Risk assessment is a wonderful science. Communicating Risk GIS at Marcus Hook is also turning out to be a good communications tool, a vast improvement over the days when site managers provided regulatory agencies with 500-page reports full of incomprehensible charts and tables. Instead, the research team has put its data on CD-ROM, showed regulators how to use the software, and allowed them to draw their own conclusions. In the past, many organizations have been reluctant to share environmental data. Today, many are learning that communication with all stakeholders is critical to the decision-making process.
Risk communication is the most overlooked piece of the process so far.
Her sentiments were echoed by Dr. Hillary Hart of UT's civil engineering faculty, who shared guidelines for communicating risk more effectively. In Dr. Till's opinion, risk is nearly always public business. Managing Risk Good science and good communication can help lead to decisions that are acceptable to all, or at least defensible. Past experience helps, too. Mr. Rocco stressed keeping goals in mind.