Recent advancements in geographic information science and technology have de it possible to use a geographic information systems approach for complex, multimedia environmental assessments.
Geographic space provides the framework for the integration of diverse environmental data sets.
Analysis of environmental change over space, as well as time is possible. The border region is a diverse, binational setting where the location and movement of environmental contaminants are especially critical to ecosystem maintenance and environmental policy issues. The unique topography and the present land use patterns of the Ambos Nogales area make the environmental risk of contamination by liquid and airborne hazardous materials released from one of many industrial firms an issue of great concern to local residents on both sides of the border. The primary surface and sub-surface flows are from the higher elevation south toward the north and the Santa Cruz River channel. The approximate elevations of the major industrial zones in Nogales, Sonora are 1250-1300 meters.