Discovery, access and re-use of environmental information will be easier with the National Environmental Information Infrastructure. It proposes a network of standards-based IT components, supported by a network of collaborators working together to improve discovery, access and re-use of environmental data.
We are developing this infrastructure in collaboration with a number of technical and strategic partners. Its ongoing impact will be realised through collaboration with the broader environmental information community.
Benefits of the infrastructure will include:
- an ability to discover, access and re-use national environmental data-through harmonised online services and web interfaces;
- a standards-based federated environmental information architecture to support multiple applications;
- collaboration and governance to coordinate use of relevant standards; and
- increased availability and accessibility of environmental data, to empower decision-makers.
The operational deployment of each part of the infrastructure’s architecture is evolving as we identify relevant environmental information providers, their priorities and capacity for engagement.
Reference Architecture
The National Environmental Information Infrastructure: Reference Architecture includes a detailed description of core components that we and our partners will host to create a federated environmental information system. It provides a high level technical description of a system for enhancing discovery, access and re-use of national environmental information. It does not, however, describe specific deployments or provider configurations-these will be dictated by specific use cases.
The Reference Architecture was released following consultation with key stakeholders. The consultation process was designed to ensure:
- the quality and robustness of the architecture;
- that architectural principles are effectively communicated and feasible; and
- early engagement with key stakeholders.
The Reference Architecture will be updated periodically as standards and components evolve.
