Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1. The waste management problem: prevention, material and energy recovery, disposal.
1.2. The Role of Environmental Decision Support Systems
In the recent literature, several papers can be found about Environmental Decision
Support Systems (EDSS), their definition, characteristics, complexity, implementation, etc.
One of the most recent papers on this subject (Matthies et al. (2005)) states that an EDSS
often consists of various coupled environmental models, databases and assessment tools,
which are integrated under a graphical user interface (GUI), often realized by using spatial
data management functionalities provided by geographical information systems (GIS).
Denzer (2005) states that Environmental Information Systems (EIS) and EDSS are major
building blocks in environmental management and science today. They are used at all levels
of public bodies (community, state, national and international level), in science, in
management and as information platforms towards the public. EIS and EDSS are usually said
to have certain characteristics, which distinguish them from standard information systems,
e.g. information complexity in time and space or uncompleteness or fuzziness of data items.
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