{{Short description|Information science applied to environmental science}} '''Environmental informatics''' is the science of information applied to [[environmental science]]. As such, it provides the [[Data processing|information processing]] and communication infrastructure to the interdisciplinary field of environmental sciences<ref name=":0">L.M. Hilty, B. Page, F.J. Radermacher and W.-F. Riekert. Environmental Informatics as a new discipline of applied computer science. N.M. Avouris and B. Page (eds.), Environmental Informatics (1995), pp. 1-11. Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. {{ISBN|0-7923-3445-0}}</ref> aiming at data, information and [[knowledge integration]], the application of [[computational intelligence]] to [[environmental data]] as well as the identification of [[Environmental degradation|environmental impacts]] of [[information technology]]. Environmental informatics thus acts as a bridge, providing an interdisciplinary means of analysing, describing and understanding the complex interactions between humans, nature and technology.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Jaeschke |title=Umweltinformatik – Ein neues Anwendungsgebiet der Informatik. |publisher=Wissenschaftsverlag |year=1994 |pages=10–13 |language=de}}</ref>
Since each field of applied computer science has its own subject matter, terminology and methods, specialised disciplines,<ref name=":0" /> such as environmental, bio- and geoinformatics have emerged, each of which combines computer science with a specific field of application such as environmental, bio- or geosciences. Environmental informatics, bioinformatics and geoinformatics all deal with computer-based processing of environmental phenomena. However, environmental informatics is the only field that pursues normative goals (e.g., political goals of environmental protection, environmental planning, and sustainability).<ref name=":0" /> This also influences the choice of methods.<ref name=":0" /> This also distinguishes it from application areas such as numerical weather prediction, which is considered an early and important example of computer simulation of environmental phenomena.
The [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[Natural Environment Research Council]] defines environmental informatics as the "research and system development focusing on the environmental sciences relating to the creation, collection, storage, processing, modelling, interpretation, display and dissemination of data and information."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/topics.asp |title=NERC - Science topics within NERC's remit |website=www.nerc.ac.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061222122104/http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/topics.asp |archive-date=2006-12-22}}</ref> Kostas Karatzas defined environmental informatics as the "creation of a new 'knowledge-paradigm' towards serving environmental management needs."<ref>K. Karatzas. Environmental Informatics: Concepts and Definitions. In: A. Gnauck and R. Heinrich (eds.), Proceedings of "The Information Society and Enlargement of the European Union"-17th International Conference Informatics for Environmental Protection, Part 1: Concepts and Methods. Metropolis publishers, pp. 146-151, {{ISBN|3-89518-440-3}}.</ref> Karatzas argued further that environmental informatics "is an integrator of [[science]], methods and techniques and not just the result of using [[information]] and software technology methods and tools for serving [[environmental engineering]] needs."
Environmental informatics emerged in early 1990 in [[Central Europe]].<ref name=":11">B. Page, V. Wohlgemuth. Advances in Environmental Informatics: Integration of Discrete Event Simulation Methodology with ecological Material Flow Analysis for Modelling eco-efficient Systems, Procedia Environmental Sciences, Volume 2, International Conference on Ecological Informatics and Ecosystem Conservation (ISEIS 2010), 2010, Pages 696-705, ISSN 1878-0296, {{doi|10.1016/j.proenv.2010.10.079}}</ref>
Current initiatives to effectively manage, share, and reuse environmental and ecological data are indicative of the increasing importance of fields like environmental informatics and [[ecoinformatics]] to develop the foundations for effectively managing ecological information. Examples of these initiatives are [[National Science Foundation]] [[Datanet]] projects, [[DataONE]] and Data Conservancy.
== Subject matter and objectives == The subject of environmental informatics are environmental information systems (EIS). An EIS 'is a computer-based system that integrates and stores data collected about the natural environment and provides powerful methods for accessing and evaluating it.'<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Page |title=Umweltinformatik |publisher=Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag |year=1998 |location=Oldenbourg |pages=905 |language=de}}</ref> This allows environmental data to be processed by computers for environmental protection, planning, research and technology.<ref name=":1" />
According to Jaeschke<ref name=":2" /> and Bossel,<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Bossel |title=Umweltinformatik. Informatikmethoden für Umweltschutz und Umweltforschung (= Handbuch der Informatik) |publisher=Oldenbourg Verlag |year=1994 |location=Oldenbourg |pages=33–42 |language=de}}</ref> environmental informatics has three interrelated objectives:
# Environmental informatics serves to procure data and information for describing the state and development of the environment.<ref name=":2" /> Of particular importance is information that is needed to prevent or limit undesirable changes and to support desirable changes.<ref name=":3" /> # Based on the evaluation and analysis of data, environmental informatics improves our understanding of the environment and the interactions between nature, technology and society.<ref name=":2" /> It thus supports environmentally relevant decisions.<ref name=":3" /> # This enables the influence of development (system correction),<ref name=":2" /> the assessment of the effects and side effects of potential measures, and the creation of tools for the routine planning, implementation and monitoring of measures.<ref name=":3" />
== History == The simulation model World3, which formed the basis of the highly acclaimed study The Limits to Growth, is considered the starting point of environmental informatics.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |title=Informatik 2013 - Informatik angepasst an Mensch, Organisation und Umwelt; Tagung vom 16.-20. September 2013 in Koblenz |date=2013 |publisher=Ges. für Informatik |isbn=978-3-88579-614-5 |editor-last=Horbach |editor-first=Matthias |series=Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Informatik |location=Bonn |pages=1005–1012. |language=de |editor-last2=Gesellschaft für Informatik}}</ref> It incorporated environmental information, among other things, to calculate scenarios for global development. In the mid-1980s, interest grew in structuring environmental protection as an area of application for [[computer science]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |title=Informatik im Umweltschutz: Anwendungen und Perspektiven |date=1986 |publisher=R. Oldenbourg |isbn=978-3-486-26166-0 |editor-last=Page |editor-first=Bernd |location=München |editor-last2=Hilty |editor-first2=Lorenz M.}}</ref> One of the first publications in German was the book ''Informatik im Umweltschutz. Anwendungen und Perspektiven'' (Computer science in environmental protection. Applications and perspectives)<ref name=":4" /> from 1986. The term 'environmental informatics' did not appear until around 1993,<ref name=":0" /> which is why the development of environmental informatics is usually referred to as having taken place in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wohlgemuth |title=Advances in Environmental Informatics. Integration of Discrete Event Simulation Methodology with ecological Material Flow Analysis for Modelling eco-efficient Systems |last2=Page |publisher=Procedia Environmental Sciences |edition=2nd |pages=696–705 |issn=1878-0296}}</ref> In 1993, the first university chair for environmental informatics was established in [[Cottbus]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |title=Managing environmental knowledge: proceedings of the 20th International Conference "Informatics for Environmental Protection" Graz (Austria) |date=2006 |publisher=Shaker |isbn=978-3-8322-5321-9 |editor-last=Tochtermann |editor-first=Klaus |location=Aachen |editor-last2=Scharl |editor-first2=Arno}}</ref> In 1994, the anthology ''Umweltinformatik. Informatikmethoden für Umweltschutz und Umweltforschung'' (Environmental Informatics: Informatics Methods for Environmental Protection and Environmental Research)<ref>{{Citation |title=Handbuch der Informatik. 3: 13. Produktionsorientierte Anwendungen Umweltinformatik: Informatikmethoden für Umweltschutz und Umweltforschung |date=1994 |editor-last=Page |editor-first=Bernd |access-date= |place=München |publisher=Oldenbourg |isbn=978-3-486-22723-9}}</ref> was published. The development of environmental informatics was 'primarily initiated by German computer science.'<ref name=":1" /> In the English-speaking world, the volume ''Environmental Informatics''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Avouris |first=Nicholas M. |title=Environmental informatics: methodology and applications of environmental information processing |last2=Page |first2=Bernd |date=1995 |publisher=Kluwer academic publ |isbn=978-0-7923-3445-3 |series=Euro courses |location=Dordrecht Boston London}}</ref> was published in 1995, mainly based on the German anthology of 1994.
An article in the conference proceedings of the ''World Computer Congress'' of the ''International Federation for Information Processing'' (IFIP) in [[Hamburg]] in 1994 describes the initial situation of environmental informatics as follows:
'On the one hand, we suffer from the huge amount of available data – people sometimes speak of [[data graveyard]]s – on the other hand, the really relevant data may still be missing.'<ref>{{Citation |title=Information processing '94: proceedings of the IFIP 13th World Computer Congress, Hamburg, Germany, 28 August - 2 September, 1994. Vol. 2: Applications and impacts / ed. by Klaus Brunnstein |date=1995 |issue=52 |editor-last=Brunnstein |editor-first=Klaus |access-date= |series=IFIP transactions A, Computer science and technology |others=International Federation for Information Processing |edition=1. ed., 2. impr |place=Amsterdam |publisher=North-Holland |isbn=978-0-444-81987-1}}</ref>
This statement indicates the need that led to the emergence of environmental informatics as a specialised discipline of applied computer science. Furthermore, the specific characteristics and processing requirements of environmental data necessitated the emergence of environmental informatics.<ref name=":0" /> The special features of environmental data include:
* The data structures required are highly heterogeneous due to specific processes and differing perspectives on environmental aspects (e.g., water protection, emission control, hazardous substances).<ref name=":0" /> * In addition to the heterogeneity of the data, heterogeneous databases also play a role, as environmental data is often obtained and presented in an interdisciplinary manner.<ref name=":0" /> * Obligations change frequently as a result of new legislation, whether regional (e.g. state regulations on water protection), national (e.g. federal emission control regulations) or international (e.g. Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals|REACH). * The objects represented are often multidimensional and, therefore, require complex geometric representation using curves or polygons.<ref name=":0" /> * It is often necessary to process uncertain, imprecise or incomplete data,<ref name=":0" /> which is, for example, the result of extrapolations or forecasts. A new "knowledge paradigm" has emerged to meet the requirements of environmental management.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Gnauck |first=Albrecht |title=The Information Society and Enlargement of the European Union |last2=Heinrich |first2=Ralph |date=2003 |publisher=Metropolis Verlag |isbn=978-3-89518-440-6 |location=Marburg}}</ref> Environmental informatics produces its own concepts, methods and techniques and is not merely the result of using information and communication technology methods and tools to meet environmental requirements.<ref name=":5" />
The development of environmental informatics since the 1990s has been significantly influenced by the newly established conferences EnviroInfo, ISESS and ITEE and is documented in the respective proceedings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Aebischer |title=CT Innovations for Sustainability. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. |last2=Hilty |publisher=Springer |year=2015 |edition=310 |pages=3–36}}</ref> Aspects of sustainability and sustainable development were increasingly integrated into environmental informatics after 2000, thereby expanding the field.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |title=Memorandum nachhaltige Informationsgesellschaft |date=2004 |publisher=Fraunhofer-IRB-Verl |isbn=978-3-8167-6446-5 |editor-last=Dompke |editor-first=Mario |location=Stuttgart}}</ref> In 2004, the Working Group on Sustainable Information Society of the ''Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V.'' (German Informatics Society, GI) published the ''Memorandum on a Sustainable Information Society,''<ref name=":7" /> which formulates recommendations for an information society that is compatible with human, social and natural needs. Since 2007, environmental informatics has often been described in more detail as informatics for environmental protection, sustainable development and risk management.<ref name=":6" /> The increased focus on sustainability has also contributed to the formation of the research focus Information and Communications Technology for Sustainability (ICT4S) and to the emergence of the international conference ICT4S in 2013.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Dompke |title=Memorandum Nachhaltige Informationsgesellschaft |publisher=Fraunhofer IRB Verlag |year=2004 |isbn=3-8167-6446-0}}</ref>
ICT-ENSURE, the European Commission's funding measure for the establishment of a European research area on "ICT for Environmental Sustainability Research" (2008–2010), has also contributed to the structuring of environmental informatics.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Hilty |first=Lorenz M. |last2=Aebischer |first2=Bernard |date=2015 |editor-last=Hilty |editor-first=Lorenz M. |editor2-last=Aebischer |editor2-first=Bernard |title=ICT for Sustainability: An Emerging Research Field |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-09228-7_1 |journal=ICT Innovations for Sustainability |language=en |location=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |pages=3–36 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-09228-7_1 |isbn=978-3-319-09228-7}}</ref>
== Environmental informatics and sustainable development == Efforts to place environmental informatics within the context of sustainable development have been growing since 2000 and were significantly influenced by the ''Memorandum on a Sustainable Information Society''.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /> According to this ''Memorandum'', the information society offers great but unevenly distributed opportunities for education, participation and intercultural understanding.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /> In addition, the ''Memorandum'' highlighted the material and energy consumption of information and communication technology and the amount of waste it generates.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /> The hope was expressed that environmental informatics could contribute to the formation of a consensus in environmental policy and, thus, to the development of sustainable action strategies.<ref name=":10" /> The systematic collection, processing and analysis of environmental data should lead to better environmental monitoring, better environmental management and progress in the sustainable management of natural resources.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Environmental Informatics: Aspects in Society, Economy and Development – A Study |publisher=New Delhi Publishers |year=2020 |isbn=978-93-8887990-3 |pages=73–83}}</ref> In fact, the topics addressed in environmental informatics since the 1980s and the further development of remote sensing methods are widely used, e.g. in the environmental information systems of different countries.<ref name=":6" />
== Related research areas == Environmental informatics, like [[Green computing|Green Computing]] and the ICT4S, lies at the intersection of computer science and sustainable development.<ref name=":10" /> While environmental informatics deals with environmental information systems and the corresponding data collection, storage, reproduction, analysis and evaluation, Green Computing is primarily concerned with the IT infrastructure itself, whose undesirable effects on the environment should be kept to a minimum.<ref name=":10" /> ICT4S, on the other hand, takes a broader perspective than environmental informatics by examining the opportunities and risks of digitalisation for achieving sustainable development in general and raising questions about the social malleability of digitalisation.<ref name=":10" />
Other areas of research within computer science that explore the relationship between technical information processing and nature in the broadest sense includes bioinformatics and geoinformatics.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Hilty |title=Umweltbezogene Informationsverarbeitung. Beiträge der Informatik zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung |publisher=Universität Hamburg |year=2006 |edition=2. Korrigierte Auflage |language=de}}</ref> Apart from the common feature of computer-aided environmental information processing, the three disciplines differ primarily in their choice of methods.<ref name=":0" /> In addition, environmental informatics has a normative orientation,<ref name=":0" /> as it aims to prevent or limit undesirable environmental changes and support desirable ones.<ref name=":11" /> However, the relationship between geoinformatics and environmental informatics is particularly close, as geographic information systems (GIS) serve as the basic technology for spatial environmental information systems and remote sensing has opened up new possibilities for environmental monitoring.<ref name=":12" />
==Conferences== *EnviroInfo [http://www.enviroinfo2013.org/ 2013], [http://www.enviroinfo2012.org/ 2012] *Environmental Information Management [https://eim.ecoinformatics.org/eim2011 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903100051/https://eim.ecoinformatics.org/eim2011 |date=2014-09-03 }}, [https://eim.ecoinformatics.org/eim2008 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903100205/https://eim.ecoinformatics.org/eim2008 |date=2014-09-03 }} *International Conference on Adaptive and Natural Computing Algorithms {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090927111850/http://www.icannga.com/ ICANNGA]}} *International Conference on ICT for Sustainability (ICT4S) [http://2014.ict4s.org/ 2014], [http://2013.ict4s.org/ 2013] *International Conference on Information Technologies in Environmental Engineering [http://www.itee2013.org/ 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503125428/http://www.itee2013.org/ |date=2013-05-03 }} *International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs) [http://www.iemss.org/sites/iemss2014/ 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727160244/http://www.iemss.org/sites/iemss2014/ |date=2014-07-27 }}, [http://www.iemss.org/sites/iemss2012/ 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205131626/http://www.iemss.org/sites/iemss2012/ |date=2012-12-05 }}, [http://www.iemss.org/iemss2010/ 2010] *International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM) [https://web.archive.org/web/20150623132042/http://mssanz.org.au/rego/index.php?conference=MODSIM&schedConf=2013, 2013] *International Symposium on Environmental Software Systems (ISESS) [http://www.isess2013.org/ 2013], [http://www.isess2011.org/ 2011]
==Journals== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130603192705/https://sites.google.com/site/acmtosn/ ACM Transactions on Sensor Networks] *[http://www.journals.elsevier.com/computers-and-electronics-in-agriculture/ Computers and Electronics in Agriculture] *[https://www.springer.com/earth+sciences+and+geography/journal/12145 Earth Science Informatics] *[http://www.earth-system-science-data.net/ Earth System Science Data] *[https://www.springer.com/earth+sciences+and+geography/geology/journal/12665 Environmental Earth Sciences] *[http://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-modelling-and-software/ Environmental Modelling and Software] *[https://www.springer.com/environment/monitoring+-+environmental+analysis/journal/10661 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140403102138/http://www.grss-ieee.org/publications/jstars/ IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing] *[http://www.igi-global.com/journal/international-journal-agricultural-environmental-information/1160 International Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Information Systems] *[http://digitalearth-isde.org/publication/70 International Journal of Digital Earth] *[http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijdsn/ International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks] *[http://www.inderscience.com/jhome.php?jcode=ijsnet International Journal of Sensor Networks] *[http://www.iseis.org/jei/ Journal of Environmental Informatics] *[http://www.jeiletters.org/ Journal of Environmental Informatics Letters]
==Institutions== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160827004347/http://civil.aalto.fi/en/research/water_and_environment/environmentalengineering/environmentalinformatics/ Aalto University]: Environmental Informatics *[http://isag.meng.auth.gr/ Aristotle University of Thessaloniki]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}: Informatics Applications and Systems Group, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering: Teaching and Research on Environmental Informatics and Quality of Life Information Services *[[CSIRO]]: [https://research.csiro.au/ei/ Environmental Informatics Research Group] *[http://www.the-iea.org/ Institute for Environmental Analytics]: Applied environmental informatics, based at the [[University of Reading]], UK *[[Griffith University]]: [https://www.griffith.edu.au/institute-integrated-intelligent-systems/our-research/environmental-informatics Environmental Informatics, a research institute] *[http://www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/research/environmental_informatics/ Lancaster Environment Center]: Centre for environmental informatics *[http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/Study/Qualifications/Qualification/?QualCode=b.environment%20and%20society&major=gisenvinf Lincoln University]: GIS and Environmental Informatics *[http://www.iba.muni.cz/index-en.php?s=environmental-informatics Masaryk University]: Division of environmental informatics and modeling *[https://nau.edu/SICCS/Academics/PhD-INF/ Northern Arizona University]: PhD in Environmental Informatics *[http://www.nuigalway.ie/eci/research/environmental_informatics.html NUI Galway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026031658/http://www.nuigalway.ie/eci/research/environmental_informatics.html |date=2010-10-26 }}: Environmental informatics *[http://www.mta-taki.hu/en/departments/wgenvirionmentalinf RISSAC]: Department of environmental informatics, research institute for soil science and agricultural chemistry, Hungarian academy of sciences *[http://www.stanford.edu/group/ei/ Stanford University] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307032402/http://www.stanford.edu/group/ei/ |date=2012-03-07 }}: Sustainable development & environmental informatics *[http://www.mei.titech.ac.jp/index-e.html Tokyo Institute of Technology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224050357/http://www.mei.titech.ac.jp/index-e.html |date=2012-02-24 }}: Department of Mechanical and Environmental Informatics *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706095130/http://kmi.tugraz.at/research/focus_areas/environmental_informatics TU Graz]: Research focus area in environmental informatics *[http://www.ics.uci.edu/faculty/area/area_environmental.php University of California, Irvine]: Bren school environmental informatics research *[http://www.udayton.edu/engineering/iac_content/index.php University of Dayton]: Center of excellence for strategic energy and environmental informatics *[http://www.uef.fi/envi University of Eastern Finland]: Division of environmental informatics within the department of environmental science at Kuopio Campus *[http://agis-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/asi/forschung/umweltinformatik/ University of Hamburg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719103334/http://agis-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/asi/forschung/umweltinformatik/ |date=2011-07-19 }}: Research in environmental informatics *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100623230843/http://informatics.unlv.edu/cognates/environmental.htm University of Las Vegas, Nevada]: Environmental informatics undergraduate program *[https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb19/disciplines/physisch/ecoinformatics University of Marburg]: Physical Geography: Environmental Informatics *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140209092230/http://snre.umich.edu/degrees/masters/environmental_informatics/overview University of Michigan]: Environmental informatics GIS and modeling graduate program *[[University of South Australia]]: [https://study.unisa.edu.au/courses/101362 Environmental Informatics postgraduate course] *[http://www-ui.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de/ University of Oldenburg]: Division of environmental informatics *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101214124919/http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/faculties/apsc/centres/cei/ University of Sunderland]: Centre for environmental informatics *[http://www.bui-berlin.de/ University of Applied Sciences (HTW) Berlin]: Research and undergraduate program *[https://www.tntech.edu/cis/ses/psm/index.php]: Professional Science Graduate Program: Environmental Informatics *[http://ei.infosys.tuwien.ac.at/ Vienna University of Technology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021155630/http://ei.infosys.tuwien.ac.at/ |date=2012-10-21 }}: Doctoral College: Environmental Informatics *[http://frec.vt.edu/ei/ Virginia Polytechnic Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404062107/http://frec.vt.edu/ei/ |date=2015-04-04 }}: Undergraduate Program: Environmental Informatics
==Collaborations== *[http://www.dataone.org DataONE]: Data Observation Network for Earth *[http://www.dataconservancy.org Data Conservancy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028090137/https://dataconservancy.org/ |date=2020-10-28 }}: Leading the movement to build data management tools and services across institutions and disciplines
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Informatics}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Environmental science]] [[Category:Information science]] [[Category:Information technology]] [[Category:Computational fields of study]]