Franz-Josef Behr | Publications

Nearly in all scientific disciplines the structuring, collections, compilation, and encoding of digital data plays an increasing role. Huge amounts of data are collected by various governmental and non-governmental organisations. Interoperable communication and exchange of data and services enable the usage of the data. Overall, an increasing complexity of information and communication technology can be observed. People have to deal with thiee challenges parallely to their own, specific field of work, i.e. surveying, botany, geology etc.
In this context it can be helpful to recognize general patterns occuring throughout different approaches for data modeling, processing, and encoding. Such patterns compreise i.e. identity of features, single features and collections, structuring vocabularies by namespaces, separating information chunks, adding semantics, openess, networking, service orientation and interoperability.
The knowledge of these patterns can help to understand information handling as it is used in applied computer science. In addition it contributes to the IT related developments in everybody’s own field of expertise.

The four-tier-architecture for web-based client-server solutions is introduced. On this concept, relevant software tools and languages for presentation tier, communication tier, application tier (business logic tier), and data tier are presented. Indicators of market shares and developments are given.

The Charter of the United Nations summarizes the aims of this international community to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all.
To achieve these goals a complex system of organizational units was created. This presentation introduces this ecosystem with focus on bodies providing or using geodata. A closer look to some units, i.e., UNEP, OCHA, UNOSAT, will be given, including their websites and the tools used.
The collaboration between involved actors is needed. Some approaches to overcome obstacles hampering interoperability will be explained, like CODs, FODs, P-Codes, and Linked Data with respect to general applicability in the geospatial field.