Abstract |
The purpose of the project was to expand the scope of the analyses being made by the Community Analysis Bureau (CAB) of the city of Los Angeles to include measures of environmental quality, which included indicators of air quality, noise, water quality and quantity, land use, handling of solid waste and energy use. The project team surveyed federal, state, county and city agency data sources and located the data needed to implement a set of indices similar to the Initial System of indices designed and developed for the county of San Diego by the IREM project in 1973. A two-state statistical analysis technique, called 'matrix analysis', is described. This technique identifies urban areas that share many common characteristics, including the environmental qualities measured by the indices. Government policies and programs that meet the needs of each type urban area are then developed. The relationships between energy use and environmental problems are described. Various organizational problems noted by the project team that prevent effective environmental information systems and management are reported. |