Using FLOSS towards Βuilding Environmental Information Systems

Public access to environmental information is the basis for a higher degree of involvement of citizens and stakeholders in environmental decision-making [Haklay 2003][EU ISPO 1999]. Environmental Information Systems play a key role in contemporary urban environmental management strategies, and are a prerequisite for the proper, timely information of the public [Kampinnen 2001]; yet the fuzzy nature of environmental information [Denzer 2002] requires for systems that can make optimum use of informatics and telecommunications infrastructures to address environmental management needs, while remaining openended, easy to use and inexpensive to implement and operate. In this paper, we will attempt to present the characteristics of FLOSS software that render it appropriate for use in developing Environmental Information Systems, accompanied by real world project examples.