CHAPTER 40
Access to Marine Data on the Internet for Coastal Zone
Management:The New Millennium
D.R. Green and S.D. King
ABSTRACT: The Internet has evolved very rapidly from its early beginnings and
relatively limited capabilities - delivering essentially static information - into a very
dynamic information resource which now allows us to deliver images, text, video, and
on-the-fly mapping at the local, national and global scale. Public awareness of the
Internet has also grown rapidly, aided by the increased visibility of website addresses in
adverts on television, school websites, and supermarkets, and a drive to encourage more
and more people to have their own email address and even websites. The Internet is
undeniably a tremendous breakthrough as far as access to data and information is
concerned. In recent years, developments in Internet software have provided the
capability to deliver interactive maps and images, Digital Image Processing (DIP), and
GIS functionality over the web. The Internet has extended the possibility to provide
online access to geospatial data and information for ICZM, offering many unique
advantages. There are, however, a number of problem areas that require attention if the
Internet is to be used for CZM in the UK. This includes, for example, the pathways for
locating data and information resources on the Internet. One solution to this problem
has been the development of 'portals' or 'gateways'. More difficult to overcome are the
problems associated with data and Metadata standards, copyright and pricing, multiple
data formats and filters, and in the UK a need to establish a government led initiative to
co-ordinate the development and maintenance of a national geospatial data and
information framework.
Introduction
Ten years ago the Internet, in its current form, simply did not exist. Today, however,
many of us take the Internet for granted. A multimedia-based information resource,
widely accessed at home and at work using a variety of Internet browsers (Netscape
555
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo- nformation Systems, 555–578.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
Access to Marine Data on the Internet for Coastal Zone
Management:The New Millennium
D.R. Green and S.D. King
ABSTRACT: The Internet has evolved very rapidly from its early beginnings and
relatively limited capabilities - delivering essentially static information - into a very
dynamic information resource which now allows us to deliver images, text, video, and
on-the-fly mapping at the local, national and global scale. Public awareness of the
Internet has also grown rapidly, aided by the increased visibility of website addresses in
adverts on television, school websites, and supermarkets, and a drive to encourage more
and more people to have their own email address and even websites. The Internet is
undeniably a tremendous breakthrough as far as access to data and information is
concerned. In recent years, developments in Internet software have provided the
capability to deliver interactive maps and images, Digital Image Processing (DIP), and
GIS functionality over the web. The Internet has extended the possibility to provide
online access to geospatial data and information for ICZM, offering many unique
advantages. There are, however, a number of problem areas that require attention if the
Internet is to be used for CZM in the UK. This includes, for example, the pathways for
locating data and information resources on the Internet. One solution to this problem
has been the development of 'portals' or 'gateways'. More difficult to overcome are the
problems associated with data and Metadata standards, copyright and pricing, multiple
data formats and filters, and in the UK a need to establish a government led initiative to
co-ordinate the development and maintenance of a national geospatial data and
information framework.
Introduction
Ten years ago the Internet, in its current form, simply did not exist. Today, however,
many of us take the Internet for granted. A multimedia-based information resource,
widely accessed at home and at work using a variety of Internet browsers (Netscape
555
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo- nformation Systems, 555–578.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.