GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ArcInfo/View
A complete software package supporting Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) capacity to map and present data. The package includes
ArcView, which supports the display of maps and images
CD-ROM
Compact Disc Read-Only Memory. An optical disk that is physically
the same as an audio CD, but contains computer data.
Client-interface programme
A locally developed computer program that facilitates end-user
access to, and retrieval and update of, specific data stored
in different formats, for instance, HTML, GIS, and Oracle.
Database software
Software (that element of computer technology that cannot be
physically touched and which is therefore based on a computer
programme) that is used for storing and accessing data. Examples
include FoxPro, Filemaker Pro or Oracle.
Decision Support System
A co-ordinated assemblage of people, devices or other resources
(increasingly technology-based) that analyses business data and
presents it so that people and managers can make decisions more
easily. Three types of DSS can be distinguished: reporting DSS,
that extracts, sorts, summarises and lists data from existing
data files; analysing DSS, used to analyse data; modelling DSS,
to answer "what-if" type questions.
Expert System
A computer system programmed to imitate the problem-solving procedures
that a human expert makes. For example, in a medical system the
user might enter data like the patient's symptoms, lab reports,
etc., and derive from the computer a possible diagnosis. The
success of an expert system depends on the quality of the data
provided to the computer, and the rules the computer has been
programmed with for making deductions from that data.
Front-end
An interface, typically graphics-based, between a computer terminal
and the user.
GIS - Geographic Information System.
A computer system that contains maps and geographic information,
and sometimes analyses of geographic data. Geographic information
systems are applied in many sectors including government, tourism,
education, environment, engineering, and marketing.
GPS - Global Positioning System.
A system of satellites that continually transmit data, which
makes it possible to identify earth locations through a receiving
unit.
Incident Alert System
A warning system for used for accidents or emergencies
Information Society
Telematics tools (also known as Information Society Technologies)
help improve the quality and efficiency of public administrations
and services, as well as their accessibility and user-friendliness,
leading to better informed citizens. This contributes to realising
European Union goals for an inclusive "User-Friendly Information
Society."
Integrated Environmental
A system, typically technology-based, that enables the unified,
Data Management System combined and co-ordinated management of
data concerning environmental problems. The system typically
brings together the data of relevant organisations, groups, individuals
and disciplines, resulting in a holistic approach toward environmental
management.
Internet
A global system of networked computers that allows communication
between users and the transfer of data from one computer terminal
to any other within that network
ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network
Digital Telecommunication lines that can transmit up to 128 Kilobytes
of information, including both voice and digital services, and
which are much faster than traditional analogue lines.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A network that connects computers, usually by cable, that are
close to each other, usually in the same building.
Meta-information
Data about data, represented, for example, by a catalogue or
an index. Often the data referred to is itself a compilation
of data resources. Meta- data is often stored in a meta-data
information system that describes or defines other bodies of
data, documents or information elements
Oracle
A "relational" database management system of the Oracle
Corporation. It offers a database software package that can handle
and "relate" datasets of many different formats and
types.
Oracle's Binary Large Object
A software developed by the Oracle Corporation for image storage
Management System
A computer system that collects and analyses data from different
sources, designed to provide an organisation's management with
up-to-date information (such as reports, an inventory) at any
time.
PERL
PERL is a general-purpose programming language developed in 1987.
It tends to be used for World Wide Web development, text processing,
Internet services, mail filtering, graphical programming and
systems administration (CC).
SGML
Standard Generic Mark-up Language which enables alternative presentations
of the same information by defining the general structure and
elements of a document. HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language) commonly
used for preparing websites is based on SGML.
Spatial Database Engine (SDE)
An add-on tool that can be used to extend the capacity of a relational
database server like Oracle to include geographic and map-based
data.
Sustainable Development
Development that provides economic, social and environmental
benefits in the long term, in a way that meets the needs of living
and future generations.
Telematics
The application of telecommunications to information-related
activities or informatics, resulting in technologies that support
information storage, processing and transfer.
UNIX workstation
A multi-user, multi-tasking computer operating system (o.s.)
for use on mini-computers, mainframes and personal computers.
The UNIX o.s. is written in the "C" computer programming
language, developed by AT&T. (CC)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A network in which computers are connected to each other over
a long distance, using telephone lines and satellite links.
Windows NT
Windows "New Technology." A 32-bit operating system
from Microsoft for "high-end" workstations, servers,
and networks. It supports the Unicode character set (larger than
ASCII) and has built-in networking, memory protection and fault
tolerance.
Updated:
CET
