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Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt and He alth
9 / 1 [1998] 1 0 –1 2 © MCB Unive rs ity Pre s s [ISSN 0956-6163]
Telematics and environment in Greece
M ata Aravantinou
Offic e o f Natio nal Enviro nme nt Ne two rk and EEA, Minis try o f Enviro nme nt, Phys -ic al Planning and Publ-ic Wo rks o f Gre e c e (YPEXODE)
This article aims at giving a general overview of the telem-atics role in environmental information management in Greece. The main scope is to present the existing situation, the current problems and needs, as well as the possibil-ities and perspectives for the future. The topics of the article include fi rst of all a description of current envi-ronmental information man-agement in Greece and the production of information, as well as the presentation of the EPPER programme for the environment, together with the telematics applications used for environmental man-agement in Greece. A brief introduction to the scope and objectives of the National Air Quality Network and National Environment Information Network is also given, together with an analysis of the needs for a National Catalogue of Data Sources. Last, the role of YPEXODE in the REMSSBOT project is presented, with the benefi ts obtained from this participa-tion, as well as future per-spectives for developments in the fi eld of telematics and environment in Greece.
Environmental information
management in Greece
T h e b a s ic con t r oller a n d co-or d in a t or of t h e en v ir on m en t a l m a t t er s in Gr eece is t h e M in -is t r y of E n v ir on m en t , P h y sica l P la n n in g a n d P u blic Wor k s (YP E XODE ). YP E XODE is r es p on s ible for t h e en v ir on m en t a l st r a t e gy in t h e cou n t r y a n d t a k es t h e n ecess a r y a ct ion s for t h e im p lem en t a t ion of t h is st r a t e gy. Besid es t h is, it is a lso occu p ied w it h t h e in for m in g of t h e gen er a l p u blic, a s w ell a s a ll t h e in t er est ed p a r t ies a t n a t ion a l a n d E u r o-p ea n level.
On e of YP E XODE ’s m a in r oles is t o co-or d i-n a t e efficiei-n t ly it s ow i-n s er v ices a i-n d d ir ec-t ives, cen ec-t r a l or p er ip h er a l, a s w ell a s ec-t h e ext er n a l p u blic a n d p r iva t e a d m in ist r a t ion s d ea lin g w it h en v ir on m en t a l in for m a t ion , a t n a t ion a l level. In or d er t o a ccom p lis h t h is, YP E XODE n eed s t o d evelop t h e n eces sa r y m ech a n is m s eit h er for t h e in it ia l p r od u ct ion , or for t h e com m u n ica t ion a n d d is sem in a t ion of exis t in g p r od u ced in for m a t ion . In a d d it ion , iit s h ou ld cr ea it e it h e a p p r op r ia it e r e gu la -t ion s, in or d er -t o en su r e -t h e in for m a -t ion fl ow in a s a fe a n d t r u s t fu l w ay.
Bes id es YP E XODE , s ever a l ot h er p a r t ies a r e a lso in volved in en v ir on m en t a l m a t t er s in Gr eece, lik e ot h er m in ist r ies, in st it u t es, u n i-ver s it ies, en v ir on m en t a l or ga n isa t ion s, loca l a n d r e gion a l a u t h or it ies, a n d in d iv id u a ls. E a ch on e of t h em n a t u r a lly h a s a d iffer en t r ole a n d s p ecifi c ob ject ives.
Production of environmental information in Greece
T h e m a in en v ir on m en t a l in for m a t ion in Gr eece con cer n s : a ir a n d w a t er q u a lit y, n a t u r e, w a s t e, n oise, em iss ion s, m a jor a cci-d en t s a n cci-d le gisla t ion . Of cou r se, t h er e a r e a lso ot h er iss u es of t h e en v ir on m en t w h ich a r e in clu d ed in t h e ob ject ives of ot h er m in -is t r ies or in st it u t ion s, n ot n ecess a r ily for en v ir on m en t a l r ea son s, w h ich a lso p r od u ce en v ir on m en t a l in for m a t ion . Som e of t h em a r e: s oil, for es t s, en er gy, la n d cover, m a r in e en v ir on m en t , et c. T h e t y p e of t h e p r od u ced en v ir on m en t a l d a t a u s u a lly fa lls in t h e fol-low in g ca t e gor ies : m ea s u r em en t s, s t u d ies, geogr a p h ica l in for m a t ion a n d le gisla t ion .
Un t il r ecen t ly on e cou ld say t h a t Gr eece w a s n ot fa cin g sign ifi ca n t en v ir on m en t a l p r oblem s com p a r ed t o ot h er E u r op ea n cou n -t r ies, d u e -t o low er d evelop m en -t r a -t es. Besid es t h is, t h e en v ir on m en t a l m a t t er s w er e u n t il n ow m a n a ged in a cen t r a lised w ay. T h is h a p p en ed b eca u se m ost a ct iv it ies w er e est a b -lish ed in t h e b ig cit ies a n d , for t h is r ea son , t h e m a in en v ir on m en t a l p r oblem s a lso a p p ea r ed in t h ese cit ies (solid w a st e, a ir p ollu t ion , et c.), w h ile in sm a ller cit ies t h e p r ob -lem s w er e n ot t h a t im p or t a n t . At h en s w a s a lw ay s given m ost a t t en t ion , s in ce it is in h a b it ed by 40 p er cen t of t h e t ot a l Gr eek p op u la -t ion . As a r esu l-t of -t h e a b ove, m os-t m in is-t r ies a n d ser v ices a r e est a blish ed in At h en s. Besid es t h is, d u e t o t r a d it ion a l r ea son s, m ost r esp on s ib ilit ies a r e given t o t h e p u blic a u t h or it ies. T h is la st p oin t h a s t en d ed t o ch a n ge in r ecen t yea r s t h r ou gh t h e est a blish -m en t of a d -m in ist r a t ion s t h a t w ill ser ve t h e n a t ion a l m ech a n is m in a m or e fl exible w ay.
T h e elem en t s m en t ion ed b efor e h a d t wo b a sic r esu lt s. T h e fi r st is t h a t t h e d evelop m en t of h igh level t ech n ologica l en v ir on m en -t a l m on i-t or in g sy s-t em s w a s d elayed . T h e secon d h a s t o d o w it h t h e fa ct t h a t m ost of sy st em s d ea lin g w it h r e gist r a t ion a n d d issem in a t ion of in for m a t ion a r e t od ay con -t r olled a n d co-or d in a -t ed m a in ly by p u blic a d m in ist r a t ion s sit u a t ed in At h en s.
Telematics applications for the
environment in Greece
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Mata Aravantino u
Te le matic s and e nviro nme nt in Gre e c e
Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt and He alth
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In Gr eece, t elem a t ics h a s n ot yet b een b r oa d ly a p p lied in t h e en v ir on m en t s ect or. T h e b a s ic t elem a t ics a p p lica t ion s u n t il n ow h ave con cer n ed s om e m on it or in g s y st em s for en v ir on m en t a l q u a lit y r e gist r a t ion . Som e of t h es e n et wor k s a lr ea dy exis t , w h ile ot h er s a r e st ill u n d er d evelop m en t . Som e of t h e m ost im p or t a n t of t h ese a p p lica t ion s a r e t h e en v i-r on m en t a l q u a lit y m on it oi-r in g sy st em s, t h e sou r ce in ven t or ies, t h e N a t ion a l N et wor k of P h y sica l P la n n in g, H YDROSKOP IO, t h e N a t ion a l Ca d a s t r a l, t h e N a t ion a l E n v ir on -m en t In for -m a t ion N et wor k .
The National Air Quality Network
On e exa m p le of a n op er a t in g n et wor k b a sed on t elem a t ics is t h e N a t ion a l Air Qu a lit y N et wor k . T h is n et wor k in clu d es t en m ea s u r e-m en t s t a t ion s in At h en s. T h e e-m ea s u r ee-m en t s w h ich a r e p er for m ed in t h e sever a l loca t ion s a r e t r a n s m it t ed t h r ou gh t ele p h on e lin es in a cen t r a l m a ch in e for fu r t h er p r ocess in g. T h e m ea su r ed p a r a m et er s a r e SO2, N Ox, CO, s m ok e, et c.
T h e m ea su r em en t s ser ve a s in p u t for t h e p u blica t ion of a d a ily r e p or t d escr ib in g t h e a ir p ollu t ion levels, t oget h er w it h t h e p r ed ic-t ion of ic-t h es e levels for ic-t h e n exic-t d ay. Besid es t h is, r ecor d ed m es sa ges a r e t r a n sm it t ed t h r ou gh t h e N a t ion a l Telecom m u n ica t ion Or ga n is a t ion s er v ices for t h e p ollu t ion levels. La s t , a yea r r e p or t on t h e a ir p ollu t ion levels is p r od u ced , t oget h er w it h a com p a r ison of t h es e levels t o t h e p er m it t ed lim it s.
Som e of t h e N a t ion a l Air Qu a lit y N et wor k ’s op er a t ion ob ject ives con cer n gen er a l p u blic in for m a t ion , t h e a p p lica t ion of em er gen cy m ea su r es w h en n eces sa r y, t h e p la n n in g of s h or t -t er m a n d lon g-t er m s t r a t e gy for t h e p ollu t ion p r oblem s b ein g fa ced , a s w ell a s s u r vey s con cer n in g e p id em ics.
In t h e n ea r fu t u r e, t h e ext en sion of t h e N et wor k geogr a p h ica lly in t o ot h er cit ies
ou t sid e At h en s is for eseen . T h e b a s ic t a sk is t h e d evelop m en t of a n exp a n d ed N a t ion a l N et wor k . T h e select ion of t h e cit ies w ill b e m a d e, w it h r e ga r d t o t h eir p op u la t ion , a s w ell a s t h e gen er a l en v ir on m en t a l con d it ion .
Bes id es t h e geogr a p h ica l ext en sion , t h e t y p e of t h e in for m a t ion p r ov id ed t h r ou gh t h e N et wor k w ill a ls o b e ext en d ed . N ew p a r a m e-t er s w ill a lso b e m ea su r ed , a ccor d in g e-t o e-t h e n ew E U d ir ect ive con cer n in g t h e p a r a m et er s w h ich h ave effect s on h u m a n h ea lt h . E xa m -p les of t h es e -p a r a m et er s a r e b en zen e, b en zo(a )py r en e, ca d m iu m , et c.
The National Environment Information Network
T h e N a t ion a l E n v ir on m en t In for m a t ion N et -wor k (E DP P ) is a ct u a lly a com m u n ica t ion a n d en v ir on m en t a l in for m a t ion exch a n ge n et wor k b et w een cen t r a l a n d r e gion a l d ir ec-t or a ec-t es of ec-t h e Min isec-t r y, ec-t h e Ma in Com p on en ec-t E lem en t s (MCE s follow in g t h e E E A d efi n i-t ion ), i-t h e Gr eek p a r i-t s of i-t h e E u r op ea n Top ic Cen t r es a n d fi n a lly t h e E u r op ea n N et wor k E ION E T of t h e E E A. T h e scop e of t h e t elem a t -ics p a r t of t h e N et wor k (ARMA) is t o su p p or t fr om a t ech n ica l p oin t of v iew t h e op er a t ion of t h e b r oa d er N a t ion a l N et wor k for E n v ir on -m en t a l In for -m a t ion , w h ich is a n a t ion a l n eed , a s w ell a s a n E E A d em a n d .
T h e d evelop m en t of t h e N a t ion a l E n v ir on -m en t In for -m a t ion N et wor k h a s a lr ea dy s t a r t ed on a p ilot b a sis a n d in clu d es t h e est a b -lish m en t of a cen t r a l sy s t em of fi ve r e gion a l n od es, t h r ee of w h ich a r e loca t ed in P r ov in ces a n d fi ve in P r efect u r es.
T h e n ext p h a se, w h ich is u n d er d evelop -m en t a t t h is -m o-m en t , con cer n s t h e u p gr a d e a n d m od er n isa t ion of t h e exist in g s y st em , t h e r e gist r a t ion of h is t or ica l d a t a , t h e r e gist r a -t ion of geogr a p h ica l in for m a -t ion , a s w ell a s t h e d evelop m en t of fl exible p r ogr a m m es for t h e N et wor k ’s Op er a t ion . T h e u p gr a d ed N et -wor k w ill b e b a sed on t h e cu r r en t m ea n s of com m u n ica t ion .
In p a r a llel t o t h e p r ev iou sly m en t ion ed a ct iv it ies, s u p p or t in g a ct ion s for t h e N a t ion a l E n v ir on m en t In for m a t ion N et wor k a r e b ein g p r om ot ed . T h ese a ct ion s con cer n t h e est a b -lish m en t of t h e a p p lica t ion sit e, t h e cr ea t ion of a r esp on sible or ga n isa t ion for t h e op er a -t ion a n d m a n a gem en -t of -t h e N e-t wor k a s w ell a s t h e in t r od u ct ion of t h e n ecessa r y r e gu la -t ion b a ck gr ou n d , in or d er -t o en s u r e -t h e ob jec-t ive op er a jec-t ion a n d d a jec-t a fl ow of jec-t h e N ejec-t wor k . La st bu t n ot lea s t , on e a ct iv it y t h a t is con sid er ed a s a p a r t of t h e N a t ion a l E n v ir on -m en t In for -m a t ion N et wor k ’s n eed s is t h e d evelop m en t of a N a t ion a l Ca t a logu e of Da t a Sou r ces.
Natio nal Wate r Ne two rk
Info rmatio n c o lle c tio n o rganis atio ns
Natio nal Phys ic al Planning Ne two rk
Natio nal Air Quality Ne two rk
NATURA 2 0 0 0
Euro pe an To pic Ce ntre s Studie s
HYDROSKOPIO Main Environmental
Organis atio ns
EDPP Figure 1
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Mata Aravantino u
Te le matic s and e nviro nme nt in Gre e c e
Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt and He alth
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The National Catalogue of Data Sources
At t h is m om en t t h e in su fficien t r e gist r a t ion of t h e en v ir on m en t a l in for m a t ion s ou r ces in Gr eece is b ecom in g a sign ifi ca n t p r oblem . T h e con s eq u en ces of t h is p r oblem a r e m a n y a n d s om e of t h em con cer n t h e d u p lica t ion of wor k , in a b ilit y t o in for m in t er es t ed p eop le a b ou t “w h a t a n d w h o”, d ifficu lt ies in d a t a exch a n ge, com p lexit y in s ea r ch p r oced u r es, low q u a lit y of p r oject s in s om e ca ses, b eca u se of la ck of in for m a t ion , et c.
T h e E E A is a lr ea dy wor k in g on t h e s t a n -d a r -d is a t ion of su ch a ca t a logu e a t E u r op ea n level, w h ich is goin g t o b e b a s ed on t h e r ele-va n t n a t ion a l ca t a logu es. On t h e ot h er h a n d , t h e n eed for t h e es t a blis h m en t of a N a t ion a l Ca t a logu e of Da t a Sou r ces is b ecom in g m or e a n d m or e im p or t a n t in Gr eece for t h e gen er a l a d m in is t r a t ion d em a n d s a s w ell a s for p r op er d ecis ion m a k in g. T h ese fa ct s h ave con clu d ed t o s om e fi r s t r ea ct ion s of t h e Min ist r y.
On e of t h e fi r s t a ct ion s t a k en t ow a r d s t h is d ir ect ion w a s t h e p a r t icip a t ion in t h e E u r o-p ea n o-p r oject RE MSSBOT a n d t h e s u o-p o-p or t a n d fi n a n cia l con t r ibu t ion of a p r oject w h ich is a n ext en s ion of RE M SSBOT w it h in t h e Min is t r y.
YPEXODE participation in
REMSSBOT
YP E XODE p layed a m u lt ip le r ole in RE M SS-BOT. F ir s t it w a s a d a t a p r ov id er for t h e im p lem en t ed p r ot ot y p e in t h e d om a in s of a ir p ollu t ion a n d b a t h in g w a t er q u a lit y. Bes id es t h is, YP E XODE is t h e fi n a l a p p lica t ion a n d d em on s t r a t ion sit e of RE M SSBOT. La st , YP E XODE a ls o a ct ed a s a u ser of t h e RE MSS-BOT d em on s t r a t or. Co-op er a t ion t ook p la ce w it h t h e RE M SSBOT t ech n icia n s in cer t a in p h a s es of t h e p r oject .
For t h e M in ist r y, t h e p a r t icip a t ion in RE M SSBOT w a s es p ecia lly p r od u ct ive. T h e m os t im p or t a n t ou t com e for t h e Min ist r y is t h e exp er ien ce ob t a in ed in t h e s u b ject of d evelop in g a n d op er a t in g a p ilot Ca t a logu e of Da t a Sou r ces. T h is fi r s t a ct ion is im p or t a n t
for a b et t er u n d er st a n d in g of t h e su b ject a n d it s n a t u r e, a s w ell a s t h e sp ecia l d em a n d s or con st r a in t s t h a t exist . Besid es t h is, RE MSS-BOT w a s a fi r s t st e p t ow a r d s com p a t ib ilit y w it h t h e E E A a ct iv it ies.
T h e a p p lica t ion of RE MSSBOT in t er m s of t h e sp ecia l Gr eek con d it ion s, t h a t is t h e com -m u n ica t ion s, t h e exis t in g t ech n ology, t h e w ay of op er a t ion of t h e p u blic a d m in ist r a t ion s a n d gen er a lly t h e exist in g in fr a st r u ct u r e, ca n give a fi r st sign con cer n in g t h e p os sib ilit ies of t elem a t ics in Gr eece. T h is cou ld d em on -st r a t e w ay s for a p p ly in g t elem a t ics for t h e en v ir on m en t on a m or e gen er a l b a sis in Gr eece. La s t , t h r ou gh t h is p r oject , t h e p a r t icp a t ion of ot h er in t er est ed icp a r t ies in t h e en v i-r on m en t a l d a t a fl ow is a lso p i-r om ot ed .
As m en t ion ed b efor e, t h e Min ist r y a lso su p p or t s fi n a n cia lly a p r oject a d d it ion a l t o RE MSSBOT. T h is p r oject a im s a t ext en d in g t h e fu n ct ion a lit y of t h e d em on st r a t or im p le-m en t ed in RE MSSBOT, t ow a r d s le-m or e sp ecifi c n eed s of YP E XODE a n d t h e loca l a n d r e gion a l p u blic b od ies in At t ica . Som e of t h e a ct iv it ies for es een in t h is p r oject a r e t h e r e gist r a t ion of m or e in for m a t ion in t h e Ca t a logu e of Da t a Sou r ces, t h e cr ea t ion of a t elem a t ics n od e in YP E XODE , t h e in vest iga t ion of p ossible solu t ion s for t h e exp a n sion of t h e sy st em op er a -t ion ou -t sid e A-t -t ica , e-t c.
