Suggested Research to Improve Compliance, Enforcement, and Environmental Outcomes

In this chapter, Shelley Metzenbaum reframes the role of measurement in environmental compliance and enforcement, advocating a shift from punitive assessments toward the strategic use of data to inform and improve regulatory practice. Emphasizing the value of measurement as a means for insight rather than judgment, Metzenbaum draws on diverse case studies, including watershed monitoring in Massachusetts and community-led air quality initiatives in North Carolina. These case studies illustrate examples of how thoughtfully gathered and communicated data can drive better environmental and health outcomes. She calls for research that not only enhances the technical quality of measurement but also expands its accessibility, fairness, and usefulness across a wide array of users. The chapter is both a call to action and a roadmap for researchers and practitioners to harness evolving technologies, better understand user needs, and use measurement as a tool for learning, trust-building, and strategic action.