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Step 2: Detailed Evaluation of Hot Spots
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3.3. Step 2: Detailed Evaluation of Hot Spots
The detailed evaluation of Hot Spots was conducted using the scoring sheets attached. A scoring sheet and a rationale document was developed for each of the categories of Hot Spot issues as follows:
- Water Quality & Human Health
- Pollution Control
- Environmental & Biodiversity
- Economics
Work sheets for each category with Rationales and Scoring Sheets are presented in the Annex. The rationale documents explain why criteria were proposed and their relative importance.
The detailed evaluation was conducted using a numerical scoring methodology. The four areas of interest, identified as Categories in the scoring methodology, were sub-divided into Subcategories of multiple questions (Indicators). The scores were transferred to a Summary Scoring Sheet which calculated the total score of each Hot Spot after accounting for weightings.
The initial activity required for the scoring methodology was the selection of reasonable weightings to determine the relative importance of each indicator. The weighting was undertaken at three levels (categories, subcategories and indicators). Weightings are only relative between indicators in the same subcategories, subcategories in the same categories and between categories. This approach made selecting weighting factors relatively easy to implement and revise as required. It eliminated any bias introduced between categories and/or subcategories with many indicators compared to those categories and/or subcategories with few indicators.
The range of scores was designated as 0 to 5. The range could be altered as desired (i.e., 0 to 100) to provide greater refinement of resolution (more detailed discrimination between criteria). It was considered that a range of 0 to 5 provided an appropriate amount of discrimination for the evaluation.
The scoring sheets with proposed weightings were provided with the guideline. As one of the their first tasks, the NHSE were required to review and revise the proposed weighting values.
The NHSE completed the scoring sheets for each of the short-listed Hot Spots using data available in national and regional centres. During this process, a data quality assessment was conducted by the NHSE for each country and used in a sensitivity analysis of the scoring methodology.
The scores were transferred to a Summary Scoring Sheet which calculated the total score of each Hot Spot after accounting for weightings.
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Step 1: Identification and Preliminary Screening of Hot Spots