International

Carpathian Control
Conference ICCC 2002
MALENOVICE,
CZECH REPUBLIC
May 27-30, 2002

APPLICATION OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

(GIS) TO THE ASSESSMENT OF SOIL CONTAMINATION

Andrzej DAWIDOWSKI1, Zbigniew BZOWSKI2 and Wojciech KONOPA3

1,2
Department of Environmental Monitoring,
3
Department of Informatics
Central Mining Institute
Katowice, Poland, scxad@gig.katowice.pl

Abstract: Environment monitoring for the evaluation of its degradation needs an auxiliary
(supportive) implement such as numerical method. Three-dimensional modelling methods
are especially useful for this. Such modelling is a defined set of mathematical and logic
relations that determine quantitative relationships between characteristics and factors
of model and is a modern research technique. Application of this technique in monitoring
of for instead the distribution of contaminant concentrations in different environment
elements such as air, underground and surface waters, soils and plants decides about
correctness and specification of consideration concerning prognostic analysis and alteration
dynamics. Three-dimensional display of research effects of heavy metals contamination
of soils on the area degraded by industrial activity is presented in the paper. The contents
of Pb, Zn, Ba and As were examined. These contents are characteristic for the monitored
area. The obtained research results were used to create the project accomplished by the use
of software package produced by INTERGRAPH Microstation MGE.

Key words: monitoring, pollution, modelling.

1 Introduction
Monitoring as a computerized and research system of environment condition and
reshaping recording includes measurement of contaminants in all environment components.
It includes also designing of new equipment and apparatus for measurement of these
contaminants. This applies both to null status of environment an verification and update
of environment changes according to pre-established criteria [Drobek, Bzowski 1997].
Moreover, the monitoring is aimed at development and implementation of alarm systems
for warning against extraordinary environmental hazards.

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 The monitoring of environment in order to establish its degradation requires
a supporting tool in a form of statistics-derived procedures. Geostatistic modeling methods
are especially useful. The modeling understood as a definition of set of mathematical and
logical relations, determining quantitative relationships between model characteristics and
constituents constitutes a state-of-the art research method. Its application for monitoring
such phenomena as distribution of contaminants concentration in various components
of environment: air, underground and surface water, soil and vegetation decides upon
correctness of consideration concerning forecast analyses and dynamics of changes [Wiatr
1996], [Namysowska, Pyra 2000].

2 Soil Monitoring
Earth surface monitoring is a control and decision evaluation system for dynamics
of anthropogenous and natural changes occurring in soil. It consists in carrying out
repeatable measurements and tests of soils in selected characteristic points, and interpret the
results in the aspect of environment protection. The purpose of environment monitoring is
supporting of actions aimed at liquidation or limitation of negative impact of
anthropogenous factors on soil condition [Neffe and others 2000].
In Poland, soil monitoring is carried out in selected and representative observation
points. The main purpose of regional soil monitoring is recognition and continuous check
of soil contamination condition with regional (agricultural) meaning. The purpose of local
monitoring is to recognize and assess stated and potential impacts of local contamination
centers in soil condition. Local soil monitoring is most frequently carried out around
municipal and industrial waste dump yards, storages and warehouses containing chemical
substances, fuels etc.

3 Characteristics of Subject Matter of Research

The Environmental Monitoring Department at Central Mining Institute (GIG) carries
out monitoring of soils adjacent to the liquidated Chemical Plant in Tarnowskie Gry. This
Plant has been built on grasslands and partially forest lands. In the Plant itself and around
it there are many dump yards of various wastes, created in various periods of time. Year
1985 is marked as a beginning of plants activity in production of chemicals. Wastes have
been dumped in this area already at the end of previous century.
The mean annual temperature in the area described amounts to +7,8oC. July is the
hottest and January is toe coldest month. The average annual precipitation amounts to
677mm. In average, the most rainy month is July - 105 mm, and the least one is February -
31 mm. The period between April and October features 492 mm of precipitation,
accounting for 72% of annual precipitation.
Because of quantity and quality of wastes accumulated around the plant, 21 points of
local soil monitoring have been established. Location of points was determined based on
a coordinate listing as per State coordinate system 1965 at the Kronsztad reference level.
Location of points is shown on Fig. 1.
Quarterly soil monitoring was performed over the period 1999 2001.

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 Figure 1. Location of soil monitoring points in the location of liquidated Chemical Plant
LP1/1 - points of local soil monitoring

The soil samples collected for testing are mostly of sandy character with humus material
inclusion. Soil taken from points situated in the western and eastern part of monitored area
show features proper to light soil existing in the forest wastelands. Other soil samples from
the points located in the northern area are of turf, turf and sand or turf and mud character. This
is soil developing in waterlogged forest and dry-ground forest areas and are now covered with
grass.

4 Testing Procedure
The issues of spatial representation of selected heavy metal contents in soil taken from
the monitored area have been solved using a software package Microstation MGE of
INTERGRAPH. This software package consists of the following modules operating under
Windows 95:
Microstation 95;
MGE Basic Nucleus;
MGE Basic Administrator;
MGE Base Mapper;
MGE Terrain Analyst;
MGE Grid Generator;
MGE Coordinate System.
This software supports a SQL database Centura operating in Novell 4.11. platform.
The grid has been registered assigning coordinates to eight (8) checkpoints. Then a local
coordinate system has been defined related with orthogonal and square network of
measurement points. At the same time, a database structure has been prepared according to
the information provided (point coordinates x, y, contamination).

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 During the project realization using Microstation MGE, the authors have prepared SQL
- Century laguage script, replacing certain operations available from the MGE tool level,
as well as a list of elements not supported by MGE-Centura system.
Using the Terrain Analyst module and based on data collected in the project database,
a three-dimensional triangle model (TIN) and orthogonal model (GRID) have been
established. For the creation of charts, the most accurate interpolation available in MGE,
called bicubic was used. Creation of interpolation models that represents the soil
contaminants values in the best way required application of coefficients (constant for each
element) to get rid of influence of data value dynamics on the visualization of this
phenomenon [Dawidowski and others 1999, 2000].

5 Test Results
For the purpose of the three-dimensional representation of soil monitoring results there
were selected contaminants test results that were characteristic for a production profile of
Chemical Plant as well as for refuse collected on the existing dump yard. Selected were
results of total contents of arsenic, barium, zinc and lead in soil. The established contents of
zinc and lead in tested soil have been then compared with acceptable values for light soil in
Poland
Results of example mean and extreme values of heavy metals in monitored soil are
presented in Table 1. The variability of concentrations selected for contaminants projection
are shown on figure 2.
The tests performed and comparison of results in the tables, as well as presented
spreading of contaminants in soil show that monitored soil features a considerable contents
of heavy metals. Monitored soil contain large amounts of organic substances (humus) and
mud with high sorption values, thus favorable for concentration of zinc and lead. Soil of
turf type features an effect of soil enriching with such atypical elements as barium and
arsenic. This is due bot to the toxic character of these elements and production profile of
Chemical Plant over past years.

6 Summary
The above presented analysis of results obtained shows that the past activity of
liquidated Chemical Plant and disposed wastes have an active impact on soil environment.
Effects of this impact and changes in the environment are the best visible in north-eastern
and eastern part of the monitored area.
Application of a model built with use of INTERGRAPH software package Microstation
MGE to the interpretation of soil monitoring enables visualisation of results. The proposed
visualisation method for assessment of heavy metal contamination condition was also
applicable for identification of anomalies in the concentration of substances of
anthorpogenic origin. This method facilitates considerably the data processing procedure
also offering additional evaluation methods. This tool presents accurately the variability of
contamination in soil of the monitored area.

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 arsenic barium

lead zinc

Figure 2. The variability of concentrations selected for contaminants projection

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 Table 1. Example mean and extreme values of Pb, Zn, Ba and As in monitored soil
LP 1/5 LP 1/7 LP 1/9 LP 3/1 LP 6/3 LP 8/1 LP12/0 LP12/1 LP15/0 LP17/0 LP17/1
Pb [mg/kg] (acceptable amounts for light soil 50 mg/kg)
Mean 67 68 100 73 96 60 235 78 188 194 371
St. dev. 72 46 32 22 108 44 169 32 53 71 98
Min 9 20 46 43 8 15 90 38 96 122 203
Max 224 152 141 115 393 150 509 144 255 318 470
Zn [mg/kg] (acceptable amounts for light soil 200 mg/kg)
Mean 65 91 134 80 127 48 413 98 415 166 528
St. dev. 46 75 49 35 90 29 209 44 197 78 67
Min 12 41 68 39 9 12 181 35 167 79 381
Max 152 270 235 143 257 100 645 170 740 304 625
Ba [mg/kg]
Mean 543 671 1119 373 707 273 7038 1193 2683 1105 4160
St. dev. 527 560 705 234 973 274 3727 1154 1582 829 2266
Min 56 130 225 128 17 37 2292 105 1151 350 607
Max 1566 1890 2768 882 2807 920 12561 3296 5499 2610 6983
As [mg/kg]
Mean 3 5 4 5 3 3 14 4 10 6 7
St. dev. 1 2 1 1 1 1 9 1 4 1 2
Min 2 3 2 2 1 1 4 2 3 5 3
Max 4 8 5 6 5 5 25 6 13 7 11

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