Information systems in management of environmental risks

Area: Chemical technology, computer science, environmental protection, environmental

information system
Abstract:
Environmental pollution, air, soil, water, earthquakes, floods, chemical and nuclear incidents,
all these disasters indicate uncontrolled application of technological development. You must
establish a system to ensure that greater coherence and functionality of activity. This work
presents the use of some information systems to manage environmental risks to our area.

Keywords: Technology, ecological information systems, ecological risks, management of

accidents.

INTRODUCTION
The technology of today in all major measures is imposing the need for various
preventive actions to prevent some disaster. The introduction of multi-purpose system for the
protection and the need for surveillance of organized information system for risk management
of the environment is important. It is extremely important to have the right information and
concrete information because of the adequate management, planning and above all
organizations to react and prevent possible problems.
Ecological information system must have a set of ordered information about the facts
and phenomena of the environment, because then we have control over the whole territory.
The most important process that we can use is the identification and clear definition of the
problem or some changes. For risk management we need to conduct planned modes of
intervention for adequate decision making, evaluating outcomes, tracking changes, analysis of
the current state of a particular area. Completeness of effective management of risk in the
shortest period of time is necessary.
Risks in today's world are acquiring more valid character. The extent of the risk is
growing more and more, because the number of potentially vulnerable grows. Material
resources are increasingly spended and also disrupts increasingly territorial environmental
protection.
The system of risk management are information systems or management system,
which aims to make the planning, control and reduction of risk. Each system can benefit from
an efficient management system, any type of resource that is, or availability of the system.
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Emergency Management creates the need for integrating a large number of services.
The role of information and communication technologies in the analysis, monitoring and
forecasting of emergency situations is very important. Safety is the most important item in the
preservation of the environment, especially to people who participate in activities, and the
overall incidence to the occurrence of emergencies.
The system aims at improving communication for better coordination between the
organizations in this process. First you need to submit to the operating system to obtain
clarification, more information about the emergency situation in order to have a clear picture
of the whole situation. Is it a map of the region, buildings, weather information, changes of
hazardous materials and the like. On the other hand, in the course of an action it allow
operatives updated information in order to have the insight into the current status of the
operation.

System Monitoring and Reporting

The basic system and the role of monitoring is to identify the problems and as
efficiently protect. To be able to act preventively on cause of problems it is important to
implement a system of monitoring and notification (O & M). This system allows corrective
action and eliminates existing problems. System Monitoring and Reporting and organizations
that use it: businesses, other organizations and agencies that use the observation of various
phenomena in the fields of transportation, health, agriculture, electric power and so on.
This system is so predetermined that can cover the entire territory and detects any
occurrence or change in a given region or a status. Functioning of the system is set so that it
can inform prevention and alarms, as well as to effectively manage and control the entire
operation. Any activities that are taking place on the ground, with well-organized information
system, can be immediately neutralized, defined and can respond as soon as possible. The
consequences of hazards begin after detecting hazards and preventive responses to prevent
further complications. Since the environmental responsibility is job for state in our region R.
Serbian Sector for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Interior and its organizational
units, are holders of our system monitoring and reporting (O & M). Each company,
companies, public authorities and other legal entities within their business deal with this
system, are required to submit their data to O&M service in order to defend and protect the
environment. Unfortunately, this system is not adequately centralized in the scale of whole
state. In addition to the other services that are the center of the notification, observation posts
and distress, which do not have modern equipment, can not act quickly and provide all the
relevant information. To have overall view of events as a whole for the Service O&M, and
provide appropriate support to solve the problem. During the modernization of the system for
monitoring and alerting, which is realized in the Institute "Mihajlo Pupin", which has been
designed and consistent system, using domestic technology and knowledge. With equipment

of this system there are devices and systems like: alarm station, a central device,
telecommunication system following chart (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Block diagram of the Center for Monitoring and Notification

This modernized system is already installed on several buildings (NE Bajina Basta,
dam Ravni-Valjevo, dams Prvonek near Vranje), which proved to be high efficient (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Window management system of Oi on the Prvonek dam near Vrnj

Health Information System

Today's technology in the world is advancing at an incredible rate, and all states are
trying to achieve its development. In our state of R. Serbia we started with the development of
information technology the 70s of the 20th century, but significant progress has been made in
some areas. Most medical institutions have their own personal computers. The problem is that
not all information system was not based on the level of the R. Serbia, but at the level of
departments, agencies and institutions. (example in Figure 3 - Information System at the
Institute of Oncology)
The main objective of the health care information system is an organization of people,
machines and methods that interact in order to provide the necessary data and information on
the health status of patients and the implementation of protection of health of the
environment. Rationalization and operation of health services in an optimal way to implement
quality improvement of medical care. Provide accurate, truthful information and reduce the
cost of health care institutions.
The basic components of a health care information system:

Personnel (programmers, designers, managers, planners, users)

Database
Technical base
Software support

Gathering information is one of the fundamental problems in the health care

information system and modern medicine in general, handling, collection, processing, use of
data. Since more data is daily gathered, we must set up a good system to unload space and to
quickly find the information you need.

Figure 3 - An integrated hospital and business information system in the Institute for
Oncology of Vojvodina
The information system should lead to higher efficiency of health care, meeting the
standards, implementation of the latest technology. There are several models for the use of the
various services, in our country there is a model called MEDICAS and it represents a medical
information system for healthcare facilities that cover a very broad spectrum of activities
related to patients, providers and the health care system. System is configured to contain a
comprehensive electronic patient record, and intended for use in all health facilities. It also
allows connection by exchanging data with the structures for processing and display of
information in health care.
Every health care institution has a separate subsystem that can be implemented:

MEDICAS GP - subsystem for basic health facilities,

MEDICAS HOSP - for hospitals and other medical establishments,
MEDICAS POLI - for specialized clinics or clinics,
MEDICAS LAB - for medical laboratories
MEDICAS DENT - for dental clinics

Each of these modules is an integral part of the structural information system, each
module allows any access to any combination of these levels, all of which depend on the
needs of the institution system. The main role of health information systems is to improve
health, prevent disease, enabling appropriate treatment option for patients and preventive
reaction in order to stop potential problems. As well as exchanging data with other
information systems activities.
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A set of parent modules allows the definition of the organizational structure of health
institutions and performs basic functions in the preparation of the information system for
working with patients. Parent modules are:

Staff,
Department,
clinics,
diseases
Drugs,
Services,
Pharmacies.

Geographic Information System

We can say that the geographic information system is one of the most complex
systems, because in itself encompasses a huge number of activities and spheres. We can say
that the geographic information system is one of the most complex systems, because in itself
encompasses a huge number of activities and spheres. It consists of a combination of
statistical data devices that detect and warn of changing conditions. Ecology is the term
normally based on geographical sphere, because this system is of extremely important
significance. It deals with issues of ecological issues, planning, management, air and land
transport, traffic mapping, hazard mapping and planning procedures in case of emergencies.
Geographic information system controls all the data on air, water, soil, anthropogenic
elements of space. During some emergencies, natural disasters, or some technical and
technological disasters we can significantly affect the early response to population which will
be notified and warned. (Figure 5).

Figure 5 - Application of GIS in emergency situations

The major advantage of geographical information systems is that we can put large
amount of data into a computer, where we show a to each user simple way to visually and
statistically see about some happenings in detail, and in some cases literally the scene through
the camera or satellite cameras.
There are more software, one of the famous is Quantum GIS (QGIS) is free software
that lets you view, review, edit, and analyze geographic data (Figure 6).
Under the geographical sphere we mean also geodetic, geological, water management,
mining, agriculture, forestry, urban development, this system is a comprehensive system that
is attached to the other systems. All of these systems are most commonly associated with their
databases, one main computer has control over all areas. Their databases have information on
the census, technological databases, database of education, culture, and other characteristics
of the population.

Figure 6 Kvantum GIS 0.8.0 Titan

Environmental information system

Environmental information system represents an ordered set of environmental
knowledge, which aims to appropriate behavior towards her. Using information system we
can indentify and detect some change in our life environmental. We can set an approximate
diagnosis and possible alternetive in problem solving.
During any change in the environment its important to posses accurate information
about the events, in order to determine the overall problem and have a clear view on how to
remove the problem.
The aim of the Environmental Information System is to provide access, ecological,
economic, demographic, health, and social data to create control events, and save resources.
This system allows us insight into the current situation and direct examination via system
monitoring, data delivery, a report on the state of the environment.
Environmental information system is established in order to efficiently identifying,
classifying, processing, monitoring and recording of natural values managing environment. It
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has connectivity data associated with other databases, so it has availability to all the
information that are conected to the whole system. This information can usually be:
information on indicators of environmental quality, pollutants and pollutants, discharge and
movement of hazardous materials, emission sources, emission measurement results and the
emissions standards, methods, measurements, protected plant and animal species, protected
areas, state biodiversity regulations pertaining to the environment and so on.
Unfortunately this unique system who would bring all of these items to life
and established control over them is not operational. There are only some of its systems that
are supplied only individual segments. One system that has the integrals subsystem is Srbian
wather quality index, which includes data on surface and ground waters in R. Serbia and
monitoring is the responsibility of the Agency for Environmental Protection. The Agency has
developed an indicator of the environment in the area of water that is intended for reporting to
the public, experts and decision makers (government, local government). Unfortunately this
unique system of that all of these items come to life and established control over them is not
operational. There are only some of its systems that are supplied only with individual
segments. One system that has the integrals subsystem is Srbian wather quality index, which
includes data on surface and ground waters in R. Serbia and monitoring is the responsibility
of the Agency for Environmental Protection. The Agency has developed an indicator of the
environment in the area of water that is intended for reporting to the public, experts and
decision makers (government, local government).
Data exchange is the key to creating knowledge information because it
facilitates the decision-making process, easy and fast access to the data, thus provide more
time for data analysis and propose measures. Without systematic collection of environmental
data it is impossible to improve the situation in this area.

Risk management through information systems

During emergencies there is diversity and complexity of many tasks that occur in emergency
situations, as well as quick resolution, require management systems, specific characteristics of
which include:

Operating system functioning

Organisational Structure
Character Information
The objectives and criteria of management

Management systems operate in multiple modes, have a variable structure, the

information in them is extensive, rapidly shifting, indefinite and insufficient for quality
decision-making, the goals needs to be achieved in conditions of limited resources (financial,
human, and above all the time).

Operational management is done in real time and in terms of vagueness. Its main
characteristics of the adaptivity (option changes the election of operational measures other
than measures of direct response strategies to a specific emergency situation). Nothing can be
done without a concrete plan. The process of adoption and implementation of procedures for
the identification of foreseeable emergencies using system analysis, and preparation of testing
and revision of the plan of emergency response.
The procedure of planning in complex situations is divided into two projects:

Planning under normal conditions (strategic planning), and

Planning in extreme conditions (operational planning).

Strategic planning defines preventive activities, implemented primarily logistics

processes (regulation, protection, maintenance, inspection service, education).
Operational planning defines specific activity in terms of appearance and
development of emergency. It represents a real-time planning, and it is conducted in
conditions of insufficient and vague information, but also in time of trouble.
The main processes of planning are: planning objectives, target decomposition,
defining activities, defining mutual relations activities, assessment of workload, defining
resource project, determine the resources, and the evaluation, preparation of schedules of
work, budget estimates, grades implementation plan, defining success criteria.
Additional planning processes are quality planning, determination of personnel,
communications planning, risk identification, risk assessment, grades of response,
procurement planning application requirements.
Managing risk involves certain risks, which in stage management should identify the
assessed and to define adequate way of control. When it comes to risk management we should
distinguish between the effectiveness of risk management as an objective of system for risk
management, and risk management systems as well as the auxiliary process management.
Plan to be implemented in the stationary regime is usually formed as a long-term
plan or a program that contains a complex of measures and deadlines for the implementation
of tasks, persons or organizations responsible for their implementation and the necessary
resources. The most common problems are:

Program for construction and development of the monitoring and prediction of origin
and occurrence of developing a dangerous condition of technological processes and
natural phenomena,
Program for realization of scientific research on the problems of increasing the
security of potentially dangerous object, deployment and construction of industrial
buildings and facilities for housing, increase stability and the like,
Program for implementation of preventive measures in the slug-hazardous facilities,
The training program for the implementation of preventive measures,

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Program for production of equipment and resources for the implementation of

preventive measures,
The program of formation and deployment of material and technical resources for the
rehabilitation of the consequences emergencies.

Preventive strategic plan for risk regime is formed based on the basic scenarios for
development of emergency and contains a complex of measures that can mitigate or prevent
its development supervisor. This plan is a response to a specific emergency situation and is
subject to adjustments in accordance with its operating real to development. The plan defines
the strategic and operational measures.
Strategic measures include: reorganization of the management system, the
reorganization of existing or construction of a new information system, forming a team with
specific tasks. Tasks of the team are:

Identification of the state, the formation of risk maps, studying the causes of
emergencies, modeling the dynamics of development and assessment resources
necessary for the elimination of the consequences,
Preparation and analysis of strategy to prevent the development and consequences of
emergency situations,
Planning and operational management of the organization of work, prioritizing of
tasks and responsible persons, scheduling resources,
Implementation of these measures (surveillance, detection of casualties, providing the
necessary support, implementation of protective measures, etc.).

Operational measures are directed towards the realization of system functions in a

new, difficult conditions. The aim of these measures is to ensure functioning of the
management in terms of appearance and development of specific emergencies.
In the context of operational planning, and in accordance with the set objective, basic
plans and current circumstances, we define the general plan of operations for the
rehabilitation of emergency operations, concrete measures for their implementation,
scheduling effects of forces and means for its realization and direct support. Selection of
operational solutions in terms of appearance and development of specific emergency is a
creative and responsible task.
Operational control decisions should be timed, argumentative, clearcut and required.
This regime is mainly filled by the absence of unfavorable factors endangering the
environment and implement measures to re-establish the normal functioning of those
components and systems whose functions were impaired. The main function of the system in
this mode is operational and long-term planning of actions to mitigate or complete elimination
of the consequences.

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Hydrometeorological information system

Weather system consists of a surveillance system, a system that has data and controls
their transfer of analytical and forecasting system for data processing. This system covers the
entire system of observation and measurement, divided into hydrological and meteorological
observation system within which are individual network cells defined by the program of
observation and measurement.
Hydrological observation system consists of a network:

Cells for surface water (measurement and observation of regime characteristics of

rivers and lakes)
Station for groundwater and
Station for water quality.
A weather observation system consists of a network:
o Synoptic stations (measurement and observation of meteorological parameters
for the purpose of weather vigils)
o Climatological station (for the purposes of exploration climate and long-term
climate changes that occur as a result of permanent emission of pollutants in
the atmosphere)
o Agro-meteorological station (weather impact on vegetation and agricultural
production) and
o Air quality stations (systematic monitoring of air quality parameters, including
the parameters defining the dynamics of the movement of air masses in the
atmosphere).

Implementation of information systems for early warning of natural disasters is shown

in figure 7.

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Figure 7 Application of IS in protection against natural disasters (hail)

Information system of hydrometeorological services is used for processing data that
follows the logic of organization measurement and monitoring services in the observation
network. When there is occasional harm to the environment with some factors, this system is
used to display detailed events to surveillance service with information about the changes and
the decision on the establishment of control and environmental protection.

Other Information Systems

In addition to these information systems for the effective and efficient management of
environmental risks in our country there are systems that are important:

Seismological system of Serbian Armed Forces

Information System of Auto-moto Association of Serbia,
The information system of the National Poison Control Center, Military
Medical Academy,
The information system of the Red Cross of Serbia
Information system of Directorate of Roads,
Information system of Directorate of Air Traffic Control,
Information system of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia and others.

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Major role in addition to these systems have global data networks for data exchange,
including the most important:

Global monitoring system for environment (GEMS) - provides an organized

monitoring of the environment, the 25 major global monitoring networks, each
of which has a corresponding database, and the data are mutually comparable,
International register of potentially toxic chemicals (INFOTERRA) - is the
main channel for international data exchange, allows the exchange of
information on chemical substances and provides assistance to countries that
are included in the system of national registries,
Global informational networks (GRID) is a worldwide network of
georeferenced environmental data by which it is stored, collected and
transmitted digital information transmitted via satellite images, statistical tables
and other sources within and outside the UN system.

Conclusion
The process of risk management in Republic of Serbia is carried out in cooperation
with all sectors, institutions and organizations to prevent significant processes and events that
endanger the life, health and the environment.
Greatest importance for the safety and protection of the environment is the level of
readiness and action in a given time. You must act so that the danger that threatens people and
the environment prevent or rehabilitate impending danger. Forming awareness of the system
and the operational team in the implementation of some extraordinary natural disasters, as
they were all functional, timely prepared in solving upcoming problems. Establishing an
adequate information system with management it is the only option for streamlining the
overall process to coordinate activities in the functioning of the entire system for the
protection of life, health, environment.
Existing information systems mentioned in this paper are not integrated, and it
imposes the need to develop a unified information system for resource management in the
environment. The above system should provide:

Analysis and interpretation of information,

Arrangement of obtaining information from other services,
The wide distribution of the latest Area,
Regular processing, tabulation and presentation of information,
Control by the donor,
The continued registration of information,
Organization and conduction of additional research and other.

The proposed information system would include:

Indicators on the state of natural, technological and human resources,

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Information on the sources of threat

Information about the regulatory environment
Topographic data
Meteorological data,
Organization, forms and levels of protection,
Plans and measures for the use of the various services,
Financial statistical data in relation to the objectives and so on.

When there is a compromise, some emergency, some unexpected disaster, there is a

system for organizing preventive system and operational team for the rehabilitation problems.
In addition to strategic planning and organized measures we can reach the superior protection
and sanitation of problems. Through resource management and information system, we can
expect that we are safe. Each levity does harm and neglect of our security as a human being,
because in today's world we are exposed to various floods, hurricanes, icy rains, sudden
inflammation of the forests. Therefore it is of great importance and responsibility of each
State to protect and do preventive action against the proper cause of the problems and risks
for the environment.

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