Regional Environmental
Management Systems
The results achieved in the Croatia-TNMN project
include the collection and storage of TNMN data
for the Drava, Sava and Danube rivers and
harmonised through the Data Exchange File Format
(DEFF) developed for MLIM activities. Data are
collected quarterly and merged in the Basin-wide
database. Transfer of regional TNMN data to the
DEFF system was organised by the authorities of
these rivers. Such results are the first step towards
the harmonisation of water related data processing
in different regions of Croatia and through the
Danube basin. A basic digital map of the Danube River Basin has been prepared in a GIS database. Experimental static Web pages of the Transnational Monitoring Network for the Danube River Basin in Croatia have also been established and are available for the public. Experimental dynamic Web pages are in preparation based on Autodesk integration software. Application of ISDN connection and the use of video conferencing tools is initiated.
| Croatia-TNMN A database system for collecting, storing and retrieving the Croatian TNMN data for water quality/quantity. Harmonisation of data from different regions of Croatia has been accomplished. Digital map of the Danube River Basin is available at the Web pages for TNMN network as well as part of the database information. |
The DANIS project has developed a tool for supporting the growth of public awareness in the Danube River region. DANIS is used daily by environmentalists, water specialists, ecologists, NGO's and the general public, not only from the Danube countries but from any part of the world. The system has incorporated on-line questionnaires for environmental experts, institutions and events to be entered electronically into DANIS databases. This tool encourages cooperation between environmental and water experts and institutions in the Danube River Basin. DANIS has been on internet since 1995.The number of users grew from 200 to currently 15000 per month. Further development of DANIS are found in the Danube Information System: DANUBIUS.
| DANIS The Danube Information System on human resources provides access to all available primary information systems and databases developed for the needs of the Danube region. |
The most important result of the DANUBE-AEWS project is a software system for the management of information flow on national level within the units of the PIAC and on international level between the different PIACs in the Danube River Basin, dealing with accidental water pollution incidents having transboundary impact.
The user-friendly software provides options for each country to use its home language while the language of international communication is English. A second software package consists of the DBAM Danube Basin Alarm Model applied to each Expert Unit of the PIACs as a tool for decision support. The model-system covers the whole catchment area of the River Danube and its important tributaries, providing capabilities to assess water pollution impact characteristics, such as time of travel, maximum concentrations, etc. and to assist with the assessment of transboundary impacts of accidental water pollution incidents.
The third output is a basin-wide satellite communication and alarm system for the immediate receipt and transmission of information on accidental pollution incidents. The objective is to ensure basin-wide, fast and reliable communication between Danube countries in case of emergencies caused by accidental pollution incidents and for transmission of information on incident characteristics.
To increase the capabilities and the response of the Danube-AEWS several additional projects are going on, or planned to be launched under the EPDRB programme and under the activities of the ICPDR and the Danube countries themselves. An important part of further development is the harmonisation and upgrading of the institutional background supporting DAEWS activities in each of the co-operating countries.
| DANUBE-AEWS A system based on international co-operation in the Danube River Basin to provide early information on transboundary river pollution incidents towa rds the responsible authorities of the countries affected by the impacts of such pollution events |
Economic results of the existence and operation of the Danube-AEWS have been not assessed as quantitative benefits, because of the accidental character of the cases dealt with to date. Nevertheless, the early information on emergencies provided by the system for authorities and water users can significantly reduce the emergency response time as well as the possible damage. These qualitative benefits are outstandingly important for the parties co-operating in the establishment and operation of the system.
The main result of the E-MAIL project consists of a Decision Support System, based on an enhanced interoperability of geo-data. Data are conveyed from different sources, standardised in similar formats and integrated in a multimedia platform, offering an integrated set of tools for modelling, mapping, analysing and reporting. The tools are: a Modeller (services: editing, cataloguing), a Manager (services: visualising, persistent geodata managing) and an Integrator (services: exchanging, query managing). The tools help the user to obtain detailed information on environmental topics.
| E-MAIL Environment monitoring by using data captured from different sources. The system converts the data in standardised formats and integrates them on a multimedia platform, which contains a set of tools for modelling, mapping, analysing and reporting. |
Other results are:
- a methodology for User Requirement Collection and Analysis, based on the combination of quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (interviews, focus groups) methods
- a system architecture based on ISO standards, such as ISO/ODP (Open Distributed P rocessing) 10746 and ISO TC 211
- increased productivity, such as less time being used to acquire the information needed to make decisions. New products, concepts, processes, procedures, etc. can be also introduced and integrated into operations more rapidly
- cost savings can be achieved through E-MAIL applications because they reduce the time and effort to respond to customer inquiries by 50%; in addition E-MAIL is designed to provide a from 30 to 50% reduction in document management and transaction time
- the work productivity increases because complex procedures are easier to understand and implement, and easier to maintain through E-MAIL
The results of the JAMS project is continuous monitoring system for significant air pollutants which stores concentration data. The system consists of three networks with a total of 42 automatic monitoring stations. Air pollution and meteorological data are delivered to three national regional centres, located in the three countries involved. Data from the German part of the network are available on-line also in the Polish and Czech centres via METEOSAT satellite. Validated data is transferred a few times a year between the three countries.
| JAMS An information system to collect continuous air quality measurements (according to international standards and accepted by all cooperating countries and international institutions) and meteorological parameters to be used for short and long-term forecasting of the status of air pollution in the Black Triangle region. |
Another major result is to assure good quality measurement according to international standards, recognisable by all co-operating countries and international institutions.
The project has also supported international co-operation in the field of wide range air pollution, coming from the transboundary dispersion of pollution. Monitoring results have shown significant decreases in air pollution concentrations during previous years, which has already been closely related to investments made in the energy sectors of the three countries. The cost of monitoring does not exceed 1.5% of overall environmental investments. In the case of the Black Triangle region, the analysis of the monitoring data has clearly shown that the highest concentration of pollution in densely populated a reas does not now come from big power plants. The elaboration of air quality data therefore confirmed that the abatement strategy which involved financing gas conversion was the correct measure.
| REMSSBOT To implement information management services. The solution is based on a catalogue conforming to the guidelines of the Catalogue of Data Sources (CDS) of the European Environment Agency, describes what information is available at what location and provides IT systems with the automated procedures to access the actual information. The supporting tools and building blocks allow users to navigate through the catalogue and explore information sources regardless of environmental topic and location. |
The most innovative result of the REMSSBOT project is the implementation of a system architecture, based on the European Environment Catalogue of Data Sources, which provides environmental data from diffe rent external databases to user applications. The application enables the access and collection of data from different sources, presenting them as if they belong to a single source. The owner of the information determines what information can be accessed by the user in searching and downloading. Changes in the databases or other external information can be made only after downloading has occurred. All types of databases can be accessed, without any conversion activity at the database site.
Major quantitative impacts:
- economic results: use of existing tools, avoidance of duplication of efforts, saving of time and effort in retrieving and exchanging environmental information
- better decision making and prevention of problems.
- improvement in the authorities' efficiency: better and quicker access to information,better co-operation between different public bodies, more efficient planning and decision making
- improvement in public information.
| SNIRH The system is capable of storing, processing and displaying water resources information, both internally in INAG, based on the SNIRH INTRANET, and to external entities (consultants, other government agencies and research institutions), through the SNIRH INTERNET -www.inag.pt/snirh- |
The concrete results of the SNIRH project are not only a set of information system tools (data base, geographic information system, statistical processing tools, models, Web data access) but above all the modernisation of water resources management in Portugal and the introduction of new working procedures in the Portuguese Water Institute. At present there is a major effort in Portugal aimed at developing the National Water Resources Plan and the Basin Plans for each of the river basins, following the guidelines of the new Water Resources Framework Directive. SNIRH is the support for these studies,both in terms of data storage, data delivery and model integration. INAG was the first public administration entity in Portugal to clearly define a data dissemination policy, which is free of charge and complete, using SNIRH as the basis for that; this attitude has had a major impact on the Information Society in Portugal.
Some major qualitative impacts can be attributed to the direct access of free data by the public relating to water resources collected by the Water Institute. Communication with other government bodies/ institutions has also been optimised and internal resources at INAG have been better allocated. For this reason the development of SNIRH is continuous as new types of data and processing capabilities are added as the application expands to new areas within INAG.
The innovative result of the TEMSIS project consists of an IT service for transnational co-operation, such as a complex distributed support and information system, which provides users of different communities in the French-German Moselle/Saar region with access to env i ronmental information and co-operation services via the interpersonal desktop.
| TEMSIS The system develops integrated information and tele-cooperation platforms. The Info-kiosks enable the expert user group to strengthen the transnational cooperation by building an expert network (intranet) and a public network (internet) with free access to environmental information. |
Kiosks' have been implemented such as an Administration-Info Kiosk, based on PC and Euro-ISDN technology with a Navigator-like user interface to access information and services very easily. It includes an integrated tele-cooperation system with multipoint video confe rencing and application sharing. GIS is used to present geo data, and the harmonised presentation of actual air quality data retrieved by German and French measurement networks. Internet based information presentation and communication is present as well as a bilingual report generation. Public Info Kiosks are being located in public buildings. They are based on internet technology but enhanced with local applications, a Navigator-like user interface to access information and services very easily (Java applet), and GIS viewer system with an interface to the Navigator moderated public discussion forum. Data on air quality are presented on internet technology (Java, RMI). A version of Public Info Kiosk but for home use has also been developed.
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe
