Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Matrix Methods, Dispersion Modeling, and Risk Quantifications
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematic baseline and predictive evaluation process designed to identify, forecast, and mitigate the physical, biological, ecological, and socio-economic impacts of proposed developmental infrastructure projects before implementation. The predictive phase relies on mathematical modeling of pollutant dispersion across ambient air, surface water, and terrestrial ecosystems. Atmospheric impact predictions for industrial stacks or highway corridors utilize the Gaussian Plume Dispersion Model to estimate ground-level pollutant concentrations $C(x,y,z)$ downwind from a point source: $$C(x,y,z) = \frac{Q}{2\pi \cdot u \cdot \sigma_y \cdot \sigma_z} \cdot \exp\left( \frac{-y^2}{2\sigma_y^2} \right) \cdot \left[ \exp\left( \frac{-(z - H)^2}{2\sigma_z^2} \right) + \exp\left( \frac{-(z + H)^2}{2\sigma_z^2} \right) \right]$$ Where $Q$ is the mass emission rate ($\text{g/s}$), $u$ is the mean wind speed at stack height ($\text{m/s}$), $\sigma_y$ ...