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In this paper, we present a Decision-Making Framework (DMF) for reducing ozone pollution in the metropolitan Atlanta region. High ground-level concentrations of ozone continue to be a serious problem in several US cities, and Atlanta is one of the most serious of these cases. In contrast to the "trial and error" approach utilized by state government decision-makers, our DMF searches for dynamic and focused control strategies that require a lower total reduction of emissions than current control strategies. Our DMF utilizes a rigorous stochastic dynamic programming formulation and includes an Atmospheric Chemistry Module to represent how ozone concentrations change over time. This paper focuses on the procedures within the Atmospheric Chemistry Module. Using the US EPA's Urban Airshed Model for Atlanta, we use mining and metamodeling tools to develop a computationally efficient representation of the relevant ozone air chemistry. The proposed approach is able to effectively model changes in ozone concentrations over a 24-hour period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The contribution of knowledge to economic growth and competitiveness has attracted increased attention. Publications with a topical focus on areas related to innovation have risen dramatically from 1963 to 2005, but more slowly in local and regional development journals. In contrast to the wide use of aggregate measures of innovation, this paper presents four cases presenting disaggregated knowledge-based approaches into the policy- and decision-making processes of economic developers in the state of Georgia and the US South. The first case uses information obtained from patents and publications to inform traditional out-of-area economic development recruitment strategies in a more knowledge-oriented direction. The second case exemplifies the use of data mining to identify top researchers as part of a strategic state economic development effort. The third case illustrates how local knowledge-based capabilities can be identified in cities not traditionally viewed as innovative. Nanotechnology-related knowledge assets in the southern United States are mapped and assessed in the fourth case. Disaggregated methods used in traditional strategies were most intuitively understood and used, but new knowledge measures were found to encourage local and state economic developers to begin to embrace new paradigms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]