Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography

Eick, Stephen G. Karr, Alan F. (Mar., 2002) “Visual Scalability”Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Mar., 2002), pp. 22-43

This article from the Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics is an in depth look at how graphical representations, of large amounts of data, influences the observer. Although this is a numerical data and computationally intensive analysis there are a few connections that will help in the analysis of the images and diagrams related to hydraulic fracturing. The article specifically analyzes certain information representations such as bar charts, histograms, matrix views, and scatterplots among others. Following the introduction to these different forms of visual information the analysis contains certain characteristics of what information is meant to do. “Focus+Context” is an important aspect of visual information. This article will help in identifying these within all forms of visual information related to hydraulic fracturing. This reference will help establish certain aspects of visual information and what the message to the viewer may be. This could be a diagram aimed to sway opinion rather than to inform.. In connection to the visual environmental politics of hydraulic fracturing, the specific characteristics of images are distinguished, so that the influential aspects of images of hydraulic fracturing can be identified and analyzed. These aspects include things like scale, color, and even font.

 

Glover, Susan. (2009) Propaganda, Public Information, and Prospecting: Explaining the Irrational Exuberance of Central Place Foragers During a Late Nineteenth Century Colorado Silver Rush. Human Ecology. Vol. 37 Number 5.

 

This article by Susan Glover discusses the role of propaganda and public information in determining resource extraction practices, past and present. Glover argues that because of the difficult and often expensive process of information gathering, resource extractors rely on the behavior of others and information that is communicated as common knowledge or public information. Glover argues that those communicating this information often have hidden agendas and therefore may not have any motivation to communicate accurate data. Glover uses the example of Colorado silver prospectors to demonstrate how resource extractors have always taken shortcut approach to data gathering relying on media and the advice of others to save time and money. The obvious problem with this shortcut approach is that the motivation of the prospector and the motivation of the data communicator are rarely aligned. Maybe less obvious than the problem presented, is the wide array of outcomes that begin with misinformed players and end with misinformed policy making.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesinghaus, Jochen. (2012). Measuring European Environmental Policy Performance. Ecological Indicators Vol. 17 pgs 29-37

In this article, the author Jochen Jesinghaus discusses the modern issue of measuring environmental conditions within the realm of environmental politics. In the identification of the problem the author brings to the table that, currently, there are a number of ways to measure a political regimes performance in both social and economical terms. To help with these issues are statistics such as Gross Domestic Product and unemployment rates. The author then follows with an explanation that no such standard of evaluation exists for environmental status such as changes in pollution or changes to the climate itself. Not only does the author begin the process of initiating environmental policy evaluation by writing this article but ways of moving forward are also proposed. Jesinghaus addresses the importance of measuring environmental policy performance in ensuring the efficient use of political resources; he continues by discussing the difficulties faced when attempting to measure policy performance, but that the goal of measuring policy performance is to redirect political resources away from, in his opinion, wasteful practices like bank bailouts and toward more sustainable initiatives that stem from environmental decisions. He makes the case for the implementation of an Environmental Performance Index, arguing that such an index could eventually accurately measure policy performance the same way that GDP calculations accurately measure the economic performance of a nation.

 

Leach, Melissa. (1994) Natural Resource Management: The Reproduction and use of Environmental Misinformation in Guinea’s Forest-Savanna Transition Zone. IDS Bulletin: Vol. 25 Number 2

 

Leading with a fairly negative view towards the country of Guinea’s environmental policy the author makes an early indication that an improvement in the relationship between the governement and public is needed. The problem in question is the ongoing savannization of tropical forest, and more specifically, “… to examine critically the relationship between the information produced about environmental problems, and the external institutions which have assumed responibility to deal with them.” The article follows up the identification of these problems with the consequences it has on the public, and more importantly, the policy created based on incomplete sources of information. Problems like local communities allowing the exploitation of natural resources, such as rainforest and land, due to lack of adequate knowledge on what the implications of their decisions are. Although taking place in a different time and place, than hydraulic fracturing, there is a significant connection between the two situations. The connection is that the undereducated and misinformed public relies on the government and industry for leadership. Also, and connected to the problem, the industry and sometimes the governement as well have shown to sacrifice the well being of certain groups of people for economic development. This source is useful because it has a full grasp of what lead to, and happened after problems occurred and therefore can be used to help move forward the problem between hydraulic fracturing and misinformation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malone, Elizabeth L.(2010) Moving from Misinformation Derived from Public Attitude Surveys on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage Towards Realistic Stakeholder Involvement. International

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. Pg 419-425

 

The main point that this article makes is that there are too many people, with invested interest (stakeholders) in carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), whose knowledge is based primarily on misinformation. The author holds certain methods of information collection accountable for producing much of the misinformation that exists. One method in particular, surveys of of the public, are criticised specifically for fostering “pseudo opinions” and not putting forth an effort to responsibly educate the survey participants. The author makes a strong point at identifying that there must be a strong public voice in the realm of modern energy technology policy. To further develop this concept the author explains that it is not the opinions of the public on CCS that matter, but it is their knowledge, that is solely relevant.

 

Meyer, Alan D. (1991) Visual Data in Organizational Research. Organizational Science Vol. 2 Number 2. pg 218-236.

 

The point of this report is to identify the different types visual information that is used, through the lenses of cognitive psychology, neurophysiology, linguistics, and artificial information, and why these types information are used. The author intends to educate organizational researchers to responsibly create and use visual data. This is not a simple suggestion that visual data be used but rather it be used in specific, purposeful, methods. The author begins to point out how influential visual data is with an introduction based on the use of visual data, by the physician John Snow, to fight the cholera epidemic of the 1800s. A basic portrayal of what this report focuses on can be found in the summary of two forms of writing developed; ideographic and alphabetic. Ideographic writing uses a limited number of visual symbols to get the message across to the reader. Alphabetic writing uses letters and words to articulate points to the reader. After a brief explanation about how psychology applies to the learning of these two different types of information the author concludes the section with the addition of a social context. The author explains how the Western society views organizational research, and how it may have certain prejudices that support the hierachical nature of organizational research. Rather than making a claim to whether or not there is a right or wrong look at organizational research the author’s intent is to pursuade that organizational research is an evolving subject that must be approached with an open outlook.

 

 

“Science In Action: Building a Scientific Foundation for Sound Environmental decisions.” (2010)United States Environmental Protection Agency: Office of Research and DevelopmentAccessed at: http://www.epa.gov/owindian/tribal/pdf/hydraulic-fracturing-fact-sheet.pdf

 

The diagram shown provides an objective representation of hydraulic fracturing. The figure illustrates all the basic components that make up natural gas drilling and does not focus on the externalities surrounding hydraulic fracturing as a whole. The illustration is uncluttered, as it does not include any irrelevant objects such as trailer trucks, smog or any other aesthetically displeasing or controversial material. Compared to other diagrams there seems to be a greater focus on the scale of the operation underground. The cross section includes more detail such as layers of sediment and has a detailed close up to elaborate on the fracture process. The government plays a role of great magnitude within the natural gas operations in the United States. It is in visuals like this one does the EPA practice disgression with biass and misrepresentation. As a fairly unique piece of the politics of environmental visual representation this is a focus away from using visuals to influence the reader, but rather an explanation of the process itself. This will show contrast from the majority of other pieces seen in hydraulic fracturing which focus on a picture to represent subjective information.

 

 

Phadke, Roopali. (2010). Steel forests or smoke stacks: the politics of visualisation in the Cape Wind controversy. Environmental Politics, Vol. 19, No. 1, February 2010, 1– 20.

 

It is without a doubt easier to simply look at a picture than it is to read a paragraph attempting to describe the landscape a picture may portray. It is also easier to reach more people with pictures as complimentary components to a text report than just the text report itself. With the introduction of energy projects that may encroach upon natural landscapes, such as windmills off the coast of Nantucket, there are significantly more focuses surrounding how the visual value of the location may be compromised than ever before. This piece highlights the broader implications of what reports are used for and the influence they have on public opinion. After introducing the 1970 U.S. National Environmental Policy Act, and its demand for public involvement in environmental projects, the need for popular support can be seen. After touching upon important statistics, part of a 4000 page report on the implications of the Cape Wind Energy Project, an understanding of how data based images can have major influences on the outcome of a popularity based project. As part of the broader theme this case study lays the groudwork for what will be analyzed within the realm of visual environmental politics and hydraulic fracturing. The author seems to have a firm grasp on the broader problems seen in his conclusion “In the absence of a national policy dialogue about the landscape impacts of our new energy choices, public deliberation about wind power will continue to be reduced to dueling images of

smoke stacks and steel forests.”

 

Stars, Paul F. (2010). Review of “Data Flow: Visualizing Information in Graphic Design” Geographical Review. American Geographical Society. Pp 131-133

 

This review of “Data Flow: Visualizing Information in Graphic Design”, discusses a concept known as data visualization theory. The theory describes the ability of imagery to portray the complex and give visual access to difficult concepts. Specifically mentioned is data flow in relation to sets of information, that without visual aid, would remain “intractable or indigestable”. When data is communicated through images and designs, the foundation of those images is numbers and words. The concern that this review addresses is that whenever data is presented this way, there is a danger of oversimplification and presenter bias. The author discusses the modern tendency for information seekers to rely on graphic presentation of data instead of addressing the more dense but more complete data itself. This tendency is pushed by the transition in public media shifting from in-print sources like newspapers to the digital age of clicking through sources of info on the web. Coming from this piece is the value in the relationship between verbal and graphical literacy of audiences within information distribution.

 

Hydraulic Fracturing Fact Sheet. (2009) Western Organization of Resarch Councils. Retrieved from “http://www.worc.org/userfiles/file/HyrdraulicFractuiring.pdf“

 

This Hydraulic Fracturing Fact Sheet prepared by the Western Organization of Resource Councils delineates the concerns, from a human perspective, of the process of hydraulic fracturing. The sheet addresses the likelihood and potential dangers of water source contamination, air pollution from evaporation waste pits, and the unwillingness of drilling companies to release information on chemicals and dangerous substances used in the process. Rather than assigning responsibility or claiming who and what should be accountable this information source uses a language that portrays a presentation of what is currently the situation. This is seen as the wording of certain concerns will specifically explain which claims are made by which people. For example the use of a statement from a hydrologist within the United States Geologic Survey and his statement that there are hazardous chemicals injected into the ground in unacceptable concentrations. The fact sheet offers examples of the toxicity of these chemicals and their pervasiveness in entering local drinking water sources in deadly concentrations. It also delineates the lack of regulations on drilling companies to publicize information about the substances used and the problems this poses for emergency responders in the event of human exposure.