BRITE Background
Contact: ATRI
| The BRITE Repository, a first of its kind, is being
created in segments and is an ongoing project. The BRITE Database
will never be "complete," because new information is constantly being
added. The ATR Institute (ATRI) has created segments on Air Quality,
Water Quality, Habitat, and Land Use with ongoing updates. In the
future, more segments will be produced. Future sections will parallel
the first four existing sections in format and type of content. See BRITE
Future.
In 1998, ATRI researched the first segment of BRITE, covering Air Quality along the US–Mexico border region. One year later, ATRI published the Border Air Quality Research Matrix and Bibliography, an annotated bibliography with abstracts for all of the items included. This document is available in print form. In 1999, a BRITE research matrix on Air Quality, which identified documents, reports, and studies concerning air quality and transportation in the border environment, was posted on the BRITE Website. This older version can be accessed in the BRITE Archives. Since publishing the Border
Air Quality Research Matrix and Bibliography in 1999, the ATRI has
continued to update the Air Quality section of BRITE and has researched
sections on water quality and habitat and land use as well. To see
entries on Water Quality, Habitat, and Land Use, go to the BRITE Database. |
BRITE Future |
| The BRITE will never be "completed" as the ATR Institute
(ATRI) researchers continually are adding new data to the BRITE Database.
The BRITE was created in segments, the first of which was Air Quality.
Currently, the ATRI has completed other segments: Water Quality,
Habitat, and Land Use. All of these documents are located at the
online, fully-searchable BRITE Database,
which has been designed to be user friendly and thus easy to use.
The long-term research plan for the BRITE repository includes developing segments for each pertinent environmental issue and eventually creating a component that provides information on comprehensive connections among all segments. Future sections will parallel the first four existing sections in format and type of content. Once the initial version of each segment is complete, the maintenance will simply require monitoring new literature and identifying additional sources to add to the matrix and the bibliography. Each segment will be updated at least annually. The ATRI plans to expand the BRITE to include segments on topics, such as Hazardous Waste Transportation, Noise Pollution, and Regulations concerning transportation and environmental issues. The ATRI is developing BRITE to be used as a "one-stop shop" for all interested parties to identify existing studies, reports, and research concerning transportation-related environmental issues in the US–Mexico border region. As such, the BRITE can create circumstances, which will generate collaborative efforts among diverse entities. A key challenge to addressing the transportation-related environmental concerns in the US–Mexico border region is obtaining enough information to make sound policy decisions. In this desert environment, transportation is one of the primary environmental concerns with regard to air quality, water quality, habitat protection, land use, hazardous waste transportation and noise pollution. As the border area population continues to grow, addressing the links between transportation and the environment will only increase in importance. The BRITE is an excellent tool for the furtherance of public involvement, planning, research, and decision making by NGOs, citizen groups, government officials, students, and the general public. |