The TASTE-model and the EPM-system: conceptual designs for exploitation and exploration of aggregated emission investory information in environmental monitoring

As responsibilityfor environmental policy in the Netherlands becomes more decentralized the need for environmental monitoring at lower governmental authority levels increases. Although conceptual perspectives on environmental monitoring are abundantly available, governmental authorities lack effective application of environmental monitoring and supporting information technology. In this paper the authors propose a solution for implementing generic environmental monitoring instruments. The solution presented consists of three components. First, environmental monitoring positioned in on environmental science and information science framework. Second, a data model named TASTE (an acronym o f Time, Area, Substance and human acTivity referenced Emission inventory) will be described. Third, a hybrid management support system named EPM (acronym of Environmental Policy Monitor) will be described. We end the paper with a discussion of a project recently set up by the Inspectorate General for Environmental Protection in the Netherlands. This project, in which an emission inventory data warehouse will be developed, is relevant to the study presented as it incorporates both the TASTE-model and the EPM-system.