmental protection

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the National Grand Science and Technology Special Project of Water Pollution Control and Improvement (Nos. 2014ZX07204-006 and 2012ZX07210-006) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41106108).

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2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg