e-EcoRisk will comprise a regional enterprise network information management and decision-support system for environmental risk and emergency management designed to reduce the impact of large-scale industrial spills on the environment through the application of advanced and innovative information and communication technology (ICT). This will permit more appropriate and effective preventive, as well as emergency, contingency planning to be undertaken with regard to a spill than is currently possible or being done. e-EcoRisk will identify, characterise, and quantify the threat and potential environmental and societal impact (harm) of a catastrophic failure of a dam leading to the uncontrolled release of effluent into the environment, particularly highly vulnerable ecosystems, such as wetlands. Emphasis will be placed on the threat and risk of catastrophic discharges, but long-term, low-level leaks and spillage of heavy metal-laden slurries from mine tailing pond dams into the environment will be examined.

CESAM members on this project

Celeste Coelho
Team member

Sandra M. Valente
Research fellow