Survey of Process of Data Discovery and Environmental Decision Support Systems

The process of data discovery is an approach to extracting knowledge, valid, and usable information from large amounts of data, using automatic or semi-automatic methods. This article is an inventory of the different information extraction processes encountered in the literature for different fields of application and for the development of environmental informatics. Following an analysis between the different models, we can summarize the existing models with a proposal for a process that exploits the strengths of the different processes.

Research Activities, Opportunities & Possibilities in Environmental Informatics: International Scenario & Indian Potentialities

<p>Environment is an important concern and also treated as a knowledge field viz. Environment Science, Environment Studies, Environment Engineering, Environment Management, etc. Environmental Informatics is the combination of Environment which includes allied branches and subjects from the environment side and Informatics which includes all allied branches and subjects from the informatics and IT side. All the environment-related subjects can get the benefit of Environmental Informatics for their different sorts by different means. Environmental Statistical applications also need Computational tools and so Environmental Informatics will be the right solution for such concern. Environmental Informatics uses different tools, techniques, and sub-technologies of Information Technology and few also from the Computer Science or allied branches. Due to its wider benefits and different applications, many educational institutes are offering the field with Bachelors, Masters and Research Degrees in the concerned field as well as in allied fields. As far as research is concerned the research in different forms are conducted by academicians, researchers and scientist. This paper provides comprehensive details on Environmental Informatics research opportunities and potentialities in Indian and international context.</p>

Retrieval and Validation of XCO2 from TanSat Target Mode Observations in Beijing

Satellite observation is one of the main methods used to monitor the global distribution and variation of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Several CO2 monitoring satellites have been successfully launched, including Japan’s Greenhouse Gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT), the USA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), and China’s Carbon Dioxide Observation Satellite Mission (TanSat). Satellite observation targeting the ground-based Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) station is the most effective technique for validating satellite CO2 measurement precision. In this study, the coincident observations from TanSat and ground-based FTS were performed numerous times in Beijing under a clear sky. The column-averaged dry-air mole fraction of carbon dioxide (XCO2) obtained from TanSat was retrieved by the Department for Eco-Environmental Informatics (DEEI) of China’s State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System based on a full physical model. The comparison and validation of the TanSat target mode observations revealed that the average of the XCO2 bias between TanSat retrievals and ground-based FTS measurements was 2.62 ppm, with a standard deviation (SD) of the mean difference of 1.41 ppm, which met the accuracy standard of 1% required by the mission tasks. With bias correction, the mean absolute error (MAE) improved to 1.11 ppm and the SD of the mean difference fell to 1.35 ppm. We compared simultaneous observations from GOSAT and OCO-2 Level 2 (L2) bias-corrected products within a ±1° latitude and longitude box centered at the ground-based FTS station in Beijing. The results indicated that measurements from GOSAT and OCO-2 were 1.8 ppm and 1.76 ppm higher than the FTS measurements on 20 June 2018, on which the daily observation bias of the TanSat XOC2 results was 1.87 ppm. These validation efforts have proven that TanSat can measure XCO2 effectively. In addition, the DEEI-retrieved XCO2 results agreed well with measurements from GOSAT, OCO-2, and the Beijing ground-based FTS.

Artificial Intelligence & Cloud Computing in Environmental Systems—Towards Healthy & Sustainable Development

Environment is a big venture and aspects and also conveys as a field of study and practice such as Environment Science, Environment Studies, Environment Engineering, Environment Management, etc. Environmental Informatics is another important subject and emerging regarding the IT and Computing solutions in the environment. The merging of environmental areas and Informatics areas are commonly known as Environmental Informatics. Environmental Informatics is the best way for solving technology related issues with educated manpower and further, it uses various kinds of tools, techniques and sub-technologies of Computing and Information Technology in Environment, Ecology and Biological Sciences. The technologies such as Database Technology, Networking Technology, Multimedia Technology, Web Technology, Software Technology are most common and useful in Environment and Ecology related issues, activities and problem solving. In recent past other emerging technologies like Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Computational Intelligence, Human Computer Interaction, etc. are also being widely used. This paper is dedicated to basic review on Environmental Informatics including its nature, feature, and functions with special reference to the applications of Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing.

Environmental Informatics and Educational Opportunities in Post Graduate level—Indian Potentialities based on International Scenario

The academic sector is changing rapidly and different components have been added in the academic components. The education systems including academic bodies, programs, educational institutes change different aspects in the recent past. The interdisciplinary sciences are booming internationally. Among the interdisciplinary subjects, Environmental Sciences is an important one. On the other hand, Information Science is also truly interdisciplinary. This Information Science is also called as Informatics. The fusion or combination of these two subjects led the new academic body called ‘Environmental Informatics’. Environmental Informatics is very close with exiting field Geo-Informatics and thus it is also called as an extension of Geo-Informatics. Environmental Informatics is the solution to different environmental affairs, issues, problems, etc. Internationally, many universities have started academic programs on Environmental Informatics leading to Certificate, Diploma, Bachelors, Masters, MPhil, PhD in the subject. The present paper is an overview of Environmental Informatics including its features, functions, stakeholders emphasizing the availability of Post Graduate Programs in the field. Paper highlighted the course contents, job prospects, carrier opportunities in brief. Paper also proposed the possible programs at Masters levels; which can be a good solution both for abroad and the Indian education system.

Environmental informatics for modelling of freshwater ecosystems

Σε αυτή τη διδακτορική διατριβή διερευνάται η δυναμική της οικολογικής μοντελοποίησης υπό το πλαίσιο της περιβαλλοντικής πληροφορικής στον προσδιορισμό των παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν ποιοτικές και ποσοτικές παραμέτρους του νερού σε λιμναία οικοσυστήματα. Η λίμνη Κάρλα, μία ελληνική υπερτροφική λίμνη, αντιμετωπίζει συνεχή υποβάθμιση των υδάτων της εξαιτίας της εκτεταμένης φόρτισης με θρεπτικά, των ανολοκλήρωτων έργων του αρχικού σχεδιασμού του ταμιευτήρα, καθώς και των λειτουργικών αστοχιών. Η οικολογική μοντελοποίηση χρησιμοποιείται ως εργαλείο για την προσομοίωση της δυναμικής των θρεπτικών στη λίμνη, για τον εντοπισμό των παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν την τροφική της κατάσταση, ενώ εφαρμόζονται αρκετά διαχειριστικά σενάρια και ένα σενάριο κλιματικής αλλαγής με στόχο την εκτίμηση των επιπτώσεών τους στην κατάσταση της λίμνης. Επιπλέον, γίνεται μοντελοποίηση των μικροκυστινών μέσω ενός σύγχρονου αλγορίθμου τεχνητής νοημοσύνης (ANFIS). Στη συνέχεια, μοντελοποιούνται η κυανοβακτηριακή βιομάζα και τα επίπεδα κινδύνου για την ανθρώπινη υγεία που σχετίζονται με την κυανοβακτηριακή αφθονία, σε ένα δίκτυο Βόρειων Ευρωπαϊκών λιμνών. Εφαρμόζονται η μέθοδος της σταδιακής γραμμικής παλινδρόμησης, μια σειρά από αλγορίθμους μηχανικής εκμάθησης και η Μπαϋεζιανή ιεραρχική μοντελοποίηση, με στόχο την αξιολόγηση της αποτελεσματικότητάς τους στην πρόβλεψη. Τέλος, πραγματοποιείται ανάλυση σχετικά με το ποιοι τύποι καλλιεργειών εξάγουν το περισσότερο εικονικό νερό μέσω του εμπορίου, σε συνάρτηση με το όφελος στην ελληνική οικονομία.

Environmental Informatics: Potentialities in iSchools and Information Science & Technology Programs— An Analysis

Environment is an alarming concern and valuable to all of us, as all of us belong to the environment and ecology in a different context. There are different studies available related to the environment and as far as Informatics is concerned, it is the field of practice and study related to the information systems and information activities using tools, techniques and technologies. The applications of Informatics in different areas and branches are important concerns viz. agriculture, healthcare, transport and tourism, education and training, government and administration, business and commerce; and in this context Environmental Informatics are important. This is the application of Informatics and Information Technologies in the environment and allied subjects. There are universities and academic bodies offering Environmental Informatics academic programs mainly from the environment and allied departments and units. Though, the field is a combination of both the areas and thus can be offered in Informatics or allied departments or bodies. As far as Informatics related branches are concerned important are IT, Information Systems, Information Management, Computer Sciences, etc. And in all these departments or units Environmental Informatics can be started as a Major or Specialization with proper educational policies. iSchools is an international consortium and body dedicated to combining all information related institutes, departments and programs under one roof with a focus on technologies for the societies and different sectors. Thus, the field of Environmental Informatics can be started easily in the iSchools. Furthermore, in recent past iSchools considered as the academic units offering information or IT related programs irrespective of their affiliation to the iSchools Organization, United States. This is maybe considered as a policy paper for the environmentalist, educationalist, IT educators to think about the potentialities of Environmental Informatics in Informatics or IT or simply iSchools related departments, programs, etc.