Combining Environmental Information. I: Environmental Monitoring, Measurement and Assessment

Abstract

SUMMARYAn increasing concern in environmental science is the need to combine information from diverse sources that relate to a common effect. We examine problems in combining environmental information in three areas ~ environmental monitoring, measurement, and assessment -review statistical methods and discuss opportunities for statistical research. Piegorsch and Cox (Environmetrics, 7, 309-324, 1996) examine similar questions in environmental epidemiology and toxicology.

Quality Aspects of Official Environment Statistics

“…In order to provide the whole picture, it is necessary to deal with the very important problems in merging environmental information from dierent sources, of dierent character. The paper by Cox and Piegorsch (1996), and earlier work summarized there, as well as work on GIS systems, have drawn the attention to this highly relevant question for environment statistics. Special attention must be given to the experience that quality information, if at all available, is reduced as data are transmitted from the source to secondary users ± for the purposes we are now discussing, this information will have to be retrieved.…”

Combining Environmental Information. Ii: Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology

“…As illustrated here and elsewhere (Cox and Piegorsch 1994;1996), new research directions in the area of combining environmental data are many and varied. Further efforts are required on the parts of statisticians and environmental scientists to develop such research into useful tools for data analysis.…”

Occupancy modeling species–environment relationships with non‐ignorable survey designs

“…Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 refuges and not included in the legacy program (Oregon NABat; Table ). To integrate the non‐probability or legacy sites, we take a conservative approach (e.g., Cox and Piegorsch ) and define a third strata composed only of the 53 legacy sample units (Table ). Then the sample weights are calculated as for a stratified design with for all units that are a member of strata or subset , where is the total number of sample units in strata or subset and is the number of sample units surveyed in strata or subset .…”