346
M. Viel
(iv) the arrangement of specific Forums in Mediterranean countries on support of
remote sensing techniques to planning and decision making processes for
sustainable development;
(v) the issuing of publications analysing the use of remote sensing in thematic
sectors.
(vi) Inventories on remotely-sensed projects and relevant organisations based in
specific Mediterranean countries and analysis of such information to support
the measurements of some sustainable development.
In 2000, ERS/RAC conceived the MERSI.Web ("Mediterranean Environment
Remotely-Sensed Information Web") initiative which is aimed at involving and
linking Mediterranean Countries, through a network of Mediterranean specialised
centres dealing with satellite remote sensing and its environmental applications, for
providing a frame, as complete as possible, on available information on the state and
changes of marine and coastal environment.
2 The MERSI,Web Initiative
2.1 Motivation for A Mediterranean Environment Remotely-sensed
Information Web
Today, the need of a better exploitation of existing data, information, projects,
programmes on environmental issues is strongly felt and expressed by decisionmakers and researchers on the one hand, and by the potential international and
national financing bodies on the other. This demand stems from the necessity to
rationalise resources, research and funds and to avoid as much as possible
duplications.
The speeded-up improvement of technology in the field of data management,
data exchange, and communication, makes it possible today to regularly collect
existing information from many sources, to implement effective databases for its
management, and to provide to the public standardised, organised and homogeneous
sets of information - tailored to specific uses - relying in particular on the Internet.
In order to allow the usefulness and maintenance of such databases, the settingup of them needs to be designed and managed by a specific group of "actors"
(network core) who represent the "information providers" and are well aware of
requirements of "potential users" of such information.
2.2 General Objectives
The proposed initiative aims at involving and linking Mediterranean Countries,
through a network of Mediterranean specialised Centres dealing with satellite
M. Viel
(iv) the arrangement of specific Forums in Mediterranean countries on support of
remote sensing techniques to planning and decision making processes for
sustainable development;
(v) the issuing of publications analysing the use of remote sensing in thematic
sectors.
(vi) Inventories on remotely-sensed projects and relevant organisations based in
specific Mediterranean countries and analysis of such information to support
the measurements of some sustainable development.
In 2000, ERS/RAC conceived the MERSI.Web ("Mediterranean Environment
Remotely-Sensed Information Web") initiative which is aimed at involving and
linking Mediterranean Countries, through a network of Mediterranean specialised
centres dealing with satellite remote sensing and its environmental applications, for
providing a frame, as complete as possible, on available information on the state and
changes of marine and coastal environment.
2 The MERSI,Web Initiative
2.1 Motivation for A Mediterranean Environment Remotely-sensed
Information Web
Today, the need of a better exploitation of existing data, information, projects,
programmes on environmental issues is strongly felt and expressed by decisionmakers and researchers on the one hand, and by the potential international and
national financing bodies on the other. This demand stems from the necessity to
rationalise resources, research and funds and to avoid as much as possible
duplications.
The speeded-up improvement of technology in the field of data management,
data exchange, and communication, makes it possible today to regularly collect
existing information from many sources, to implement effective databases for its
management, and to provide to the public standardised, organised and homogeneous
sets of information - tailored to specific uses - relying in particular on the Internet.
In order to allow the usefulness and maintenance of such databases, the settingup of them needs to be designed and managed by a specific group of "actors"
(network core) who represent the "information providers" and are well aware of
requirements of "potential users" of such information.
2.2 General Objectives
The proposed initiative aims at involving and linking Mediterranean Countries,
through a network of Mediterranean specialised Centres dealing with satellite