Summary
This scientific paper analyses the prototype of the web application WebGIS “Ge-oDepozyt” that is applied within online networking as a geo-location/geo-tracking interactive map. The purpose of the functioning of this application is an e-service for entrepreneurs, which facilitates the transportation of the hazardous substances. The “GeoDepozyt” application has been created in response to the high demand expressed by entrepreneurs and local governments’ administration and their concern with effi-cient management of the evidence processes and monitoring of hazardous substances. The application has been designed as a part of the development project “An integrated system for asbestos stored in the underground deposits management in order to make it innocuous and contribute to a sustainable development of Eastern Poland”; the project financing was granted by NCBiR (National Center for Research and Develop-ment).
Keywords: e-service, WebGIS system, hazardous substances
1. Introduction
The development of computer and communications technologies contributed to the creation of new methods of goods and services distribution on the market and changed the manner that the market subjects communicate. In particular the web servicesWWW had a great impact on how en-trepreneurs understand and how they function within the market, however the ordinary citizens also show significant change in their approach to the market. The users of the WWW websites notice a possibility of their integration into the market via the networking system as clients, consumers and producers. The market created in the virtual WWW space enables goods exchange, provides e-ser-vices that may be linked to the exchange of commodities and electronic goods i.e. e-goods. In this paper the authors were aiming at the presentation of the possibilities linked to the use of e-services to satisfy the expectations and needs of entrepreneurs and local authorities. The WebGIS „Geo-Depozyt” web application provides them with the interactive geo-location map and e-service sup-port. The main objective linked to the creation of this application was to provide support and mod-ernization to the traditional functioning of entrepreneurs and local authorities within the area of our interest.
The primary goal of the creation of this application was the integration of the development project which aims at speed-up of the removal of the hazardous substances containing asbestos 1 Paper and research completed according the grant NCBiR NR11-0073-10/2010.
“GeoDepozyt” e-service within an interactive geo-location of the hazardous materials deposit
across the Poland and fulfilment of the legal commitment of Poland to the European Union that obliges Poland to get rid of substances contain asbestos until year 2032.
2. Service, e-service and e-service distribution channels
In world economy we can observe changes and alternations that result in significant increase of people who can and know how to produce commodities and they do it faster, better and with the lower cost. The factor that causes the increase of the number of goods is the technological develop-ment, in particular the Information and Communication Technologies (ITC) development.
The constant growth of this sector led to the separation of the technological thought (know how) from technological processes (production, coproduction, storage and distribution). The production processes and production of goods is characterized by the shift from the European production to the Far East. Not only did this resulted in the decrease of the costs of the goods production but also contributed to the increase of the importance of the service sector in the economy of the European countries. The percentage contribution of the service sector to GDP of the European Union members increases every year and is an important economic growth factor. We can deduce it from the GDP reports that compare service sector contribution to agriculture and industry [7].
In Poland, as it can be stated on the basis of Strategy Toward the Innovation and Effectiveness of Economy “during the period of 2010 to 2020 Poland will experience the reduction of the demand for workers from production and primary sector (one of the highest rates in EU, i.e. approx. 36%) while there will be an increase of the demand for contraction and services (transport, business ser-vices and non-market serser-vices)” [5]. Both economic trends that use ICT technologies and the changes of the customers approach toward the digital technologies result in increase of the demand for e-services.
From the perspective of producer-provider, a service is understood as non-material good deliv-ered to an individual on request. While from the point of view of the customer, a service is consid-ered a desired value received from the provider. Nevertheless service delivery is performed under agreed conditions, within a defined period of time (the initiation time, duration time and service completion time) and it takes place within an established market where the exchange of defined values takes place between the parties, which clearly define their interests.
The e-services are those that require use of electronic communication technologies, i.e. distri-bution channels, for instance Internet distridistri-bution, mobile communication, digital and satellite TV and possible variations and fusion of these channels. The e-service have to fulfil the following con-ditions: a) have a commercial nature (price), b) the service is delivered by electronic means without the presence of the parties, c) service is delivered on individual demands of customer [2].
Due to the diagnosed insufficient presence of the e-services in Poland, there is a possibility of applying for funding from EU for projects satisfying the 8.1 regulations i.e. “Support for economic activity within the electronic economy” as a part of the Operational Project for Innovative Economy. E- service has been defined within this project in the Ministry of Regional Development Regu-lation, “e-service is understood as the service provided in an automatic manner with the use of Information technologies, calling centers in public telecommunication networking, on individual demand of the customer, without a simultaneous presence of the parties in the location, (…)” [7].
The significant elements of the e-service are: service, location of the service (machine), public telecommunication network and ICT (intermediary), customer (human) and automation of the ser-vices on individual demand of the customer (Fig.1.)
Fig. 1. Significant elements and processes during the delivery of e-service Source: Own study authors.
On the basis of this definition, authors of this paper created a prototype of the web application WebGIS ”GeoDepozyt” which functions within a web network as an interactive geo-location map. The prototype of the application has been created to satisfy the expectation of the research-develop-ment project ”An integrated management system for the neutralization of asbestos on the under-ground disposal sites in order to promote a balanced development of the Eastern Poland”; NCBiR funds the project. The idea linked to the functioning of the application is an e-service of the global and public access designed for the following groups of interests, which work in the removal of the hazardous substances such as asbestos (Fig.2.):
1. Geo-interviewer. Skilled group of people that delivers the digital, factographic data for the application. These data once verified and introduced constitute the base for the functioning of this e-service.
2. Local authorities. Group of employees specialized in hazardous substances that also can in-troduce data to the application mainly for the use of entrepreneurs.
3. Entrepreneurs that specialize in removal of the asbestos waste products. This group utilizes the e-service and processed data.
4. Entrepreneurs who have permits and can remove asbestos and transport hazardous sub-stances. This is a numerous group of professionals who perform demolition works, collection, locking and neutralization of asbestos waste. This group also benefits the application. 5. Other users, for instance, citizens who are interested in digital maps which indicate the
as-bestos deposit sites
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interested in removal of asbestos from the spatial, information and technology perspective.
Fig. 2. The crucial elements and processes while delivering the e-service Source: Own study authors.
The groups of interest: geo-interviewers and local authorities within an information system ful-fil the role of data-provider essential for the functioning of the e-service. The following three groups are recipients of the e-service. Mentioned groups of interest process the digital goods i.e. data and documents.
The physical flow of the asbestos takes place in accordance with the legal regulations. However due to the legal restrictions concerning introduction, production and processing of asbestos the term ”customer” of the e-service is not used. The asbestos waste products cannot be sold yet should be transferred according to strictly defined rules and parties involved in the process need to have up-dated concessions ”waste transfer cards”. Due to the fact that financial exchange of the hazardous substances is forbidden, there is an economic obstacle to the e-service i.e. funding of all activities and profitability of the intermediary parties in the process of neutralization of hazardous waste. This is why the funding for the projects involving the removal of asbestos substances has to be provided from the public funds. The only exception is when the enterprise dealing with products containing asbestos has to ensure the removal of hazardous substances itself.
The public Internet network is an access channel that conducts to e-service ”GeoDepozyt”, while the final recipients may include computers or mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, and netbooks.
The main objectives of the application ”GeoDepozyt” include:
1. Improvement of the neutralization and transportation processes of hazardous substances to dangerous substances disposal sites. The main recipients of e-service are entrepreneurs who count with permits for transportation and neutralization of asbestos
2. Evidence filing and supervision of the removal of asbestos from the environment. The main recipients of the e-service are local authorities and administration bodies that need to file and monitor the process fulfilling the legal requirements in order to lead to the removal of asbes-tos from Poland by 2032.
The principle of the functioning of ”GeoDepozyt” application and e-service is integration of few layers into one information application. These layers include: digital maps layer that enables access to the internal mechanisms of the map (API Google), the layer of vectored data including buildings, streets, rivers and the layer of data concerning asbestos gathered within the ”GeoDepozyt” system. The successful implementation of this application in the market not only will provide effi-cient support and management of information and databases. In order to achieve this goal the team of specialist developed the logistic sub-system and computer-information sub-system for an inte-grated management system with designed methodology for information search based on graphic geo-location of the hazardous substances deposit [4].
3. Factographic geo-location the hazardous substances deposits
The aim of the planned factographic geo-location is an efficient development of the method that will allow acquisition of factographic data and processing of information according to the require-ments of the ”GeoDepozyt” system and the functioning of the e-service. While designing the facto-graphic geo-location the following issues were considered:
• Modern methods and techniques of stocktaking of the asbestos deposits
• Possibility of obtaining all the equipment for the interviewers in order to register the facto-graphic data of asbestos deposits.
• Alternatives for the acquisition of data.
• Legal aspects lined to creation of asbestos points.
The acquisition of data and location of asbestos in the natural environment (i.e. asbestos points) will take place with the use of factographic geo-location method. Geo-location provides a tangible location of the asbestos in the environment and processes this information into digital data and con-sequently it is placed on the spatial interactive map of environment. While the factographic location relies on identification of areas with the presence of asbestos in time and space (date and time and data reflecting the geographic length and width), it also involves a detailed filing (through photo-evidence of building, definition of the area, type and amount of the asbestos wastes). The later allows creation of spatial data. Factographic geo-location constitutes a basis for filing and monitoring and is performed in order to gather geo-location data for asbestos sites and identify their characteristics and any alternations that took place during a determined period of time.
The individuals responsible for the acquisition of data i.e. trained and skilled interviewers, who count with:
1. Photographic camera equipped with GPS with an integrated function of recording of geo-graphic coordinates for every photo taken.
“GeoDepozyt” e-service within an interactive geo-location of the hazardous materials deposit
2. Logger. It is a recording device, which registers the distance covered and records geo-graphic coordinated with the use of GPS system.
3. GPS satellite navigation that facilitates the fieldwork and establishment of the asbestos points.
4. Mobile phone. Due to the safety regulations each geo-interviewer should count with a pos-sibility to contact with team workers in case of any obstacles.
Factographic geo-location is a technique that enables acquisition of the data bout the hazardous substances. The application has been evaluated from the legal perspective. The acquisition of the factographic data about the asbestos points and their presentation with the use of digital Google maps in order to support the development project. The use of the Google maps in application is conditioned by two aspects which were satisfy by the application:
1. The use of Google maps is allowed when the website is public (i.e. there are no access limitations or restrictions) and non-commercial (i.e. it is free for the users to enter into the website).
2. „GeoDepozyt” system has to be registered i.e. application has to count with unique ”access key” to enter map service.
The gathered factographic data which constitute the basis for the functioning of the e-service are acquired and used according to the regulation expressed by INSPIRE (INfrastructure for SPatialIn-foRmation in Europe). According to the INSPIRE principles, e-services should obey the regulations indicated [1]
1. Search services; enable to search the sets and services according to the spatial data on the basis of the content and corresponding metadata that consequently is displayed.
2. Browsing services, enable at least: the display, navigation, maximization and minimization or even overlap of set of spatial data and the display of any information contained in legend Summing up, the principles of factographic geo-location include:
• Geographical coordinates (spatial, rectangular coordinates) – geographic length and width of the area characterized with the presence of asbestos established by GPS.
• Pictures of the area where there are substances containing asbestos with GPS coordinates. • Functions and procedures contained in application “GeoInterviewer”. All of the source data are
introduced and verified by application and run by the interviewers.
• Functions and procedures contained in application “GeoDepozyt” enables the e-service pro-cessing and sharing All of the source
• Visualization relies on the use of Google Maps. • All of the actions have been legally approved.
4. Functioning of the e-service in an interactive geo-location of hazardous substances disposal site
Due to the fact the “GeoDepozyt” application is set on the public website, everyone can use the e-service and users can even join the service. However, the functioning of the e-service is linked to certain limitations that affect users. The latter is a result of the fact that the system stores data that allows the identification of an individual (the system also stores personal data) and factographic data of the areas, including photos of building, ex. residential buildings, farms and industrial buildings. The personal data that is stored on the website is legally protected, while the factographic data of
the areas are quite sensitive since some of the photos may indicate the security measures and may serve as a source of information for potential crime. In order to decrease this risk, the photos are taken according to the determined procedure. Interviewers only take pictures of the buildings con-taining asbestos, avoiding the entrance sites and upper parts i.e. the roof. The access to personal data and some of the area data is authorized and available for use by authorized individuals. On the other hand, the statistical data is published via ”GeoDepozyt” on the e-service.
Figure 3 presents an example of the data form stored by the “GeoDepozyt” system; the infor-mation has been obtained via the “GeoInterviewer” system. In this case, access to the inforinfor-mation is authorized and can be done with the use of an Internet browser.
Fig. 3. ”GeoDepozyt” information form with data obtained from the “GeoInterviewer” system containing geographic coordinated of areas with the presence of asbestos
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Figure 4 presents an example of how the results of the interactive geo-location of asbestos de-posits are displayed. It constitutes an e-service via the “GeoDepozyt” system. Two factors are high-lighted: the location of the area with photos and the geographic coordinates.
The idea of the “GeoDepozyt” application functioning is the e-service that aims at the improve-ment of the transportation of the hazardous substances by entrepreneurs. Figure 5 illustrates the indicators of the asbestos disposal site and shows a possible route leading toward the disposal of waste materials and hazardous substances.
Fig. 4. The location indicator and indicator of asbestos site and its geographic coordinates (facto-graphic data of the asbestos deposits) presented in the photo
Fig. 5. WWW website created as a part of the “GeoDepozyt” and indicators of the asbestos points and a proposed route toward the disposal site illustrated on the Google map
Source: [6]. 5. Summary
The hazardous waste products, in particular asbestos waste, constitute a burning problem for the environment and economy of Poland since it is present in large quantities and is unequally dis-tributed all over the country. Any action linked to its removal generates expenditures that have to be covered by multiple funding. The costs of the demolition of asbestos products, packing process and transportation have to be covered by specialized companies that have the appropriate permits to deal with hazardous substances. The owner of the asbestos waste is legally obligated to notify the public about all actions taken concerning the asbestos. The control of the procedure while dealing with asbestos is linked to the commitment expressed by Poland to remove asbestos until 2032. It also obligates the central administration to fulfil the commitment and ensure funding for the removal of this substance. Moreover, legal regulations require local authorities to design local programs for the removal of asbestos as well as the filing and storage of data in order to supervise the hazardous substances. The “GeoDepozyt” application is a response to the expectations of entrepreneurs and authorities and aims at the more efficient management of evident and the monitoring of hazardous substances.
“GeoDepozyt” e-service within an interactive geo-location of the hazardous materials deposit
The e-service, once provided, delivers direct benefits for filing and monitoring the process that aims for a solution to the following problems: asbestos stocktaking and transportation monitoring. Due to the fact that asbestos deposits are highly dispersed, the use of a GIS (Geographic Information System) is highly efficient. Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, enable the introduction, stor-age, processing and visualization of geographic data. Moreover, the use of the data input by the interactive geo-location provides more benefits for users. The e-service brings far more profits than a traditional application. The digital distribution channel enables one to reach the application with the use of any electronic device connected to the Internet. Entrepreneurs and administration employ-ees can assess the data stored in “GeoDepozyt” system anywhere and at anytime as well as update the data while the users, for instance entrepreneurs, can access the updated information. Therefore, both parties win with the use of the application. Since authorities have an updated filing system for the efficient removal of asbestos, entrepreneurs can easily identify the location of the disposal sites. The “GeoDepozyt” application enables an exchange of values via the e-service that results in direct benefits for the natural environment and the citizens of Poland.
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E-USŁUGA „GEODEPOZYT” W INTERAKTYWNEJ GEOLOKACJI DEPOZYTÓW MATERIAŁÓW NIEBEZPIECZNYCH2
Streszczenie
Praca naukowa dotyczy opisu prototypu wykonanej aplikacji informatycznej typu WebGIS „GeoDepozyt” funkcjonujcej w serwisie internetowym w postaci inter-ak-cyjnej mapy geolokalizainter-ak-cyjnej. Ide funkcjonowania aplikacji jest e-usługa uprawnia-jca procesy transportowe materiałów niebezpiecznych zrealizowana dla przedsi-biorców. Aplikacja „GeoDepozyt” jest odpowiedz na zapotrzebowanie przedsibior-ców i administracji samorzdowej na sprawne zarzdzanie procesami ewidencji i mo-nitoringu materiałów niebezpiecznych. Aplikacja została wykonana w ramach pro-jektu rozwojowego „Zintegrowany system zarzdzania unieszkodliwianiem azbestu na składowiskach podziemnych w aspekcie zrównowaonego rozwoju Polski wschodniej” finansowanego przez NCBiR.
Słowa kluczowe: e-usługa, system WebGIS, materiały niebezpieczne
Bogdan Wit
Zakład Systemów Informatycznych Katedry Zarzdnia
Politechnika Lubelska
ul. Nadbystrzycka 38D, Lublin e-mail: b.wit@pollub.pl Marek Malendowski
MPWiK Spółka z o.o. w Lublinie Al. J.Piłsudskiego 15, 20-407 Lublin e-mail: marek.malendowski@mpwik
2 Artykuł napisany w ramach realizacji projektu rozwojowego finansowego przez Narodowe Centrum Bada i Rozwoju (NCBiR) NR11-0073-10/2010.
