Implementation of a SEIS for air quality data in Belgium

Authors: Juliette Dujardin, Olav Peeters, IRCELINE.

The material is provided under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).

The two communications from the Commission (COM(2008) 46 final and SWD(2013) 18 final) on the establishment of a Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) sets out seven principles for better management of data and information stating, amongst others, that information should be "collected once and shared with others for many purposes", "readily available to easily fulfil reporting obligations" and "fully available to the general public, to enable citizen participation".

In this training module we demonstrate how this can be achieved using multiple INSPIRE services. E-reporting in accordance with the new "Implementing Provisions for Reporting (IPR - 2011/850/EU)" consists of very different datasets, but is done via XML in compliant with a commonly agreed XML-schema. There are many technical solutions to generate these data sets. The advantages and disadvantages of different approaches are evaluated with a focus on how INSPIRE services can be extended for e-reporting and hence making it possible to use a spatial data infrastructure (SDI) as a hub in a SEIS.

This training module shows how the data-endpoints used for e-reporting can efficiently be used to informing the general public including making data available to more advanced users, be it with raw data for further analysis (SOS, WFS or REST), viewing services integrated into an agency website (WMS) or via a mobile app (WMS + REST).

The training module is divided in several learning components, starting with a general pilot overview explaining the context of e-reporting, in the second component the use of a SEIS is explained and some technical aspects of the system architecture are explained. The last part shows the client side and the integration of the different data mapping services into the client.

• Component 1: General pilot overview:
1. General context;
2. What is e-reporting?;
3. Pilot Needs;
4. Use cases and user requirements;
5. Pilot benefits.

• Component 2: SEIS and system architecture:
1. What is a SEIS?;
2. Why a SEIS in this pilot?;
3. Pilot system architecture.

• COMPONENT 3 - Data visualisation: creation of a client and data integration:
1. Client: web client and mobile client;
2. Data integration.

At the end of the module, the learners will have a general knowledge on the concept of e-reporting under Implementing Provisions for Reporting (IPR - 2011/850/EU) and on how an SDI can be used as a hub in a Shared Environmental Information Systems (cf COM(2008) 46 final and SWD(2013) 18 final). The learner will be able to understand how to design a system architecture suitable for both e-reporting and for informing the public. In the last part of the module, the learner gets examples of clients (web/mobile) and how services extended for e-reporting can be integrated.

INSPIRE, GIS, geospatial web services