City of Norfolk Underground Storage Tank Analysis
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks represent a hazard to the health of Norfolk’s citizens and the surrounding environment. The Norfolk Environmental Commission estimates that as many as 70% of Underground Storage Tanks in Norfolk are in danger of leaking or may already be leaking. My research builds on previous research in Leak Prediction Modeling to address the issue of leaking Underground Storage Tanks in the City of Norfolk. A major cause of Underground Storage Tanks developing leaks is corrosion. Norfolk’s location, surrounded by rivers, wetlands, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean make it a particularly harsh environment for Underground Storage Tanks due to soil moisture, highly corrosive soils, and storm surge. By using data from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Virginia Petroleum Storage Tank Database, the US Department of Agriculture’s Web Soil Survey, and the US Army Corps of Engineers New Leak Prediction Age Model, and spatial analysis techniques, I hope to produce a reasonably accurate model of possible leaking Underground Storage Tank Locations in the City of Norfolk. The model could then be used to develop maps and data that can be used in conjunction with field teams via web applications to confirm the accuracy of the model and help the City of Norfolk to reach its goals of reducing the harm to its citizens and surrounding environment from Underground Storage Tanks.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Hua Liu
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Geographic Information Sciences
Session Title
College of Sciences 1
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1310
Start Date
2-8-2020 9:00 AM
End Date
2-8-2020 10:00 AM
City of Norfolk Underground Storage Tank Analysis
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1310
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks represent a hazard to the health of Norfolk’s citizens and the surrounding environment. The Norfolk Environmental Commission estimates that as many as 70% of Underground Storage Tanks in Norfolk are in danger of leaking or may already be leaking. My research builds on previous research in Leak Prediction Modeling to address the issue of leaking Underground Storage Tanks in the City of Norfolk. A major cause of Underground Storage Tanks developing leaks is corrosion. Norfolk’s location, surrounded by rivers, wetlands, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean make it a particularly harsh environment for Underground Storage Tanks due to soil moisture, highly corrosive soils, and storm surge. By using data from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Virginia Petroleum Storage Tank Database, the US Department of Agriculture’s Web Soil Survey, and the US Army Corps of Engineers New Leak Prediction Age Model, and spatial analysis techniques, I hope to produce a reasonably accurate model of possible leaking Underground Storage Tank Locations in the City of Norfolk. The model could then be used to develop maps and data that can be used in conjunction with field teams via web applications to confirm the accuracy of the model and help the City of Norfolk to reach its goals of reducing the harm to its citizens and surrounding environment from Underground Storage Tanks.