Scientific and engineering improvement of environmental risk management - Environmental Deterioration and Contamination: Problems and their Management - page 406

Information is expediently organized data, a dataset or a selection of datasets: growing
organization means lower entropy.
Still, there is no perfect definition for information as per today, every profession
uses and defines information in a different way (Callaos, 1995).To create information
from data for environmental applications means to use the information content of
data in a way which serves the concept of environmental research, development or
management. To put it more simply, the interpretation of the data is necessary to create
information from them, meaning that somebody has to give a meaning to the data.
Callaos & Callaos (2002) note that if the term “interpretation'' is included in the
definition of information the consequence is that every single professional will interpret
the same data differently because interpretation includes the subjective experience of
the professional. This experience is what may give meaning to the data. The same
authors explain “information'' from the semantics aspect: the Latin term informare
means “shape or form an idea of'' in the mind of a person, meaning that information
is the result of a cognitive process. Boland (1987) concluded that “… information is
the inward forming of a person that results from the engagement with data.''
Information can be defined as processed data, which can be utilized in decision
making. Floridi (1999) supplements the definition with an essential detail: data, to be
informative, should be functionally associated with a relevant question. Floridi carries
forward the idea, concluding that computers might process data, but information can
be processed only by the computer user, the individual, the person, the subject.
Callaos & Callaos (2002) clarify that data and information are two sides of the
same coin: datum is the objective side of the coin and information is its subjective side.
Cohen (1999) applied a metasystem framework that defined Information System
(IS) at three levels: an information-using environment, a development environment,
and a management environment. Based on this, a dynamic definition of IS has been
created: “Information Systems is the field of inquiry that attempts to provide the
business client with information in a form, format, and schedule that maximize its
effectiveness.''
Based on the synthesis of information, knowledge may be created through the
feedback of the community of professionals.
Knowledge is the right information put into use in the right way at the right
time. Knowledge management makes the access possible to the right knowledge at the
right time. A knowledge base is a special kind of database for knowledge manage-
ment, providing the means for the computerized collection, organization and retrieval
of knowledge. Also, a collection of data representing related experiences and their
results is related to the problems and solutions. Knowledge management system refers
to a system (generally generated via or through an IT-based program) for managing
knowledge to support creation, capture, storage and dissemination of information.
Knowledge generation, communication and knowledge management are in close
inter-relationship with ERM. The knowledge generated on the path of data and
information—as shown in Figure 11.8—is usually communicated and utilized in
decision making. The generation and communication of knowledge are integral
parts of knowledge management and the information and communication technolo-
gies increase the effectiveness of both knowledge generation and management. The
three dimensions of knowledge—generation, communication and management—may
develop in synergism if professionals of the three areas cooperate.