Meta-information Systems Research Articles

Special Interest Tourism in the Czech Republic: Introduction and Overview

Abstract The increasing importance of tourism and the growing number of tourists put pressure on tourist destinations. To support competitive and sustainable tourism development, it is advisable to focus on alternative forms of tourism in order to diversify tourism options in the destinations. From this point of view, it seems appropriate to deal with the issue of ‘Special Interest Tourism’ as a form of ‘alternative’, ‘ethical’, or ‘environmentally responsible’ tourism. The paper reflects the urgent need for sustainable tourism research. The aim of the paper is to provide the introduction and overview of the issue and outline perspectives that may open the way to future, more systematic research. The situation in the Czech Republic is based on the mapping of the current spatial distribution of selected special interest tourism attractions. The findings identify the possibilities for diversification of general (mass) tourism offers. The metadata from the Czech and foreign metainformation systems and databases are used.

A Framework for the Evaluation of Marine Spatial Data Infrastructures – Accompanied by International Case-Studies

Abstract Germany is currently developing a marine data infrastructure addressing different topics such as coastal engineering, hydrography and surveying, protection of the marine environment, maritime conservation, regional planning, and coastal research. This undertaking is embedded in a series of regulations and developments at many administrative levels, from which specifications and courses of action are derived. To set up a conceptual framework for the marine data infrastructure of Germany (MDI-DE), scientists at the Chair for Geodesy and Geoinformatics at the Rostock University are building a reference model, evaluating meta-information systems and developing models to support common workflows in marine applications. Evaluating how other countries built their marine spatial infrastructures is important to learn where obstacles and errors are likely to occur. To be able to look at other initiatives from a neutral point of view, it is necessary to construct a framework for evaluating marine spatial data infrastructures (MSDI). This framework is then used to analyse and evaluate the efforts of Canada, Australia, and Ireland with respect to marine data infrastructures.

Evaluating federated search tools: usability and retrievability framework

Purpose– This study aims to explore a framework for evaluating and comparing two federated search tools (FSTs) using two different retrieval protocols: XML gateways and Z39.50. FSTs are meta-information retrieval systems developed to facilitate the searching of multiple resources through a single search box. FSTs allow searching of heterogeneous platforms, such as bibliographic and full-text databases, online public access catalogues, web search engines and open-access resources.Design/methodology/approach– The proposed framework consists of three phases: the usability testing, retrievability performance assessment and overall comparison. The think-aloud protocol was implemented for usability testing and FSTs retrieval consistency, and precision tests were carried out to assess the retrievability performance for 20 real user queries.Findings– Participants were directed to assign weights for the interface usability and system retrievability importance as indicators for FST evaluation. Results indicated that FSTs retrievability performance was of more importance than the interface usability. Participants assigned an average weight of 62 per cent for the system retrievability and 38 per cent for interface usability. In terms of the usability test, there was no significant difference between the two FSTs, while minor differences were found regarding retrieval consistency and precision at 11-point cut-off recall. The overall evaluation showed that the FST based on the XML gateway rated slightly higher than the FST based on the Z39.50 protocol.Research limitations/implications– This empirical study faced several limitations. First, the lack of participants’ familiarity with usability testing created the need for a deep awareness and rigorous supervision. Second, the difficulties of empirically assessing participants’ perspectives and future attitudes called for mixing between a formal task and the think-aloud protocol for participants in a real environment. This has been a challenge that faced the collection of the usability data including user behaviour, expectations and other empirical data. Third, the differences between the two FSTs in terms of number of connectors and advanced search techniques required setting rigorous procedures for testing FSTs retrieval consistency and precision.Practical implications– This paper has practical implications in two dimensions. First, its results could be utilized by FST developers to enhance their product’s performance. Second, the framework could be used by librarians to evaluate FSTs performance and capabilities. The framework enables them to compare between library systems in general and FSTs in particular. In addition to these practical implications, the authors encourage researchers to use and enhance the proposed framework.Social implications– Librarians can use the proposed framework to empirically select an FST, involving users in the selection procedures of these information retrieval systems, so that it accords with users’ perspectives and attitudes and serves the community better.Originality/value– The proposed framework could be considered a benchmark for FST evaluation.

CONCEPTS, MODELS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARINE SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE IN GERMANY (MDI-DE)

Abstract. In Germany currently the development of a marine data infrastructure takes place with the aim of merging information concerning the fields coastal engineering, hydrography and surveying, protection of the marine environment, maritime conservation, regional planning and coastal research. This undertaking is embedded in a series of regulations and developments on many administrative levels from which specifications and courses of action derive. To set up a conceptual framework for the marine data infrastructure (MDI-DE) scientists at the Professorship for Geodesy and Geoinformatics at Rostock University are building a reference model, evaluating meta-information systems and developing models to support common workflows in marine applications. The reference model for the marine spatial data infrastructure of Germany (MDI-DE) is the guideline for all developments inside this infrastructure. Because the undertaking is embedded in a series of regulations and developments this paper illustrates an approach on modelling a scenario for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) using the Unified Modelling Language (UML). Evaluating how other countries built their marine spatial infrastructures is of main importance, to learn where obstacles are and errors are likely to occur. To be able to look at other initiatives from a neutral point of view it is necessary to construct a framework for evaluation of marine spatial data infrastructures. Spatial data infrastructure assessment approaches were used as bases and were expanded to meet the requirements of the marine domain. As an international case-study this paper will look at Canada's Marine Geospatial Data Infrastructure (MGDI), COINAtlantic and GeoPortal.

Knowledge management and administration depend on semiotic information systems

Knowledge management and administration have been defined according to the symbol system hypothesis. This paper argues that they depend instead on semiotic information systems that entail an event-driven and dispositional user perspective. Semiotics as the theory of signs implies that information systems be designed as contextual knowledge and action support systems. This has behavioural, conceptual and technological implications and suggests that cognitive, ethical, methodological, organisational and technological criteria must be met if we are to replace traditional, un-assuring data, model, and information processing systems with those that can provide assurances to their users. Assurance is a transient attribute of information because what we know changes frequently and what we receive in terms of information may neither be believable nor true. To dispel doubts requires built-in assurances based on proper internal control systems, understood as meta-information systems, and re-assurances by such assurors as competent, ethical, and independent auditors.

Filter and Broker: An Integrated Architecture for Information Mediation of Dynamic Sources

When making decisions, access to information and proactive provision of information have become a business imperative. It can be expected that a tremendous amount of information needs can be satisfied much better today by what is offered in information networks, be it the Internet or a corporate intranet for knowledge management purposes. Yet there is also a fair chance that someone issuing a search request (e.g., on the Web) will get drowned in a flood of useless information and thus may miss the only useful tidbit that comes along with it. Likewise, producers of information may not be able to identify suitable customers. Various approaches have been suggested to cope with these problems, for instance, databases containing meta-information or data-warehouse systems. The most promising approach is the use of electronic marketplaces, where consumers and producers of information virtually meet for interaction. A special blend of information traders strives to satisfy the needs of both. In this article we propose an architecture that implements a new consumer-producer interaction and discuss the major components in detail: (a) brokers, who play the role of intermediaries between producers and consumers, and (b) filters, which try to reduce the load of information on either of the participants.

Integrating heterogeneous systems using meta information networks

This paper discusses issues related to the integration of distributed heterogeneous environmental information systems. Starting with a brief discussion of the integration problems, a general concept for integrating heterogeneous systems within a meta-information-based network is described. Meta data requirements for this type of integration are developed and a number of application examples are shown, growing in scope towards generic architectures. Future directions of meta information systems are also discussed. In summary, the paper gives an overview of eight years' work of the author, together with colleagues from various institutions, from early integration concepts to matured system integration tools.

Information systems research at RWTH Aachen

With about 8.000 researchers and 40.000 students, RWTH Aachen is the largest technical university in Europe. The science and engineering departments and their industrial collaborators offer a lot of challenges for database research.The chair Informatik V (Information Systems) focuses on the theoretical analysis, prototypical development, and practical evaluation of meta information systems. Meta information systems, also called repositories, document and coordinate the distributed processes of producing, integrating, operating, and evolving database-intensive applications.Our research approaches these problems from a technological and from an application perspective.On the one hand, we pursue theory and system aspects of the integration of deductive and object-oriented technologies. One outcome of this work is a deductive object manager called ConceptBase which has been developed over the past eight years and is currently used by many research groups and industrial teams throughout the world.On the other hand, a wide range of application-driven projects aims at building a sound basis of empirical knowledge about the demands on meta information systems, and about the quality of proposed solutions. They address application domains as diverse as requirements engineering, telecommunications, cooperative engineering, organization-wide quality management, evolution of chemical production processes, and medical knowledge management. They share the vision of supporting wide-area distributed cooperation not just by low-level interoperation technology but by exploiting conceptual product and process modeling.Under the direction of M. Jarke, Informatik V comprises three research groups with a total of twenty senior researchers and doctoral students: distributed information systems (leader: Dr. Manfred Jeusfeld), process information systems (Dr. Klaus Pohl), and knowledge-based systems (Prof. Wolfgang Nejdl). Database-related activities also exist in the Software Engineering and Applied Mathematics groups.

Meta-information systems: how can they support corporate information management?

Meta-information systems provide an inventory of available information resources in a organisation. They are an essential tool for corporate information management to allow planning and controlling of the information infrastructure within the organis

Information systems with partially unknown purposes

In “traditional” information systems design theory it is usually assumed that the information system to be designed has, at least in principle, a well-defined purpose, that is, a purpose from which it is possible to derive, among other things, the information needs to be satisfied by the information system. However, there is a category of information systems of growing practical significance, where the purposes are partially unknown. Some examples of types of information systems which typically belong to this category are decision support systems, executive information systems, statistical information systems, scientific information systems, and metainformation systems. When an information system belonging to this category is going to be designed, it is usually impossible to specify its usage with great precision. The business decisions, research problems, or whatever kind of activity it is that the information system is going to support may not yet even have been thought of; they may lie a long time ahead, and by then many things may have changed within the area of interest and its environment, as well as in the focus of interest of the information system users. This paper discusses some of the methodological challenges posed by information systems with partially unknown purposes.

Announcement of the proceedings of the Statistical Metainformation Systems Workshop

Announcement of the proceedings of the Statistical Metainformation Systems Workshop

Introduction – international workshop on statistical metainformation systems

Following an initiative originating in the DOSES (Development Of Statistical Expert Systems)-Program of Eurostat, an international workshop was held in Luxembourg from 2-4 February 1993, dedicated exclusively to Statistical Metainformation Systems. It was organised by World Systems(Europe)Ltd. and sponsored by Eurostat. The Scientific Program Committee's goal was to convene experts with different views on metainformation in a variety of statistical fields both in theory and practice. The workshop can be reviewed in statistical terms as follows:

A proposal for a survey-oriented metainformation system

A number of basic concepts and ideas concerning metadata in statistical information systems are presented and discussed. Some experiences from earlier developments in the field of statistical metainformation systems are accounted for. An outline of an architecture for future developments of statistical metainformation systems is given. The architecture is based on the principle that the structure of an information system should reflect the structure of the object system that the information system processes information about. Thus a statistical metainformation system should have a structure reflecting the structure of a statistical survey. Two main sources of survey metadata are identified: survey design decisions and the survey process itself. Survey metadata should be captured as close to the sources and as automatically as possible. In practice this means that survey metadata should be captured and organized as an automatical side-effect of other tasks during the planning, operation, and evaluation of the survey.

Meta-information systems – An efficient tool for integration and co-ordination of statistical surveys

When, where and how can statistical meta-information systems be used as instruments for integration and co-ordination of statistical data, statistical surveys and statistical information systems as a whole? Meta-information-based instruments make it possibfe to identify incoherences in statistical data and surveys and support the activities of those co-ordinating units in statistical agencies which are responsible for the integration of data. Their activities will first of all focus on methodological integration of statistical information systems as well as of such integration of non-statistical systems of socio-economic information, if and where they interrelate with statistical systems.