Community-based environmental information system

Pollution Probe is leading a new pilot initiative that will bring environment and health information to the community in a clear and simple format.  The project is the first of its kind in Canada to integrate publicly available data on water quality, air quality, industrial pollution and health, using a place-based approach.

As a partnership initiative with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Environment Canada, industry and a local pilot community (Sarnia-Lambton), the project has four main objectives:

·         to collect and integrate a range of selected environmental data collected by government and industry;

·         to work with a pilot community to determine their information needs and desired methods of outreach;

·         to develop a web-based user interface for the information based on the community’s stated needs, and to provide complementary forms of outreach; and

·         to help the community use the information system to take actions that will lead to environmental improvements.

It is expected that the pilot will help all partners to develop other community-based health and environment information systems in communities across the Province of Ontario and hopefully across the country.