With the advent of standards and criteria for water quality variables, there has been an increasing concern about the changes of these variables over time. Thus, sound statistical methods for determining the presence or absence of trends are needed. A Trend Detection Method is presented that provides: 1) Hypothesis Formulation ‐ statement of the problem to be tested, 2) Data Preparation ‐ selection of water quality variable and data, 3) Data Analysis ‐ exploratory data analysis techniques, and 4) Statistical Tests ‐ tests for detecting trends. The method is utilized in a stepwise fashion and is presented in a nonstatistical manner to allow use by those not well versed in statistical theory. While the emphasis herein is on lakes, the method may be adopted easily to other water bodies.

The benefits from ground‐water quality monitoring ultimately depend on the statistical methods used to analyze data. The methods must match both the information expectations of users and the characteristics of the water quality variables to which they are applied. The primary objective of regulatory ground‐water monitoring is detecting changes in quality. To select appropriate statistical tests for change, one must know whether the water quality variables of concern are seasonal, normally distributed, and serially dependent. This paper provides guidance in analyzing limited background data sets to determine these three characteristics. Recommended procedures to detect seasonality were pcriodograms, Student's t‐test, Mann‐Whitney test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal‐Wallis test. To test for normality, the skewness coefficient is recommended. To detect serial dependence, sample autocorrelation coefficients may be tested for significance.

The emerging problem of contamination of ground‐water resources has created a need for information which can be supplied by properly designed ground‐water quality monitoring programs. The effective design of monitoring programs and the subsequent utilization of data obtained depends upon an understanding of the general statistical characteristics of ground‐water quality variables. In order to provide some background information on these characteristics, a synthesis of current literature and a statistical analysis of existing ground‐water quality data were conducted. Specifically, the purpose of the study was to determine whether ground‐water quality variables: (1) are normally distributed, (2) exhibit seasonal patterns, and (3) are correlated in time. The results of the investigation suggest that many ground‐water quality variables: are not normally distributed, but have skewed right distributions; can exhibit seasonal fluctuations of various shapes and magnitudes, especially in shallow or highly permeable aquifers; and can exhibit significant serial correlation when samples are collected quarterly.

Growth, prosperity and economic development for developing countries are dependent upon reliable and safe transportation systems. Road and highway systems provide a critical role in creating and maintaining economic development and a desirable quality of life. Embedding environmentally sustainable principles and best practices into road projects in the developing world has been a challenge for governments and the International Financial Institutions. The problems faced in the developing world have many unique aspects including varying degrees of commitment, limited financial resources and lack of understanding about sustainability concepts and how to address them given the country specific characteristics.The World Bank developed a guidance document to assist Bank project staff and its clients in integrating environmentally sustainable elements into road transportation projects, thus helping to promote green growth. The focus was to identify a range of ideas and options to improve environmental sustainability throughout all phases of the project cycle (system planning, project planning and design, construction and operation and maintenance) using a rating system tool. The approach builds upon five national and international sustainability rating systems and provides an extensive set of environmental road sustainability criteria. The guidance also presents a summary of road transportation environmentally sustainable technology information to stimulate consideration in existing and new road projects.The paper presents a summary of contents and use of the sustainability-based road guidance and provides some case studies, insights and suggestions for moving forward given the initial findings from its use in Latin America. ICSI 2014: Creating Infrastructure for a Sustainable World

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