Ecological information system (ENVIS)

In this study, an ecological information system is examined (ENVIS). The study takes into account the development and goal of the ENVIS. All humans on the earth planet, both living and dead, are connected by the EIS. Because of this, this essay also emphasizes how the environment system affects society and its potential applications in the future. The ENVIS is crucial for both individuals and businesses to maintain. As a result, there are stricter requirements for the data collected on EIS in terms of accessibility, accuracy, and dependability. However, because the physical environment and the world are endangered, inaccurately recorded information is likely to differ. The collected data for an environmental information system (ENVIS) is primarily used for several different tools, application, or services. For example, integration of hydrometric data and the geodatabases, the Google maps (web-GIS mapping), artificial intelligence, integration of the satellite data. Additionally, the paper discusses the computer and software graphics applicable for the environmental visualization. Moreover, this research paper summarizes the significance of an environmental information system (ENVIS) by providing mechanisms of understanding its importance to individuals and the society. In achieving this, the paper uses qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect data, statistical analysis for social sciences (SPSS) to analyze data.

Environmental Information Systems

Introduction

The environmental information system (ENVIS) was intercepted in 1982 (Kramers, 2014).It mainly provides technical, scientific and the semi-technical data on different environmental issues. Moreover, the ENVIS serves critical interests of various environmental management and policy formulation. The primary objective is ensuring integration of international and national efforts in the website-enabling environmental data collection, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and collation of the concerns. This includes the decision makers, public, policy planners, scientists .Functionally, the ENVIS, is viewed as the decentralized systems of centers that is mainly mandated to establish a significant distribution network of specific databases. According to Avouris and Page, (2013), the ENVIS achieves this through different programs in various states. For example, a sustainable ENVIS systems program that supports a decision making processes for sustainable and efficient environmental management. Moreover, the program promotes environmentally-friendly designs in helping the databases. With the durable program, the ENVIS identifies and encourages the development of the lasting environmental control. The systems use an ecological effects data system in collecting and processing data on regarding the ecological impacts.

Kramers (2014) argues that after data collection and processing, the Ecosystem balance is identified and helps in drawing the ecological action programs. Secondly, the environmental impact data systems are essential in collecting and processing information on various environmental impacts caused by individual operational processes. These processes include design, manufacturing, collection, procurement, transportation. Not only does the system identify environmental effects on the overall operations but it also gathers ecological information for different operation flows of all the processes. The data collected has been used to facilitate strengths of the ENVIS and to correct challenges that occur during the implementation of the program. But despite the problems encountered, the ENVIS has been significant and successful in its operations within national and international regions. Therefore, this paper focuses on the purpose of ENVIS, its impacts to the society, the future application of the ENVIS programs. Since ENVIS is essential for many organizations, this research paper considers various mechanisms in which the data regarding the environmental information systems has been significant to individuals, groups, and the globe. Moreover, the article focuses on the significance of the ENVIS and how individuals understand its importance.

Methodology

The research paper uses qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data regarding the environmental information systems (Avouris & Page, 2013). Secondary data is used to provide a satisfactory result for the majority of the information is present. However, the primary data is used to compliment how individuals and organizations adapt and use the ENVIS. The study uses open-ended and close-ended questions to gather information from various firms where the environmental information system has been used (Avouris & Page, 2013). This has been characterized by the use of questionnaires where the individuals’ consent is obtained. Moreover, there are interviews with various managers and employees of the ENVIS firms.

Results and Discussion

The environmental management has become increasingly complex. According to Kramers (2014), It is dependent on efficient gathering, organizing and processing more massive amounts of information. This makes the public and regulators to develop higher expectations about the availability and accuracy of data. The environmental information systems provides several services and programs that include the compliance reporting programs, data digitization, and control, auditing and assessments of the information systems, satellite data analysis, and integration platforms. The purpose of ENVIS is to integrate the nation-wide efforts for sufficient environmental data collection, dissemination, collation, retrieval, and storage of the concern. In his study, Bonham-Carter (2014) outlines that through the provision of semi-technical, scientific, and technical data about environmental issues, ENVIS is the critical backbone for environment management and policy formulation. Moreover, it helps in improving and sustaining a better quality of lives for the living organisms. The primary uses of ENVIS include the individual scientists, institutes, research projects, and many agencies handling the environmental impacts assessment.

Purpose of the ENVIS

With the increase in internet and information technology inventions, the ENVIS scheme has been rapidly metamorphosing and staying pace with the developments. With the incorporation of union territory (UT) and state governments, the ENVIS has expanded its activities in various nations across the globe. But since its formation in 1982, the ENVIS scheme’s modification has been doubled from 2004 to 2013 with multiple objectives (Avouris & Page, 2013). The long-term goals include building dissemination and repository centers in engineering and the environmental sciences. It also strives to promote and support development, innovation, and research in the environmental data technology. Moreover, the objectives are to enable the application of current techniques for processing, and storage. Additionally, ENVIS aims at data processing, dissemination, acquisition, and processing of the information of an environmental nature. The short-term objectives include promoting the exchange of data within the developing nations, to encourage, assist and support the personnel and education training systems. Malhotra, Melville, and Watson (2013) admit that this significantly enhances the environmental data processing. Additionally, ENVIS aims at providing many national and international ecological data services that are relevant to the present requirement. Moreover, it aims at promoting foreign and domestic cooperation by liaising with several agencies that are concerned with the exchange of an environmental related data.

Bonham-Carter (2014) argues that based on the long-term and short-term objectives, the ENVIS has been achieving its mission and vision of expanding the web-databases programs.it has been building more storage, dissemination, and retrieval capabilities with the primary objective of disseminating data faster to various users. As a result, many organizations and individuals manage to receive and process sufficient environmental data. By providing the national ecological data activities and services that are relevant to the present needs, several environmental data firms have been established. According to Kramers (2014), this facilitates meeting the future needs and objectives of processors, users, disseminators, and the originators of the environmental data. Therefore, the ecological system has many purposes within its set objectives.

The Frameworks of ENVIS

The objectives of the environmental information system (ENVIS) have been achieved through several structures and modules. According to Gholami et al. (2016), these include the ENVIS established centers, the ENVIS cell, and advisory committee. The frameworks are assigned various tasks to ensure the objectives are achieved. The responsibilities include developing and enhancing network coordination, documentation and library, distributing network websites, developing, and maintaining the database services. Moreover, the modules ensure the continuous generic development of database including studies and projects. Based on the establishment of the frameworks, ENVIS has been increasing the provision of its activities and products to the societies and individuals.as a result, several environmental information data systems have been implemented by private and public organizations. This has facilitated awareness of the environmental data and how it relates to the institutions, society and the modern technology systems. For example, in their study Malhotra, Melville and Watson (2013) elaborate that the association of ENVIS and World Bank has provided resources to improve the environmental information programs. This has been characterized by various scholarship and sponsorship programs to individuals seeking to employ the ENVIS’s skills and knowledge. But due to the high demand for ENVIS programs by several firms, the environmental information systems has been expanded with better information technology systems. The increase innovation in modern web-databases that provides adequate data storage and processing systems and extended technical tools has been efficient for the implementation of the ENVIS objectives. However, despite recent technology in the environmental information systems, there are instances of incorrect data collection. According to Bonham-Carter (2014), this has been found to occur due to encryption of ENVIS program systems and lack of individual professionals to handle the devices. Moreover, incorrect data collection leads to erroneous information recording and storage hence affecting the outcome. Inaccurate data collection and recording occur due to the life-threatening factors to the human environment and world surrounding us. Despite these challenges, an environmental data system is significant to keep since it has higher levels of accuracy and accessibility regarding the information gathered. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid incorrect data collection and recording as this reduces bias and confounding factors hence satisfactory outcome. Moreover, the data collected, analyzed and recorded for an environmental data system is continuously used for several services such as geodatabases, the artificial intelligence, designing computer graphics and integrations of the hydrometric data. Other functions include Google maps and combination of the satellite information. According to Brocke et al., (2012), the application of collected and recorded data is essential in developing new environmental information programs and strategies of ensuring that the society is equipped with knowledge about the ecological data. Moreover, in their study Ferdoush and Li (2014) outline that several devices such iPhones apps, PCs, the carbon tracking software are being used to enhance and transform the environmental sustainability. As a result, the environmental information system has several impacts on the society has described below.

Impacts of ENVIS on Society

Since its implementation, the environmental information system has several impacts on the previous and current communities. Ferdoush and Li (2014) argue that the effect is how information system enhances and transforms the environmental sustainability across the globe and within the business. There has been an increase in ecological data information accessibility by most societies. This has been achieved due to a continuous growth in technological devices that are used to collect record and analyze the environmental data. These include PCs, Information visualization devices, and efficient carbon tracking machine. Malhotra, Melville, and Watson (2013) argue that by using the ENVIS devices, individuals and institutions spend less time in accessing and retrieving their data as compared to the initial use of manual files. Moreover, the online application of web-databases facilitates individuals operations of tasks from the point of view. This has reduced the inefficiencies that occur due to use of manual systems. The society uses less energy in its environmental activities since the use of computers have made it easy to access and manage environmental information without moving from one point to another. The society increased in technology innovations with the majority of the activities being computerized.

Kelly et al. (2013) admit that in collaboration with various governments, the ENVIS has established the environmental performance systems (ecosystem) that collects and manages environmental information from the society’s enterprise sites. The ecological information systems have increased the awareness of the ecological data among the individuals within the society and its significance in modern life. But according to Ferdoush and Li (2014), this has led to the community increase its knowledge and investment in the ENVIS programs. Based on the high demand, the ENVIS has led to the establishment of more enterprises for the community that has improved living conditions for the majority of the individuals. These businesses are primarily information technology-based and are facilitated by various governments.

Increased technology inventions: There is increased technology inventions in the society to enhance the environmental information systems. These include the invention of modern website designs and more databases to facilitate data environmental data collection and storage (Ferdoush & Li, 2014). Moreover, technological devices have been on the increase in ensuring that the society is computerized on the current environmental systems. For example, Malhotra, Melville, and Watson,(2013) elaborates that the community has evolved from the manual data file storage to computerized data storage systems for patients in different institutions such as hospitals. This has increased rate of response to an emergency case that requires instant access to data.

Cost: Despite the significance of the ENVIS, the society incurs a massive expense in maintaining the activities and services provided by the environmental information system. Malhotra, Melville, and Watson (2013) argue that most of the devices use are expensive and cannot easily be obtained by minor environmental institutions. Additionally, there is the high cost of regular maintenance and update of the systems. The ecological data systems are more expensive to acquire, maintain, and conduct periodic servicing. Moreover, it requires professional in the information technology to sufficient use in local regions where the individuals have no knowledge of using the respective machines.

Conclusion

The environmental information system (ENVIS) was established in 1982 with various objectives. This incorporates long term and short-term goals to all concerns. It mainly provides technical, scientific and the semi-technical data on different environmental issues. Moreover, the ENVIS serves essential interests of various environmental management and policy formulation. The primary objective is ensuring integration of international and national efforts in the website-enabling ecological data collection, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and collation of the concerns. This includes the decision makers, public, policy planners, scientists, and researchers. Functionally ENVIS is viewed as the decentralized systems of centers that are mainly mandated to establish a significant distribution network of specific databases. It reduces time and cost within the society. The future use of the environmental information system is to enhance ecological data integration within the organizations and across the globe.

References

Avouris, N. M., & Page, B. (Eds.). (2013). Environmental informatics: Methodology and applications of environmental information processing (Vol. 6). Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media.

Bonham-Carter, G. F. (2014). Geographic information systems for geoscientists: Modelling with GIS (Vol. 13). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Brocke, J. V., Watson, R. T., Dwyer, C., Elliot, S., & Melville, N. (2012). Green information systems: Directives for the IS discipline. Communications of the Association for Information Systems (CAIS), 33(30), 509-520

Ferdoush, S., & Li, X. (2014). Wireless sensor network system design using Raspberry Pi and Arduino for environmental monitoring applications. Procedia Computer Science, 34, 103-110.

Gholami, R., Watson, R. T., Molla, A., Hasan, H., & Bjørn-Andersen, N. (2016). Information systems solutions for environmental sustainability: How can we do more? Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 17(8), 521.

Kelly, S. D. T., Suryadevara, N. K., & Mukhopadhyay, S. C. (2013). Towards the implementation of IoT for environmental condition monitoring in homes. IEEE Sensors Journal, 13(10), 3846-3853.

Kramers, A. (2014). Designing next generation multimodal traveler information systems to support sustainability-oriented decisions. Environmental Modelling & Software, 56, 83-93.

Malhotra, A., Melville, N., & Watson, R. T. (2013). Spurring impactful research on information systems for environmental sustainability. Management Information Systems Quarterly, 37(4), 1265-1274.