AQUARISK Related News
Hearne ANSTO Software Commercialisation
2 November, 2005
Hearne Scientific Software Commercialisation group and ANSTO Minerals group deliver version 3 of AQUARISK, a new Environmental Science Software program.
AQUARISK is a software program used for ecological risk assessment (ERA) that has been developed at ANSTO. The purpose of the software is to provide a convenient means by which site-specific ecological risk, posed by metals in acid drainage to aquatic ecosystems, can be assessed in a scientifically defensible manner. However, the approach that has been used is also general enough to allow the software to be applied to most circumstances where ecosystems are exposed to toxicants.
The need for this software is based on the shift in national and international regulatory frameworks from specifying limits based on a single sensitive sub-lethal response to those based on probabilistic evaluation of results in various quality assured studies.
AQUARISK predicts risk in terms of either exceedence of limits/guidelines or degree of ecosystem impact. It is designed to provide environmental engineering targets that are ecologically relevant and hence the most economically viable.
AQUARISK Version 3 represents a major upgrade to the core program code and user interface. Version 3 is distributed exclusively by Hearne Scientific Software.
The most significant change to the code is the inclusion of the Burr III distribution form to complement the log-normal distribution that was used in earlier versions. The main driver for the inclusion of Burr III was that it is the form used in developing the new (Australian) national water quality guidelines. Hence, AQUARISK is now fully compliant with those documents that will inevitably be used as regulatory standards in Australia. Burr III is also more suitable for non-ideal data sets as it is a multi-parameter model.
AQUARISK will contribute greatly to the sustainability of industry by providing an accurate assessment of the likely environmental hazards posed by mining and industrial processes. The output from the software clearly defines any limitations of the data and the degree of imprecision in its results. This will allow managers and regulators to adequately assess sites or to identify shortcomings in the available information so as to focus effort in those areas.
AQUARISK will enhance the environmental sustainability of industry while directly contributing to the protection of unique freshwater and marine environments.
About ANSTO Minerals
ANSTO Minerals is a business unit of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). ANSTO is Australia's national nuclear research and development organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise. For more information about ANSTO please refer to www.ansto.gov.au.
The ANSTO Minerals group comprises over 30 professional scientists and technicians with expertise that covers chemical engineering, metallurgy, mineralogy, chemistry, physics, applied mathematics, geology and radiation safety. For more information about ANSTO Minerals please refer to www.anstominerals.com.
About Hearne Scientific Software
Hearne Scientific Software is one of the world's leading companies for scientific, technical and research software distribution and commercialisation. The company is a high volume low margin distributor, which accounts for its low prices, a quality assured ISO 9001, Australian Government and United Nations approved supplier.
Free World Wide Delivery for Online Orders
Order AQUARISK online from Hearne Scientific Software and delivery is free.
For more information please contact Hearne Scientific Software.