Environmental Informatics
Informatics is the science of information. It links the skills of computer sciences and information technology with database and knowledge management. Informatics focuses on understanding problems and then applying information technology as needed. Environmental Informatics applies these skills to CEH's data holdings, many of which are unique and are of national and international importance.
There is a pressing need for greater knowledge of how to manage scarce environmental resources in a sustainable and integrated manner. The Environmental Informatics Programme (EIP) has been developed to address this fundamental requirement in support of the whole CEH Science Programme.The primary objective of the Progamme is to provide researchers (both internal and external to CEH) with access to the coordinated data resources and informatics tools required to deal with complex, multidisciplinary environmental questions.
The specific objectives are :
- To ensure long-term security and access to CEH environmental data.
- To enable efficient use of CEH’s distributed data storage and analysis infrastructure.
- To allow easier combination of CEH data.
- To enable use of ecological and hydrological concepts in exploration and selection of data.
- To ensure close linkage of science requirements and EIP development and activities.
- To build corporate capabilities in Intellectual Property rights, licensing and data legislation compliance.