FROM DATA TO INFORMATION Katre Liiv Katrin Väljataga EEA SEIS country visit November 8, 2007

MAIN OUTPUTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGISTER Environmental reports National, EU and international environmental data reporting Environmental Register web application Environmental Indicators web application Environmental Monitoring webpage Environmental information main webpage

Publications SoE report, every 4th year Topic reviews based on annual reporting, every year Environmental monitoring reports, every 5th year

Reporting National and international reporting obligations Direct data request (governmental institutions, NGOs….) How to satisfy the growing need for data and information?

Producing environmental information, a scheme LevelDatabaseInformation system Public web application TasksCollecting dataData exchangePublic services GoalsCollect, unify, preserve Analyse, evaluate – produce information Make the information accessible AccessibilityLimited Free access

Problems to be solved Data management Technological solutions Accessibility limitations Keeping services up-to-date

Solutions Unified procedures and forms International and national co-operation Web-based solutions Bringing in the “multi-dimensional approach”

Environmental register and GMES ER contains in-situ monitoring data and relevant metadata –Environmental monitoring data –National, local and facility/enterprise level –Requirements fixed in legislative acts Spatial information Unified data management procedures Data available on-line, free access

Developing modern web applications Dynamic Up-to-date and reliable Easy to manage User friendly Specific functionalities for different target groups One source, many outputs

Need for user-specific outputs - user survey of our publications NGO, students & teachers, county environmental departments Substance –How did you know about the publication? –Purpose of use? –Does it meet your need? –Easy to understand the text? Appearance –Prefer web or paper? –Easy to use (electronic versions)? –Paper, format, font, colors etc? –Easy to read illustrations?

Results of survey NGOs: –mainly satisfied –suggestions for extra topics (e.g.health and environment) –suggestions for more useful illustrations –need for integrated analysis –need for longer trends –need for comparison between years Students: –most satisfied user group –use in final theses –looking for more analysis –looking for projected trends County environmental departments (reviews on annual reporting) –useful for presentations –too “easy” for specialists –rather meant for public or students –more in-depth analysis is needed

Introduction to web applications Environmental monitoring web page: –Management systemManagement system –Web pageWeb page –Data outputData output –MapsMaps Environmental indicators web page

Information on the state of environment based on indicator themes by DPSIR Relevant public data and additional information from other information systems Maps Links to information systems for data providers Links to other information sources

Data requests Theme (until Nov 7) Nature protection Water Waste Air Others (climate ja ozone, spatial data, organizational) TOTAL

Estonian Environment Information Centre Mustamäe tee Tallinn ESTONIA Phone Fax