Web-Services as an Instrument for Data Retrieval and Data Mapping - The DIOXIN-POP Database of Germany

Abstract

The contribution describes a Web Service for environmental data on persistent organic pollutants, POPs for short. This service supports access to these data and their evaluation on the basis of a defined role concept. Different groups of users are granted access to the database according to their rights. The concept includes a service that offers the possibility of interactive data input via an XML interface to allow data suppliers from competent Länder authorities, for example, to import additional measurement programmes with metadata and analysis results into the database. The aim of this Web Service is to provide interoperability between different information systems. This concerns, firstly, the integration into metadata information systems of the Federal Government and the Länder (German states) such as PortalU and Bavaria’s Environmental Objects Catalogue (UOK Bayern). Secondly, it seeks to promote networking among such Web Services through Internet search engines such as Google. Technical implementation is based on the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) standard.