INFOOS
The Polish Environmental Information and Communication System
- Technological and Organisational Aspects
of the Implementation of a System to Support Poland in the Environmental Impact Assessment Process

Markus Weidenbach[1] and Piotr Wezyk[2]

Abstract

The INFOOS system was developed in 2002/2003 as part of an EU PHARE Twinning project. The project was designed to assist Poland in meeting EU requirements for EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment), prior to Poland’s entry into the EU.

The INFOOS system was designed to support EIA and SEA processes, using modern computer and communications technologies. The system’s primary functions are:

·       The centralised collection and management of the information required in the performance of an EU‑compliant EIA/SEA, and

·       The facilitation of communication between all parties involved in an EIA/SEA (government officials, developers, the general public…)

To meet these requirements, 4 system modules were developed:

1.     a reporting module that helps to manage EIA/SEA data in a standardised way

2.     an assistance module that guides officials in the decision-making process

3.     an archive module that stores the various documents, laws, guidelines, etc. of relevance, and allows them to be searched

4.     a communication module that includes a chat room, a newsletter, a discussion forum and a list of relevant e.mail addresses

On the server side, the latest Internet technologies (e.g., an XML database, various script languages) were used to control the data exchange. On the client side, a simple Internet connection and a standard web browser are sufficient to use the system.

When introducing any new system, one must pay attention not only to technological factors, but also to legal and human factors. One of the key lessons learned during the development of INFOOS was that even the finest of technologies are of limited use when they are not used as planned.

A beta version of INFOOS can be tested at http://landconsult.de/eia .