BRITE Future
Contact: ATRI
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 database, that was 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.