title: Development of a Web-based GIS monitoring and environmental assessment system for the Black Sea: application in the Danube Delta area.
abstract: In this paper, the development of a Web-based GIS system for the monitoring and assessment of the Black Sea is presented. The integrated multilevel system is based on the combination of terrestrial and satellite Earth observation data through the technological assets provided by innovative information tools and facilities. The key component of the system is a unified, easy to update geodatabase including a wide range of appropriately selected environmental parameters. The collection procedure of current and historical data along with the methods employed for their processing in three test areas of the current study are extensively discussed, and special attention is given to the overall design and structure of the developed geodatabase. Furthermore, the information system includes a decision support component (DSC) which allows assessment and effective management of a wide range of heterogeneous data and environmental parameters within an appropriately designed and well-tested methodology. The DSC provides simplified and straightforward results based on a classification procedure, thus contributing to a monitoring system not only for experts but for auxiliary staff as well. The examples of the system's functionality that are presented highlight its usability as well as the assistance that is provided to the decision maker. The given examples emphasize on the Danube Delta area; however, the information layers of the integrated system can be expanded in the future to cover other regions, thus contributing to the development of an environmental monitoring system for the entire Black Sea.
authors: Department of Geodesy and Surveying, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), 54124, University Box, 440, Thessaloniki, Greece. tziavos@olimpia.topo.auth.gr.
authors: Ilias N
authors: IN
authors: Tziavos
authors: Laboratory of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Thomas K
authors: TK
authors: Alexandridis
authors: Odessa Branch Institute of Biology of Southern Seas (OBIBSS), National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Odessa, Ukraine.
authors: Borys
authors: B
authors: Aleksandrov
authors: Laboratory of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece.|Balkan Environment Center (BEC), Central Macedonia, Greece.
authors: Agamemnon
authors: A
authors: Andrianopoulos
authors: Laboratory of Geodesy and Geomatics, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Ioannis D
authors: ID
authors: Doukas
authors: Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development (DDNI), Tulcea, Romania.
authors: Ion
authors: I
authors: Grigoras
authors: Department of Geodesy and Surveying, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), 54124, University Box, 440, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Vassilios N
authors: VN
authors: Grigoriadis
authors: Laboratory of Geodesy and Geomatics, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Ioanna D
authors: ID
authors: Papadopoulou
authors: Laboratory of Geodesy and Geomatics, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Paraskevas
authors: P
authors: Savvaidis
authors: Laboratory of Geodesy and Geomatics, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Argyrios
authors: A
authors: Stergioudis
authors: Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development (DDNI), Tulcea, Romania.
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Teodorof
authors: Department of Geodesy and Surveying, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), 54124, University Box, 440, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Georgios S
authors: GS
authors: Vergos
authors: Odessa Branch Institute of Biology of Southern Seas (OBIBSS), National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Odessa, Ukraine.
authors: Lyudmila
authors: L
authors: Vorobyova
authors: Laboratory of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece.|Balkan Environment Center (BEC), Central Macedonia, Greece.
authors: Georgios C
authors: GC
authors: Zalidis
mesh_terms: D059038:Black Sea; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D020407:Internet; D045483:Rivers; D063809:Satellite Imagery
keywords: Decision support component; Environmental monitoring; Geodatabase development; Satellite earth observation data; Web-based GIS