Software can make or break a project. While it used to be sufficient to use a general spreadsheet program to gather and crunch the numbers, the shortcomings of such a practice are becoming more apparent these days.
Data collected for over 30 years in a monitoring project can come close to the ultimate capability of a normal spreadsheet. Chances are that the person that developed the original program is no longer around. That means the following personnel must figure out what is left behind and make changes as needed. Documentation is likely non-existent making the task even more difficult.
On the other hand, companies that are in business to develop environmental software have used the decades of time to polish their products. Many of today's programs operate over the Internet, which gives operators the capability of accessing data from any computer connected to the Web. Backup data management is automatically handled. If there are problems, a quick phone call or an e-mail can get answers right away. System providers should supply a book that helps in training new people on how to use the system to enter data and make reports. Such documentation should be updated along with program updates.
Environmental software today is becoming as necessary as packages used in the accounting department to track cash flows. The data protection and report generation is essential to a well-run environmental department at any company.
Below is a list of companies that responded to our request for information. On the following pages is a chart that will help compare software capabilities quickly to help narrow any search for the capabilities needed.
Software Comparison Charts
General:
Provider
Auditing
Corporate / multipoint management
Source inventory
Risk analysis / 1910.119 risk management
Property transfer audits
Mapping / GIS
Environmental site assessment
Federal / state regulations
Training / training management
Cost / cost management
Energy analysis
Design calculations
ISO 14000
Permit tracking
Laboratory / sampling data management
Right-to-know management
Form R reporting
Health / safety management
SCADA / process control
AllMax Software
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
CCOHS
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
Capaccio Environmental Engineering
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Control Microsystems
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
Dakota Software
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
Donely Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Earthsoft
-
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
EHS Data
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
ERA Environmental Consulting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
GAEA Technologies
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Geotech Computer Systems
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
Golden Software
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
GoldSim Technology Group
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hydromantis
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
IHS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Intelex Technologies
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
Knorr Associates
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lakes Environmental Software
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Logical Data Solutions
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Logical Technology
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
PollutionTech
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Quantum Compliance Systems
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Scantek
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Seeley Lake Sewer
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Trinity Consultants – Breeze Software
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
Air Specific:
Provider
Clean Air Act management
Emissions management
Dispersion modeling
Emission source rates
Fugitive emissions
Emissions inventories
Emissions history
AllMax Software
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Capaccio Environmental Engineering
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Control Microsystems
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Dakota Software
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Donely Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Earthsoft
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
EHS Data
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
ERA Environmental Consulting
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
GAEA Technologies
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Geotech Computer Systems
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Golden Software
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
GoldSim Technology Group
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hydromantis
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
IHS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Intelex Technologies
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Knorr Associates
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lakes Environmental Software
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
Logical Data Solutions
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Logical Technology
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
PollutionTech
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
Yes
Quantum Compliance Systems
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Scantek
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
Seeley Lake Sewer
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Trinity Consultants
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Waste Specific:
Provider
MSDS management
Hazardous materials management
Hazardous waste treatment / disposal
Solid waste management
Pretreatment management
Physical / chemical database
Toxicology
Site characterization / remediation
Recycling / waste minimization / P2
SARA reporting
TRI Reporting
AllMax Software
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Capaccio Environmental Engineering
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Control Microsystems
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Dakota Software
-
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Donely Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Earthsoft
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
EHS Data
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
ERA Environmental Consulting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
GAEA Technologies
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
Geotech Computer Systems
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
Golden Software
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
GoldSim Technology Group
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
Hydromantis
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
IHS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Intelex Technologies
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
-
Knorr Associates
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lakes Environmental Software
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Logical Data Solutions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Logical Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
PollutionTech
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
Yes
Quantum Compliance Systems
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Scantek
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Seeley Lake Sewer
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Trinity Consultants – Breeze Software
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Water Specific:
Provider
Stormwater runoff management
Wastewater management
Groundwater management
Drinking water management
Groundwater modeling
Groundwater remediation
DMR reporting
NPDES reporting
AllMax Software
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
Yes
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Capaccio Environmental Engineering
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Control Microsystems
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dakota Software
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
-
Donely Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Earthsoft
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
EHS Data
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
ERA Environmental Consulting
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
GAEA Technologies
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
-
-
Geotech Computer Systems
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Yes
-
Golden Software
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
-
-
GoldSim Technology Group
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
Hydromantis
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
IHS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Intelex Technologies
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Knorr Associates
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lakes Environmental Software
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Logical Data Solutions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Logical Technology
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
PollutionTech
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Quantum Compliance Systems
-
-
-
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Scantek
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Seeley Lake Sewer
-
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Trinity Consultants
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Operating System & Availability:
Provider
Windows
Macintosh
UNIX
Other OS
CD-ROM
Internet
For hand-held systems
AllMax Software
Yes
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
RoyBigham roy@pollutionengineering.com Roy D. Bigham has been the editor of Pollution Engineering since 2002. Bigham attended Eastern Michigan University where
he majored in chemistry and computer science with an associates degree
in mathematics. He has worked as a laboratory technician at a research
laboratory, managed an electroplating operation and an associated
analytical laboratory. He spent three years overseeing environmental
operations of five domestic and five overseas operations for a major
manufacturer in the Detroit area. He then managed a field services
department for an environmental analytical laboratory before moving on
to a position as an environmental engineer for a construction
aggregates company.
Bigham
won a design award for a waste water treatment system for a landfill in
the Detroit area from the State Chamber of Commerce. He has been active
in the environmental field since 1980.
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