Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Access and Assimilation: Pivotal environmental information challenges

Linking, archiving, and exploiting multi-lingual and multi-scale environmental information repositories

  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The world-wide environmental exchange of information is hampered by difficulties bridging terminologies and languages so that trans-cultural, cross-sectoral, and multi-dimensional information can be made available in a usable form at low cost.

The alternative concepts and elements described are planned to contribute to HEMIS, UNEP-HEMs world-wide information and reference system. The potential content includes: environmentally relevant organizations, activities, systems, methods, data sources, qualities, and access methods.

The key design element is a multi-lingual thesaurus which has harmonization effect resulting from the structuring and strategic access to information. Documentation and retrieval is another concern beside the provision of tools to ease identification, dissemination, and validation of information. The maintenance of validated source data and documents will reduce the volumes of requested information and thereby counteract the present information overkill.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ACCIS Guide to United Nations Information Sources on the Environment, United Nations, New York, 1988.

  • ACCIS Directory of United Nations Databases and Information Services; Advisory Committee for the Co-ordination of Information Systems, New York, 1990.

  • Ahituv, N.; Munro, M. C.; Wand, Y.: The Value of Information in Information Analysis, Information & Management 4, 143–150 (1981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashdown, M.; Schaller, J.: Geographic Information Systems and their Application in MAB Projects; Ecosystem Research and Environmental Monitoring, International Co-ordinating Council 11th Session, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, November 1990.

  • Benking, H.: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Datenpräsentation im Umweltbereich. In: Jaeschke, A.; Page, B. (eds.), Computer Sciences for Environmental Protection. Informatik Fachberichte 170, 155–168 (1988)

  • Benking, H.; Lessing, H.: Large Scale Biomonitoring for Renaturation. In: GEOÖKODYNAMIK X, 2/3, 277–290 (1989)

  • Benking, H.; Schmidt von Braun, H.: Geo-/Object Coding for Local-Change Assessment. GeoJournal 20, 2, 167–173 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benking, H.: Information about Environmental Information: Introduction and Preliminary Design Considerations, Pre-Studies Discussion Paper for the 1. Expert Group Meeting, unpublished hand-out, UNEP-HEM, Febr.–July 1990.

  • Benking, H.; McGlade, J.; Grossmann, W. D.; Braedt, J.; Keil, K.-H., Hantschel, R.: Integrated Monitoring and Modelling for Environmental Research and Management. In: Benking, H. (coord.), Local and Global Change Exhibition—Research and Co-ordination efforts of International Organizations, geotechnica, Cologne 1991.

  • Benking, H.; Kampffmeyer, U. B.: Harmonization of Environmental Meta-Information with a Thesaurus-Based Multi-Lingual Multi-Media Information System, ISY-ESSIS proceedings, Pasadena, February 1992

  • BMFT: Report of the Technology, Growth and Employment Working Group on further steps regarding “Improvement and Harmonization of Techniques and Practices of Environmental Measurements” to the Tokyo Economic Summit 1986, The Federal Minister of Research and Technology, Bonn, December 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozzi, A.; Capelli, G.: Automatic Lemmtization of Latin Texts. In: Best, H.; Mochmann, E.; Thaffer, M. (eds.). Computers in the Humanities and Social Sciences, pp. 373–378, K.G. Sauer, München 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, G. C.; Diamondstone, B. I.: Directions for Internationally Compatible Environmental Data, Hemisphere Pub. Corp. for CODATA, New York, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cogels, M.: MDS Thesaurus—A multilingual Descriptor System— Prototype Description for the EEA-TF CORINE, under preparation

  • Choros, K.: Weighted descriptor indexing of documents, Aktualne Problemy Informacji i Documentacji, 26, 22–26 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Castri, di, F.; Hadley, M.: Enhancing the Credibility of Ecology: Interaction along and across Hierarchical Scales, GeoJournal 17, 1, 3–35 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crain, I. K.: A Meta-Database for Harmonization of Environmental Measurements, Discussion Paper, 1. Expert Group Meeting, UNEPHEM, München 1990.

  • Data Management for Global Change Research Policy Statements, Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy (1991)

  • Directory of Global and Regional Data Sets Supporting Global Change Research: Project Summary; National Geophysical Data Centre (NOAA/NESDIS/EGC1), Boulder, April 1989.

  • Environmental Information Statement, International Forum for Environmental Information for the Twenty-First Century. Montreal 1991.

  • EEES Reports-Environmental Experts of the Economic Summit—Report on Current International Scientific Activities in Improvement and Harmonization of Techniques and Practices of Environmental Measurement,—Report on Priority Areas for Improvement and Harmonization...,—Report—Ensuring Continuing Progress in Improvement and Harmonization..., GSF-PFU Secretariat, Munich—Meeting, December 1986.—Final Report including summit 1987 Declaration June 1987.—

  • Grossmann, W. D.: Systems approaches towards complex systems. In: Messerli, P.; Strucki, E. (eds.), Fachbeiträge der schweizerischen MAB-Informationen 19, Bundesamt für Umweltschutz, Bern, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossmann, W. D.: Model- and Strategy-driven Geographical Maps for Ecological Research and Management. In: Deutsches Nationalkommitee, Long-Term Ecological Research—A Global Perspective, UNESCO-MAB Mitteilungen 31, 43–61 (1989)

  • Gwynne, M. D.: Global Monitoring, Data, Management and Assessment within GEMS and GRID; GEMS/PAC, Nairobi, November 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, P.: International Action and Institutional Measures—New Approaches. Malente Symposium IX, The ECO-Nomic Revolution—Challenge and Opportunity for the 21st Century, hand-out, Dräger Foundation in Cooperation with UNCED, Malente, November 1991.

  • Hulpke, H.: The Analytical Challenge: Conversion Data to Results. In: Alfred Wegener Stiftung (Herausgeber), Handbook for geotechnica Trade Fair and Congress, pp. 111–112, Verlag Rüdiger Flock, Cologne 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeffers, J. N. R.: An Introduction to Systems Analysis: with ecological applications. Arnold, London 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • Kampffmeyer, U. B.; Benking, H.: Die Gewinnung, Auswertung und Archivierung verläßlicher Umweltinformationen am Beispiel TOPOGRAMM. In: Jaeschke, A.; Page, B. (eds.), Informatik im Umweltschutz, Informatik Fachberichte 228 (1989)

  • Kampffmeyer, U.: Global Information Systems: Design, Classification and Multi-lingual Thesauri Development Issues and Concepts Related to the Task of Meta-Database Development. 1. Expert Group Meeting, handout unpublished, UNEP-HEM, July 1990.

  • Kampffmeyer, U., Benking, H., Keune, H., Theissen, A.: Discussion-paper for the 2. Expert-group Meeting, UNEP-HEM Meta-Database and Information System HEMIS, Chapter 3: Design of HEMIS, hand-out, unpublished, UNEP-HEM, September 1991.

  • Kampffmeyer, U: Deskriptoren versus Volltext, DGD/LID Tagung Frankfurt “Strategien für Optical Filing—Anwendungen im Pressearchiv”, Frankfurt, November 1991b.

  • Kampffmeyer, U. B.: Von der Datenverarbeitung zur Informationsverarbeitung, GIGATREND, Series 1/91, 2/91, 3/91, Klaes Verlag, Düsseldorf 1991d

    Google Scholar 

  • Keune, H.; Murray, A. B.; Benking, H.; Harmonization of Environmental Measurement, GeoJournal 23.3, 249–255 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Keune, H.; Theisen, A.: Environmental Databases and Information Management Programmes of International Organizations. In: Hälker, M.; Jaeschke, A. (eds.), Computer Science for Environmental Protection, Informatik Fachberichte 546–553 (1991)

  • MacNeill, J.; Winsemius P.; Yakushiji, T.: Beyond Interdependence—The Meshing of the World's Economy and the Earth's Ecology Oxford University Press, 1991.

  • The State of the Environment; OECD, Paris, 1991.

  • UNEP Expert Meeting on Improvement and Harmonization of Environmental Measurement, UNEP-GEMS, Munich, December 1987.

  • UNEP-GEMS Report Series No. 8: Towards the Design for a Metadatabase for the Harmonization of Environmental Measurement, Report of the Expert Group Meeting, July 26–27, 1990, Nairobi, June 1991.

  • UNEP-HEM Survey of Environmental Monitoring & Information Management Programmes of International Organizations, UNEP-HEM office, 2nd edition April 1991

  • Wiersma, G. B.: Feasibility Study of a Global Network of Integrated Monitoring Sites; Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, April 1990.

  • Weizsäcker, v. E. U.: Ganzheitlicher Umweltschutz. In: Jaeschke, A.; Page, B. (eds.), Informatikanwendungen im Umweltbereich, Informatik Fachberichte 170, pp. 1–7, Springer, Heidelberg 1988.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Project Consult, Isestr. 63, 2000, Hamburg 13, Germany

    Benking Heiner &  Kampffmeyer

Authors
  1. Benking Heiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kampffmeyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ulrich B.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The views expressed in this paper are personal and are not intended to anticipate decisions or commitments.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heiner, B., Kampffmeyer & Ulrich, B. Access and Assimilation: Pivotal environmental information challenges. GeoJournal 26, 323–334 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02629811

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02629811

Keywords

Search

Navigation