GIS-based graphical user interface

Up to now, the front-end tool for decision makers usually consists of a Geographic Information System (GIS). At present, most systems are rather isolated visualization tools with low or no connectivity to the scientific analysis tools and databases. The solution could be an “integrated expert system” where the visualization of data and analysis results, embedded into their spatial context, resulting in hazard and risk maps presented to e.g. governmental agencies. This sub-workpackage aims at building such an expert system that has to be flexible enough to integrate existing systems, such as spatial data, that might already be existent within the context of GIS approaches for some volcanoes as well as hazard mitigation programs. The approach is to develop a GIS-enabled expert system that serves as a portal for the visualization of analyses, spatial data, hazard mitigation programs, etc. The “expert system” with its GIS-based graphical user interfaces forms the top-level gateway of the early warning chain being used by decision makers.

The user interface will thus be designed as a geo-data portal, offering:

• tools to decide on the threads of a possible disaster (derived from and based on alert levels and the analysis results from the lower levels of the early warning chain)
• data querying and (GIS-/spatial) analyses tools in the context of disaster mitigation/response/ relieve
• functionality to integrate further data sources 
  In order to allow a “real time” test according to WP4 both software packages will be delivered early 2009.

Back to WP3: GIS