Meta-Modeling as a Tool to Access the European Environmental Information Space

Abstract

To build a framework for the manifold topics comprised in Environmental Informatics a conceptual environmental Meta-Model is designed. In this paper, the model is exemplified in two case studies: (1) in the area of air quality control and management and (2) applied to structure results from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. For air quality management the complete control loop is modelled describing data gathering from emission sources, air emission statistics, the diffusion and transport of air pollutants, measurement networks, simulation models and the distribution of air quality information in science, business, administration and politics. To demonstrate the applicability of complex topics in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the Meta-Model is applied to structure its subject matters and results. The Meta-Model is developed in the ICT-ENSURE project with the objective to associate environmental research with ICT methods and services. This interdisciplinary approach should facilitate insights in the dynamics of environmental sustainability and should enable the systemic organisation of access to proven environmental information.