Development of an expert-system embedding pattern-recognition techniques for pollution-source identification. Report for 30 September 1987-29 November 1989

Technical Report · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6855981· OSTI ID:6855981

Datta, Bithin; Beegle, Jean E; Kavvas, M Lavent; Orlob, Gerald T

A new methodology for the identification of unknown sources of ground-water pollution is developed. The new methodology is based on the concept of statistical pattern recognition. The statistical pattern-recognition algorithm uses Bayes' Optimal Decision Rule. The function of the pattern-recognition system is to match statistically an observed set of concentrations in the field with a comparable set obtained by simulating ground-water transport for various disposal conditions. In order to make the application of the methodology easier, an Expert System was developed. The Expert System uses the results obtained by applying the pattern-recognition algorithm to select a particular set of pollution-source locations and magnitudes. The Expert System also has the capability of adding measures of confidence to alternative selections of sources made by the pattern-recognition system, such that these solutions can be ranked according to the subjective confidences supplied by the users. The performance of the pattern-recognition system and the Expert System was evaluated for a selected study area.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Davis, CA (USA). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
• OSTI ID: 6855981
• Report Number(s): PB-90-185927/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
POLLUTION SOURCES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ALGORITHMS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
WATER POLLUTION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)