Decision Support Systems for Geo-Environmental Engineering with Specific Reference to Contaminated Land Investigation

ABSTRACT: Site investigation as the first stage of contaminated land remediation is an interdisciplinary, resource demanding operation that involves processes and activities from different fields, encompassing a wide range of professional expertise. Site investigation is a critically important stage as the findings provide the basis of any decision making, and as such any problems not dealt with at this stage affects the effectiveness of the whole remedial process. In this stage, Decision Support Systems as an emerging concept in geo-environmental projects provides a framework that helps deal with the uncertainties, complexities, non-linearities and potential risks, especially with their multiple and sometimes conflicting criteria. In this paper, a review of Decision Support Systems and the roles they have played in geo-environmental engineering will be explored.