6.16. The site characterization programme should identify the site conditions to be monitored in the pre-construction, construction and operational phases and should establish the required level of detail of measurement (e.g. accuracy and precision) to ensure a suitable baseline record of the natural systems of the site against which the results of future site monitoring can be compared to determine any changes brought about by the construction and operation of the facility. Baseline monitoring information may include, for example, hydraulic pressure measurements, chemical constituents of groundwater and surface waters, surface water flows and natural background radioactivity. The sampling timescale interval should be selected to provide sufficient resolution to allow early notification of any significant changes in site conditions brought about by construction and operation of the facility. Information from disturbances caused by construction could also be used to test and develop models of the site.