CoastGIS’99: geomatics and coastal environment
Interfaces (GUIs), since each new application essentially becomes a new
GUI specifically for that application (Landes, 1999). Virtual worlds are
composed of many types of “objects” which are given properties to
indicate how they can and cannot react to user interactions and with
each other and the virtual environment itself.
As opposed to creating new interactive games, instruction manuals,
library browsing services and the many other applications that VRML
is now being used for, the GIS developer must keep in mind that the
placement, sizing, scaling and re-scaling of objects in a GI virtual world
are much more important than for a game’s developer! While VRML
worlds are exciting new ways to present purely visual information to
decision makers, the user/viewer may have more trouble m accepting
the “vision” thus presented, compared to working with more traditional 2D maps (whether on paper or on screen) and it is more difficult
to fully understand the metric nature of the underlying GI.
Examples of GIS in use in Coastal Zone Management (CZM)
Numerous examples exist of using GIS via the Web to disseminate and
provide collaborative work environments for Coastal Zone Management
and research. Two such projects are briefly described below and full details
are available from the Web sites indicated. New projects have also
begun under the European Union’s Fifth RTD Framework Programme,
such as Hypergeo (Easy and friendly access to geographic information
for mobile users) and CoastBase (the Virtual European Coastal & Marine
Data Warehouse). Many examples of using GIS via the Web for Coastal
Zone Management and matine research can be found at the EC. s Centre
for Earth Observation’s Infeo Web site at: http://infeo.ceo.org/.
Desima - Decision Support for Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Desima (http://desima. jrc.it/html/Home.htm) aims to design and develop
a prototype version of an information system that facilitates the integrated use of various sources of spatially related data and information
using Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques and tools,
demonstrated by executing two application scenarios related to Coastal
Zone Management. The main innovative features are:
- on-line access to data, via a user interface allowing catalogue query
and on-line data retrieval and transfer to the user;
- on-demand data processing, application dependent, to deliver high
level information suited to user needs rather than low-level sensor information;
- a distributed architecture incorporating remote data sets and remote
processing.
End-users will benefit from Desima by more efficient decision making,
leading to cost and time savings, while assuring sustainable development of natural resources in coastal zones. End-users can economize
their investments in human and non-human resources because the
Desima distributed architecture does not require that know-how and
37
Interfaces (GUIs), since each new application essentially becomes a new
GUI specifically for that application (Landes, 1999). Virtual worlds are
composed of many types of “objects” which are given properties to
indicate how they can and cannot react to user interactions and with
each other and the virtual environment itself.
As opposed to creating new interactive games, instruction manuals,
library browsing services and the many other applications that VRML
is now being used for, the GIS developer must keep in mind that the
placement, sizing, scaling and re-scaling of objects in a GI virtual world
are much more important than for a game’s developer! While VRML
worlds are exciting new ways to present purely visual information to
decision makers, the user/viewer may have more trouble m accepting
the “vision” thus presented, compared to working with more traditional 2D maps (whether on paper or on screen) and it is more difficult
to fully understand the metric nature of the underlying GI.
Examples of GIS in use in Coastal Zone Management (CZM)
Numerous examples exist of using GIS via the Web to disseminate and
provide collaborative work environments for Coastal Zone Management
and research. Two such projects are briefly described below and full details
are available from the Web sites indicated. New projects have also
begun under the European Union’s Fifth RTD Framework Programme,
such as Hypergeo (Easy and friendly access to geographic information
for mobile users) and CoastBase (the Virtual European Coastal & Marine
Data Warehouse). Many examples of using GIS via the Web for Coastal
Zone Management and matine research can be found at the EC. s Centre
for Earth Observation’s Infeo Web site at: http://infeo.ceo.org/.
Desima - Decision Support for Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Desima (http://desima. jrc.it/html/Home.htm) aims to design and develop
a prototype version of an information system that facilitates the integrated use of various sources of spatially related data and information
using Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques and tools,
demonstrated by executing two application scenarios related to Coastal
Zone Management. The main innovative features are:
- on-line access to data, via a user interface allowing catalogue query
and on-line data retrieval and transfer to the user;
- on-demand data processing, application dependent, to deliver high
level information suited to user needs rather than low-level sensor information;
- a distributed architecture incorporating remote data sets and remote
processing.
End-users will benefit from Desima by more efficient decision making,
leading to cost and time savings, while assuring sustainable development of natural resources in coastal zones. End-users can economize
their investments in human and non-human resources because the
Desima distributed architecture does not require that know-how and
37