Easy Access to Environmental Information with PortalU

Abstract

Since the end of May 2006, PortalU, the new German Environmental Information Portal, is online. PortalU provides one-stop access to government-owned environmental information in Germany. The portal organizationally and technically integrates the access to a large number of heterogeneous and geographically distributed information sources. A user-friendly interface in addition to advanced searchand visualisation tools enables experts and nonexperts alike to find and view texts of national and regional legislation, information about environmental policies and programmes, environmental reports, monitoring data, digital maps, and many other types of environmental information and data. PortalU is part of the administration’s strategy to comply with the Arhus-Convention and EUDirective 2003/4/EC, both calling for better public access to environmental information. From a citizen’s point of view, the portal helps to find relevant information about the national, regional and local environment in a fast and effective way. PortalU replaces the former German Environmental Information Network (gein®) and integrates the Environmental Data Catalogue (UDK).