ict for environmental sustainability research

A. Gnauck BTU Cottbus, W. Pillmann ISEP Vienna 14. Workshop Kölpinsee 27.-29.10.2010

ICT for Environmental Sustainability Research

Environmental Meta-models:The ICT-ENSURE Project

ISEP International Society for Environmental Protection

Werner Pillmann Lehrstuhl Ökosysteme

und Umweltinformatik

Albrecht Gnauck


Contents

• Introduction• The need for meta-models• Thematic modelling• Conclusions


Introduction• Environmental information is available for all

imaginable areas in all conceivable variants and details in an overwhelming amount.

• Today, there exists no standardizedstructure, whereenvironmental information is organized in an uniform manner.

• ICT-ENSURE follows the idea to maintain a broad view to the environment and proposes a conceptual meta-model used as an organising principle for access to environmental information.


Introduction• A new use of simulation models is their application

as communication tools. • When the behaviour of a water resources system

cannot be reconstructed and predicted from known dynamics, it is still possible to represent the relevant observations in a communication model.

• In this approach, interactive simulation is regarded as a more powerful communication system of water resources systems than algorithmic computation.


Introduction


The need for meta-models


Examples for model applicationsICT-ENSURE covers the following parts:• Air quality• Water quality and quantity• Industrial ecology• Market dynamics• Ecosystemservices & Biodiversity


The need for meta-models• Traditionally, environmental process and

systems models are developed as point models (1D models) like soil-plant-atmosphere models (e. g. CERES (Ritchie & Godwin 1993, HERMES (Kersebaum 1995) or AGROSIM (Mirschel, Schultz & Wenkel 2001)).

• For water resources systems only a few models are developed for 2D- and 3D cases, mostly for water quantity and fluid dynamic processes but not for water quality.



• At a regional scale it is difficult to provide all information for all spatial nodes. The available information is usually characterised by significant fuzziness and heterogeneity.

• Processes in water resources systems as well as sociological, economical and political processes are related to different spatial and temporal scales.



• The recent concerns of climate change provide additional items to the mix of problems faced on a regional scale.

• These problems provoke alltogether even more urgent requirements for reliable decision making instruments and policy support.


The need for meta-models - Questions

• How is it possible to reduce the complexity of processes in water resources systems?

• How much details of process dynamics should be incorporated in regional and global models still capturing the most important feddback loops in water resources systems?

• How is it possible to find a compromise between short-term and long-term processes adequately in dynamic management models?


The need for meta-models - Questions

• How is it possible to bring together conceptually different environmental and economic models?

• Which spatial and temporal resolution is required to appropriately capture processes with regional and/or global significance?

• How is it possible to include spatial environmental heterogeneity and ist influences on environmental functions in socio-economic models?


General model viewSectors in environmental sustainability• Air and climate• Water• Soil• Transportation• Waste• Degradation • Critical areas dealing with hazardous substances• Disasters• Risks


1) Analysis of knowledge and monitoring of the natural environment.2) Arrangement of information in ICT.3) Communication and distribution of information.4) Design of influences on socio-political processes.5) Changes of human activities caused by environmental responses.

A concept of a meta-model for ICT-ENSURE


A meta-model for air quality management


Air quality management• Emission inventory report 1990-2007• CAFE (Clean air for Europe)• EMEP/EEA Air pollutant emission inventory

guidebook 2009• European topic centre on air and climate change

ETC/ACC 2010• RAINS simulation model• Satellite air quality observations in GMES (GENESIS

Air quality state of the art document)• GEOSS infrastructure


A generic air quality information concept

Major blocks are• Community needs (public information,

environmental reporting, governmental and legal support)

• Monitoring of air quality (emissions, transmissions, immissions)

• MEANS (measurements and needs: infrastructure (e. g. ORCHESTRA, SANY)


Contribution to SISE


Water resources management and water uses


Water resources management and water uses

• The management of natural water resources involves engineering issues and features but also administrative actions, institutional procedures and many social actors.

• The main objective of an efficient, innovative and sustainable water resources management is to satisfy all water demands under consideration of given possibilities and restrictions of water supply.


A meta-model for water resources management

• To realise water resources management options, social, economic and institutional and/or administrative issues have to be considered besides natural scientific and engineering components as well as developments of information and computer technologies.

• Examples are developments in sensor technology, new monitoring strategies, data warehouse techniques, and new simulation procedures.



1. Water bodies2. Water uses3. Water loadings4. Coupling atmosphere and water5. Data capture6. Data fusion and data storage7. Decison support systems8. Development of political and economical

instruments9. The water-society system10. The system of water users



To cover all these different aspects the use of modern information technologies is necessary to build up an integrated information space. Taken a pattern from Confucius (5th century BC), the essence of information is, once having it, to apply it.


A water related systems diagram

EnvironmentalInformation

System

environmental phenomena

query

procedures

models

sensor

(geo-referenced)information

observations


Reporting service infrastructure for WFD implementation


WasserBLIcK

• Platform for the management of WFD-related spatial data

• A WebServer based on the Web CMS WebGenesis of Fraunhofer IOSB and a dedicated user access control

• A spatial data management system and a map server conform to the specifications of OGC


ICT and the concept of DPSIR


ICT and the concept of DPSIR

• The DPSIR framework as a meta-model characterises water resources management on a thematic level.

• It supports the interlinks between external driving forces, pressures on the environment, changing states of the environment, impacts on ecosystems economy and populations, and responses of the society.


Industrial ecology


ICT and Industrial ecology

Eco Industrial Parks(Intercorporate Level)

Leading Agents(EU and National;

Accounting and Reporting)

AccreditationCertification

Standard SettingsBusiness Membership

Industry specific initiativesCSR related institutionsResponsible Investment

Initiatives

NGO’sWatchdog Initiatives/Activists

IT-AspectsAgents

Archive of Eco Industrial Parks

Environmental Information Systemsfor Eco Industrial Parks

Standards & principles(CERES, OECD, UN Global Compact ..)

EU Programmes

Policy Instruments(EMAS)

Relations(Industrial Relations

Public Relations)

European Legislation(EU and National Level)

Community building activities

Labels

Research on the Role of ICT

ICT InstrumentsSupporting Customers Decisions

ICT support strategiesfor Promoting sustainable products/services

Internet resourcesInforming sustainable production and consumption

Guidelines (GRI, AA 1000, CEFIC ...)

Companies(Corporate Level)

Systems of Provision(Companies - Households)

Producers Consumers

&

Environmental related applications e.g.

WasteResources (ERP)

Risks (chemical sustances)Materials and Products

Energy,

Foci of ICT in Industrial Ecology

Corporate Environmental Management

Information Systems

Management supporting tools e.g :

Legal complianceStakeholder relations

Material Flow Management (MFA)Life Cycle Analysis

Design for the EnvironmentAccounting and Reporting


Generic approach to a system model

• Describing the behaviour of companies and external stakeholders

• Describing their dynamics• Embedded in the spheres market, politics and publicStructure of the generic approach:• Market • Legislation & Politics • General Public• Natural environment• IT aspects


Industrial ecology


Economy and market dynamics


A meta-model for economy/market dynamics


Ecosystem services and biodiversity


General conclusions

• The reviewed sectors show large differences in the reflected types of information as well as in structuring information.

• Several approaches are complete in the sense of representing all relevant aspects of composed meta-model.

• The proposed meta-model is adequately representingthe main characteristicsof the particular modelling exercises.


Conclusions for water management

• The task of water resources management is to optimise water usage taking into account the requirements of ecology, society and economy.

• Frameworks of water resources management should encompass both the thematic level and the ICT level.

• Meta-models are important tools to reduce the complexity of integrated water resources management systems.


Thanks for your attention

Contact:[email protected], [email protected]

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the European Commission DG INFSO for fostering this contribution within the contract ICT-ENSURE (European ICT for Environmental Sustainability Research), a project under the grant agreement number 224017 of the European Commission's FP7.

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