Apparatus and method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer

Abstract

A system for concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer such that a two-dimensional or three-dimensional map is produced and displayed which illustrates the combined effects, particularly geo-environmental, of multiple, diverse criteria and factors relative to uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas of a plane surface or the surface of a solid. The topography system employs plural interrelated tables, worksheets and mapping systems to receive, contain and apply various political, economic, scientific, and technical criteria and factors as attributes of a particular small area, and subsequently map the processed data. Each table includes at least one join field which links that table to at least one other table or worksheet. At least one worksheet includes capability for rapid, dynamic user-interaction to facilitate generation of a myriad of actual or imagined scenarios.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThe present invention, disclosed hereinafter, concerns generally a computer-related apparatus and method for quantitatively mapping and displaying, according to certain criteria, sets of categories (i.e. attributes) associated with various, often diverse, criteria-related factors into a visual depiction involving complex topographical scenarios. That is, the present invention is concerned with the detailed mapping and displaying, with the aid of a digital computer, of the features of a uniquely-referenced, relatively small area, district, or locality (i.e. cell), such mapping and displaying of a set of such cells defining a plane surface or surface of a solid, accompanying, existing, or occurring with an imagined or projected sequence of events, especially any of several detailed plans or possibilities. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for quantitatively and collectively depicting concomitant sce...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Expediting and diminishing the daunting task of gaining and manipulating a vast, diverse amount of data necessary to make meaningful decisions regarding the selection of candidate abyssal sea floor sites for the disposal of waste to a tractable endeavor can be accomplished by utilizing a computer-related method and apparatus entailing use of existing, albeit, limited data, winnowing possible disposal sites to a tractable number, and focusing data collection efforts on those candidate sites. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a quantitative, reproducible method and apparatus for the detailed mapping and visual depiction, with the aid of a digital computer and database structures therein, of the graded, ranked features of a uniquely-referenced, relatively small area, district, or locality (i.e. cell), such mapping and displaying of a set of such cells defining a plane surface or surface of a solid, accompanying, existing, or occurring with an imagined or projected sequence of events, especially any of several detailed plans or possibilities. Another object of the present invention is to provide for timely, dynamic addition of newly acquired data or modification of existing data, both responsive to user control, while the sequence of steps constituting the method is in progress, thereby permitting both the refinement of the precision and accuracy of the site selection process and the generation of a myriad of scenarios. A further object of the present invention is to provide a quantitative, reproducible method and apparatus for optimization of site selection under complex scenarios during the evaluation of candidate sites for waste disposal on the abyssal sea floor by combining, scoring and mapping a diverse set of pre-defined factors, each factor comprising a set of predefined, weighted attributes, and, according to certain criteria, displaying that mapping of graded, ranked attributes in an informative, illustrative manner involving complex scenarios. Another object of this invention is to implement the apparatus and method at very modest cost, consistent with obtaining useful results in a reasonable amount of time. To minimize labor and equipment costs, the method and apparatus utilizes readily available data and commercially available components, namely, a personal computer and commercial spreadsheet and graphics software.

Problems solved by technology

During the latter half of the 20.sup.th century, disposal of waste materials has rapidly become a complex, exigent problem confronting both the United States and the world.

The geometric rate of growth in the world's population and the attendant increase in resource utilization, in conjunction with the rapid industrialization of virtually every modem nation, has generated a waste stream of immense proportions and troublesome content.

Current waste management practices are insufficient to resolve the present predicament and a mere continuation of present policy portends, on a global scale, a horrendous future.

The main concern with waste disposal at sea arises from possible deleterious effects on living resources.

Such inimical effects on human uses are primarily associated with the accumulation of substances by marine organisms, tainting of sea food, interference with fishing, interference with submarine cable laying and maintenance, and reduction of amenities by discoloration, turbidity and floating materials.

Marine pollution is an increasingly threatening, global problem; as defined by GESAMP, "Pollution means the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries) resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazards to human health, hindrance to marine activities including fishing, impairment of quality for use of sea water and reduction of amenities."

Although comprising a very large area, there is, unfortunately, a paucity of knowledge concerning these abyssal sea floor regions, and requisite policy decisions for a desirable future are critically dependent upon such knowledge.

The primitive analog nature of this technique presents numerous difficulties, for example:

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