Experience Gained from the Use of Environmental Information Systems for the Public in the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg

For the protection of the natural environment and a sustainable development, joint responsibility and participation of the citizens are indispensable. In this connection, enlightenment and information of the public and the promotion of environmental awareness play a crucial role. This contribution shall present various environmental information systems for the public and report about the experience gained from their development and operation. The systems have been developed as parts of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Environmental Information System by Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe in cooperation with the State Institute for the Environment, Measurements, and Nature Protection. In particular, the Baden-Wuerttemberg Environmental Information Network with a portal to the State’s distributed environmental data, the XfaWeb information system family providing technical documents issued by the environmental administration, and the PaUla portal for technical information on mobile devices shall be described. In addition, the Theme Park Environment supplying environmental information that has been processed for the public as well as environmental experience-oriented information and the MobiNaf mobile guide to nature, an electronic companion for excursions in nature shall be presented. Evaluation of these systems by analyzing access statistics, user interviews, field studies, etc. has shown that the public is considerably interested in environmental information. This interest refers to both technical data of the administration as well as information processed for the public and completed for own experience in nature.