A prototipal system for monitoring data availability and information demand

The complexity of the issues connected with the protection and management of the environment involves a need for increasing amounts of knowledge and data in support of planning processes. A research project launched by the University IUAV of Venice, Italy – Department of Planning aims to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between data supply available from new technology sources and public administration archives and the demand for information from urban policy-makers and managers. The research project also sets out to provide an overview of the various institutions that work in the field of environmental and urban information management with a view to proposing the creation of a new institutional arrangement whereby a National Agency and series of Regional Agencies would be responsible for setting up an integrated system for the collection, processing and dissemination of environmental and territorial information. To this end, a prototype of such a system has been created and tested in an area study.