What If ?

International audienc

Environmental Information Systems on the Internet: A Need for Change

The cost effective delivery of scientific and policy requirements is a key driver for the realization of global sustainability research, integrated assessment and supporting innovative systems. The next generation of geospatial information infrastructures is proposed as a possible solution. Still, questions such as ‘what does all this mean to environmental information systems’ and ‘what is expected to change’, have only partially been answered. In this paper, we describe the recent challenges for eEnvironment services in Europe, specify desired capabilities and derive according requirements. We identify affected stakeholder communities and depict their involvement in the overall value chain of environmental knowledge generation. Specific examples illustrate individual needs, while a derived description of the value chain indicates more general outcomes. Developmental requirements of future information systems are discussed. The presented work answers the questions above by bridging the gab between stakeholder needs, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development and higher level concepts, such as Digital Earth and Future Internet.JRC.DDG.H.6-Spatial data infrastructure

Evolution of Environmental Information Models

Part 1: Keynotes and Context ArticlesInternational audienceAccess to environmental data, based on standardized data models and services, is becoming ever more prevalent, providing stakeholders with access to a wide range of standardized environmental data from diverse sources. However, exactly this success brings new problems, with thematic extensions based on these standardized models being created by disparate thematic communities based on their specific requirements. In contrast to the traditional standards development process, which includes mechanisms for maintaining alignment of concepts across different sections of the standard, once these standards are extended by a larger and not so strictly structured community, the alignment process becomes increasingly difficult. This position paper sketches this problem, as illustrated by example of the European INSPIRE process, and serves as a basis for the conference workshop discussion that aims to capture both further facets of the problem as well as possible solutions

INSPIREd Air Quality Reporting

Part 5: SEIS as a Part of the 7th Environment Action Programme of EUInternational audienceThe new Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) foresees the provision of air quality reporting data utilizing the data specifications and services specified by the INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC). For this purpose, existing INSPIRE data specifications must be extended as required to support the legal requirements for air quality e-Reporting. Both the legal background for air quality reporting and INSPIRE as well as the process for extending the INSPIRE data models as required for air quality e-Reporting are described in this paper

Evolution of Environmental Information Models

Part 6: Information SystemsInternational audienceReusability of environmental data is essential for environmental research and control; standardized data models are being created by various organizations to facilitate this process. Due to the evolving nature of environmental science, these data models must be continuously extended for the support of new concepts, thus rapidly breaking the level of standardization achieved. The definition of reusable properties would allow for standardization of this extension process. In this paper, we first analyze the requirements to reusable properties, and explain the rational for the decision that reusable properties tightly bound to a URI would be the most apt solution; the following list of requirements was defined in order to compare the viability of the options proposed: URI Coupling, DataType Coupling, Semantics Coupling and Persistence. We then go on to explore possible avenues for implementation of reusable URI-Properties, whereby the following approaches where analysed for applicability: Data Types, Interfaces, MOF level adjustment of UML and a solution utilizing stereotypes for the definition and use of reusable URI-Properties. Of these approaches, all were deemed feasible except for the MOF level adjustment of UML; MOF level adjustment is not possible due to cardinality constraints within the MOF definition. Examples were created for the other 3 possibilities, including serialization options towards XML Schema. These examples were then compared with the requirements defined for URI-Properties; based on this analysis, the UML Stereotype based solution for the specification and use of reusable URI-Properties was deemed as most viable and is described in further detail

ENVIROFI - Bringing Biodiversity to the Future Internet

Part 1: Environmental Application in the Scope of the Future InternetInternational audienceIn order to meet the requirements for observational biodiversity data, new sources of data must be enabled; for this purpose, new tools will be required. In order to effectively implement such tools, standardized building blocks such as the enablers defined by the FI will be very valuable. Thus, it is of utmost urgency that the requirements posed by the biodiversity sector are clearly structured and made available for implementation of environmental enablers within the FI. The ENVIROFI project has gone to great lengths so provide these requirements for various environmental domains; of specific relevant to this paper being the biodiversity domain. We hope to successfully contribute to the future of e-Environment in this manner

SDIs for the Internet of Things The integration of spatio-temporal data in INSPIRE

International audienc

Environmental Information Systems on the Internet: A Need for Change

Part 2: eEnvironment and Cross-Border Services in Digital Agenda for EuropeInternational audienceThe cost effective delivery of scientific and policy requirements is a key driver for the realization of global sustainability research, integrated assessment and supporting innovative systems. The next generation of geospatial information infrastructures is proposed as a possible solution. Still, questions such as ‘what does all this mean to environmental information systems’ and ‘what is expected to change’, have only partially been answered. In this paper, we describe the recent challenges for eEnvironment services in Europe, specify desired capabilities and derive according requirements. We identify affected stakeholder communities and depict their involvement in the overall value chain of environmental knowledge generation. Specific examples illustrate individual needs, while a derived description of the value chain indicates more general outcomes. Developmental requirements of future information systems are discussed. The presented work answers the questions above by bridging the gab between stakeholder needs, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development and higher level concepts, such as Digital Earth and Future Internet

Extending INSPIRE to the Internet of Things through SensorThings API

Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) established during the past two decades “unlocked” heterogeneous geospatial datasets. The European Union INSPIRE Directive laid down the foundation of a pan-European SDI where thousands of public sector data providers make their data, including sensor observations, available for cross-border and cross-domain reuse. At the same time, SDIs should inevitably adopt new technology and standards to remain fit for purpose and address in the best possible way the needs of different stakeholders (government, businesses and citizens). Some of the recurring technical requirements raised by SDI stakeholders include: (i) the need for adoption of RESTful architectures; together with (ii) alternative (to GML) data encodings, such as JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and binary exchange formats; and (iii) adoption of asynchronous publish–subscribe-based messaging protocols. The newly established OGC standard SensorThings API is particularly interesting to investigate for INSPIRE, as it addresses together all three topics. In this manuscript, we provide our synthesised perspective on the necessary steps for the OGC SensorThings API standard to be considered as a solution that meets the legal obligations stemming out of the INSPIRE Directive. We share our perspective on what should be done concerning: (i) data encoding; and (ii) the use of SensorThings API as a download service

Extending INSPIRE to the Internet of Things through SensorThings API

Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) established during the past two decades ’unlocked’ heterogeneous geospatial datasets. The European Union INSPIRE Directive laid down the foundation of a pan-European SDI where thousands of public sector data providers make their data, incl. sensor observations, available for cross-border and cross-domain reuse. At the same time, SDIs should inevitably adopt new technology and standards in order to remain fit for purpose and address in the best possible way the needs of different stakeholders (government, businesses and citizens). Some of the recurring technical requirements raised by SDI stakeholders include (i) the need for adoption of RESTful architectures, together with (ii) alternative (to GML) data encodings, such as JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and binary exchange formats, and (iii) adoption of asynchronous publish-subscribe-based messaging protocols. The newly established OGC standard SensorThings API is particularly interesting to investigate for INSPIRE, as it addresses together all three topics. In this manuscript, we provide our synthesised perspective on the necessary steps for the OGC SensorThings API standard to be considered as a solution that meets the legal obligations stemming out of the INSPIRE Directive. We share our perspective on what should be done concerning (i) data encoding, and (ii) the use of SensorThings API as a download service.JRC.B.6-Digital Econom