GP-Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned
The projects have assessed the lessons learnt by examining different factors such as success, the need for improvement or alternative actions in future applications, and some general advice to any potential end user. The results indicate that technical factors are as important as human, social and institutional factors in achieving a successful implementation of the product.
System Architecture
SNIRH is based on an open systems architecture, which enabled the Water Institute to continuously expand it,both in terms of new data stored and new interfaces. The logic model underlying the system is clearly documented thus insuring that the investment in terms of data storage is long lasting and independent of software fashions.

APPLICABILITY LESSONS LEARNED

System architecture Communication systems require reliable infrastructures

Demonstrators Early success helps to build confidence in users, to enhance understanding of the problem and to tune-up the system on specific needs

User requirements All telematics systems must be adapted to the different customers and end-users
Definition and analysis of user requirements with the active involvement of users and system providers

Data and models Data suppliers,standardisation and validation are essential considerations for the success of any environmental telematics applications

Communications and infrastructures Telematics provide cost effective solutions to a variety of environmental management issues

Social and human factors Technical factors are as important as human,social and institutional aspects
Knowledge sharing and transfer is more important then information technology transfer

Management Coherently management of organisations requires expertise infrastructures where dialogue/communication,co-operation, congruence of decisions and responsibility and training are the main keystones.

In the ECOSIM project the keystone is represented by the definition and implementation of a flexible modular framework system that allows for easy adaptation to specific local conditions. In TEMSIS technical development with new technology was seen to require more time than anticipated because promised functions or stability are usually delayed. The design of the system architecture and the acceptance of the projects results by the users represented the key factor for success in the REMSSBOT project.
Demonstrators
In SIMTRAP, existing proven components which had full data available to them were used from the beginning of the project to demonstrate different system utilities and applications. It was found that this approach was decisive in showing progress and c o nvincing users. The projects E-MAIL and WATERNET learnt a similar lesson, indicating that early demonstrators (e.g. using Rapid Prototyping) certainly helped and should be available for a better definition of requirements and final needs. Early demonstrators also help to familiarise users with the concept of a preliminary system demonstrating the systems' potential functionality.
Analysis of User Requirements
The definition of a "standard" (or harmonised) methodology for the analysis of end user requirements should be given better attention.This represents a key milestone for user-oriented development and sustainability of outputs (REMSSBOT, WATERNET and E-MAIL). Detailed user requirements should be the basis for all serious project development. Whenever the user does not have the capability to develop such specifications there is a serious risk that the system being proposed is far too advanced and will face considerable difficulties in the practical implementation. In such cases recurring to prototypes can help considerably.
Data and Models
TEMSIS and DANIS gave core importance to the data suppliers who should be involved in projects from the beginning to avoid conceptual and legal problems. JAMS points out the importance of the recognition of standards for data processing systems by all the project participants as well as the d evelopment of a common methodology for environmental assessment. It is also evident that a standardisation of data validation methods should be agreed together with inter-calibration. A similar opinion was also expressed by the Croatia-TNMN project, stressing the importance of the quality of the available data and the application of quality control & assurance.
In transnational projects, the key to success is the intercomparability of the results obtained by standardising the methods of measurement and information & communication systems (Danube-AEWS, Croatia-TNMN, JAMS).
EMMA, like EFFECT, highlighted that traffic emissions are a significant part of the pollution in a city environment.The work on importing weather and pollution forecasts highlighted the influence both can have on the local air quality. Care is needed in incorporating the data into the air quality modelling. The UK Meteorological Office tracked back the source of imported pollution when Leicester's monitored values exceeded those initially modelled. using only local emissions database. Stockholm showed the value of the Mini-SODAR in understanding the atmospheric layers, whilst its AIRVIRO model was used to assist in optimising the engineering planning of a northern section of the city ring road. SNIRH stores all data collected in the regional offices of the Ministry of Environment, processes it to check consistency and stores it in the database. Data integrity is insured at database level, using the capabilities of the database server.
Communications and Infrastructures
The Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) communication facility represents a cost-effective solution for the development of distributed & integrated systems (Croatia-TNMN, DANIS). EFFECT and EMMA highlighted the major impact traffic emissions can have on the overall air quality in the city. Whilst a centralised traffic control will provide a comprehensive communication system for retrieving real-time traffic data, telematics can offer cost effective alternatives, especially if a modular deployment strategy is used to build the modelling grid. The projects emphasised the importance of recognising and understanding the inherent limitations to enable realistic goals to be selected. As the infrastructure develops then the quality and hence value of the outputs will be improved.
Social and Human Factors
Social and human factors are indicated as being of importance by the HEIS-MUC and E-MAIL projects such as the commitment and willingness to make decisions of politicians and top management in public administrations. Similar to the HEIS-MUC success factors are also those of the SNIRH project where clear leadership at INAG and technical competence in Intelligent System development were crucial. The operability, performance and maintenance of the system relies upon dedicated experts who need to be regularly trained and motivated in the continuity of their work. The awareness of the planning and structural aspects in an organisation as well as of the human factors become critical factors for success.
Keys factors for IOZIP are the communications between institutions and city administrations and their financial participation in agreements on investments in technology. More than was planned was needed for political decisions because of the need for the preparation of legal contracts. The same holds for large administrations where bureaucracy for most of the time not efficient.
Summarising, the following specific experiences have been gained through the research projects. They are relevant for cities and regions that wish to implement some of the project results. The identification of data sources and their availability (level of detail, formats, legal issues, etc.) is very crucial as well as the appointed responsibility of a person or group in charge of the system with sufficient expertise in the domain (ECOSIM, TEMSIS, HEIS-MUC and SNIRH projects). The preparation of the technical framework (computers, network connection +availability, support) is also important. EFFECT suggested that goals should be kept within realistic resource limits which should be regularly reviewed. EFFECT has also shown that it is not necessary to adopt the entire EFFECT Demonstrator, providing that you understand the resulting limitations.
HEIS-MUC indicated that independence from the hard- and software sector and the use of portable tools is recommendable. Data should be gathered in an operating system which can be independent of the programme and hardware used (Munich city changed their word-processing system three times during the lifetime of the project imposing unnecessary costs on the project). For text data SGML, PERL and independent HTML-Subsets and programming language support are currently being used.
The organisational structure of the administration must actively favour an integrated transportation/ environmental planning approach.All too often the departments do not co-operate or are actively hostile towards tools that could blur the borderline between their spheres of influence (SIMTRAP project).
The identification of the existing and planned infrastructure to manage the A-Kiosk user data access (e.g. Euro ISDN for the A-Kiosk, internet for the P-Kiosk, Remote Access Router at the central Server site) is very important as well as a central server with an Oracle data base and the identification and integration of the data sources (the availability, legal contracts,the format) (TEMSIS project).
An analysis of the users' requirements and a feasibility study before applying the result of the project is recommendable according to REMSSBOT. IOZIP suggests that co-operation between institutions and administrations is necessary and that training is required according to the technical level of the audience in order to improve understanding and acceptance of the project. SNIRH corroborates this last point and states that it is important to clearly define goals and requirements, to be realistic in the budget and to find the correct partnership for system d evelopment and implementation. The clear definition of the data access policy is of outmost importance, not to risk creating false expectations. SNIRH was the first system in Portugal to provide free data access;this policy had considerable impact in the national data dissemination policy.
EUROAQ was a non-technological project. However the project lead to three main lessons learned of a technological nature.
Firstly, municipalities should avail themselves of the best possible data that must be of a verifiable nature and acquired to the highest quality standards. This is essential to ensure that any resultant air quality management strategy that results will be robust and capable of withstanding scientific challenge. The data that underpins a potentially unpopular or demanding change in public policy must be of the highest available quality in order to ensure that such policies are well founded.Additionally, it is necessary to have good quality data to ensure that the effects of policy interventions (which may often operate only at the margins of environmental effects) can be tracked and monitored.
Secondly, technology will play an increasingly important role in public awareness raising and in campaigning.The standard of the technology used to convey information characteristics and indicates the importance and profile of the issues under consideration. Poorly presented and displayed information gives out a message of indifference. The use of advanced techniques presents an image of importance.
Thirdly, technology plays a vital role in public information systems. As with the campaigning issue, only the very best technology will present information in a clear enough light. As the very latest and best science is used to collect, verify and analyse air quality data it follows that only the best technology should be used to convey that information onwards. It is nonsense to turn sophisticated data into scruffy information.

REC * ENWAP *VIRTUAL GALLERY
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe

APPLICABILITY	LESSONS LEARNED
System architecture	Communication systems require reliable infrastructures
Demonstrators	Early success helps to build confidence in users, to enhance understanding of the problem and to tune-up the system on specific needs
User requirements	All telematics systems must be adapted to the different customers and end-users Definition and analysis of user requirements with the active involvement of users and system providers
Data and models	Data suppliers,standardisation and validation are essential considerations for the success of any environmental telematics applications
Communications and infrastructures	Telematics provide cost effective solutions to a variety of environmental management issues
Social and human factors	Technical factors are as important as human,social and institutional aspects Knowledge sharing and transfer is more important then information technology transfer
Management	Coherently management of organisations requires expertise infrastructures where dialogue/communication,co-operation, congruence of decisions and responsibility and training are the main keystones.