How is the INSTRUMENT applied to solve environmental problems in the City ?

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEM OF PRAGUE (IOZIP)

Development of the Environmental Information System of Prague

The beginnings of the system date back to the mid-1980 when it was being developed as one of thematic registers of the then Municipal Information System. That was the time when the Czech acronym IO?IP was born as well as the time when a systematic monitoring of selected environmental elements and a takeover of information constituting the basis of the system’s database started. During its existence the system has undergone some organizational and technological changes (PÚDIS, EEÚ). Since 1994 it has been operated and administered by the Institute of Municipal Informatics of the City of Prague (IMIP). In addition to operating the IO?IP system IMIP also performs other activities and services connected with the processing of environmental information on Prague.
Recently, new technologies have been employed to process input data and produce outputs. Work continues on a set of thematic map overlays in the Geographic Information System (GIS-?IP as a part of the IO?IP system) which have permitted, inter alia, to compile the Atlas of the Environment and additional environmental maps. Databases that have hitherto been operated on PCs under the FoxPro system are being converted to the Oracle system which will allow to use a more advanced and sophisticated data model, achieve a better intercommunication of databases, and, in particular, facilitate the generation of the Internet applications.

Principal characteristics

• The Environmental Information System (IO?IP) collects and processes data on selected environmental components in the territory of the City of Prague.

• The purpose of the Environmental Information System is:
- to collect, sort and process data on different environmental elements/components in Prague which is acquired by various organizations and institutions in a unified automated information system
- to ensure regular measurements of crucial environmental factors for which no other sources exist
- to provide and disseminate information from the system to municipal authorities and other users.

• Operation of the system and coordination of related activities in material and financial terms is provided by the Institute of Municipal Informatics of the City of Prague (IMIP).

• The central database of the IO?IP system has been converted from the FoxPro system into a higher-level relational database system Oracle.

• Thematic environmental map overlays are generated and administered by the Institute of Municipal Informatics of the City of Prague in cooperation with Hydrosoft Veleslavín, s.r.o., and in the GIS environment (MapInfo, ArcView).

• Output information is provided in both digital and hard-copy formats (database applications, GIS applications, data selections, yearbooks, atlas, maps). Selected outputs are also available on the Internet (http://www.praha-mesto.cz/, http://www.monet.cz/zivpro/ english.htm) or on CD-ROMs.

Database

The database of the IO?IP system may presently be viewed as comprising four principal components which reflect mainly organizational aspects of data administration.

a) Initial database structured into so-called problem sub-areas
Altogether 11 sub-areas in the Atmosphere, Water, Soil, Surfaces and Greenery, and Noise areas started in the 1980s and regularly updated. The data is taken over from other organizations (EHMÚ, SZÚ, HS HMP,VÚV etc.) or measured under contracts. There exists a user application designed for distribution together with retrieved data. Aggregated yearly statistical characteristics presented in the GIS system.

b) Independent database information files
New and independent database-managed sets of data resulting from other projects. Falling into this category are, for example, the data files on air pollution sources (REZZO - Registers of Air Pollution Emissions and Sources) used particularly for air quality computer simulations (ATEM), energy concepts etc.

c) A set of thematic maps overlays in the GIS environment (GIS-?IP)
Thematic map overlays which have been generated in the GIS environment (MapInfo, ArcView) as a part of the IO?IP system under the name GIS-?IP including an application superstructure for their presentation. The GIS overlays present both data (selections and aggregations) from the two categories mentioned above and digitized map outputs produced as parts of projects run by other institutions (such as maps of the City Development Authority Prague, Prague City Hall etc.). It is mainly the IMIP’s digital maps that are used as the background for the environmental map overlays.

d) Supporting data for publications (Yearbook, Atlas, statistical reports etc.)
In addition to all the data categories listed above and maintained in a digital form written documentation from a number of institutions is being collected and presented as well such as annual reports or articles prepared specifically for the Yearbook. The information presented in the publications is also available in a hypertext format (CD-ROMs, Internet).

Data in the Oracle environment

In 1998 the transfer of data into the Oracle database environment which had started in the previous year continued. The state of affairs in the second half of 1998 is as follows:

• The central database of the IO?IP system (11 problem sub-areas) has been converted under the Oracle database system in accordance with a data model proposed by Hydrosoft Veleslavín, s.r.o. Data-conversion and -management applications suited for the Oracle system have been developed. At the moment, a parallel preparation of FoxPro source databases is underway.

• Developed above data in the Oracle DBMS are program modules constituting the so-called user application superstructure which comprises groups of tasks differing in the degree of detail and designed for different groups of end users (experts, general public). The user application superstructure has been designed to make both user tools and resulting tabular or graphic products available through the Internet.

• Analytical preparations are underway to convert additional databases under the standard Oracle data model; this applies particularly to data on air pollution sources and information generated and collected in the framework of the ATEM project.

• Linked to the Oracle DBMS and making use of the ArcView and MapObjects Internet Map Server (ESRI) tools is an application which makes it possible to access the set of GIS-?IP thematic map overlays in the Atlas of the Environment (vector data, links between map objects and databases).

• In addition to the IO?IP system there is another project underway which is known as PREMIS (PRague Environmental Monitoring and Information System), and focuses on air pollution issues and information support for decision-making processes in smog situations and emergencies. IMIP provides the necessary technical support for the project. Current air quality data from the AIM Monitoring Network (managed under the Oracle system) is obtained by an on-line connection to the server of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. The data is presented to users by means of the Internet (presently in a pilot operation phase). There are plans for a further expansion of the system (meteorological data, dispersion conditions, measurements of emissions produced by large pollution sources, etc.).

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND PURPOSE-ORIENTED PROJECTS

In addition to operating the IO?IP system IMIP is also responsible for other activities in the field of environmental information in Prague.
These include for example the PREMIS project mentioned above (on-line real-time air quality data), air quality assessments based on model calculations (ATEM), monitoring of heterogeneous organic substances in the atmosphere (ATEM), updating and management of information on air pollution sources (REZZO), or inventories of emissions of ozone precursors (in cooperation with the Charles University).
Furthermore, IMIP has been running for many years well-established projects such as the Noise Load Distribution Map (MRZH), Automotive Traffic Noise Map (HMAD), digitization and review of boundaries of protected areas and maps of the Greenery Master Plan and the Territorial Environmental Stability System (in cooperation with the Department of Environment of the Prague City Hall), or vegetation maps (a joint Aquatest - Stavební geologie a.s. project).
As a rule, digital outputs from most of the projects are included into data files managed and presented by the IO?IP system. Topical information from the projects listed above is regularly included in relevant chapters of the Yearbook; maps are presented in the Atlas of the Environment.

OUTPUTS AND USERS

As a rule, data from the Environmental Information System and related projects is provided to users in several standardized digital and/or print formats, namely:

Digital outputs

• Selected data files and purpose-oriented software applications for PCs for professional institutions and teams of the city. Retrievals from databases (CDB) and the SGÚ (Statistical and Graphic Tasks) user application (FoxPro). GIS-ZIP data (ArcView and MapInfo overlays) plus the user application superstructure (Avenue and Delphi).

• Selections of data, aggregations, annual statistical characteristics. Used for publications and provided to users under a contract and specifications.

• Computerized, hypertext, Internet-format versions of the Yearbooks, along with other publications (atlases, nature protection areas, statistics) also available on CD-ROMs.

• Further efforts to make the data from the system available to the general public emphasize the use of the Internet. In addition to the hypertext publications applications are being developed for the purpose of presenting GIS databases and map overlays using newly implemented technologies (Oracle, MapObjects).

Print outputs

• Prague - Environment yearbooks (in Czech and English, on the Internet, CD-ROMs). Additional special publications, such as Surfaces and Greenery in Prague by the Cadastral Area, Air Pollution Sources in Prague, Prague - Environment, Evolution Trends, Statistics.

• Map outputs prepared in the GIS system, e.g. the Atlas of the Environment in Prague, thematic 1:10,000 large-size maps (based on aerial photographs), custom-made maps based on the client’s specifications and requirements.

The outputs are provided mainly to professional municipal authorities and agencies (e.g. the Prague City Hall, District Offices), professional bodies (e.g. the City Development Authority Prague, Municipal Hygienic Institute of the City of Prague), state administration authorities (e.g. the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic) and cooperating institutions. Special custom-produced outputs are provided to companies dealing in civil engineering design work or environmental impact assessments. The information prepared in the form of standardized publications and map sheets are available to the general public as well, including CD-ROMs and data on the Internet. The publications are distributed and sold through selected retail outlets and agencies in Prague. They are also displayed and can be purchased directly at IMIP (in the ground floor map shop), Zatecká 2, Praha 1.