ELBIS an Internet information system on the water quality of the river Elbe

The Elbe information system ELBIS provides an elaborate view of the water quality of the Elbe river system. Since July 2001 it can be used by the general public via internet. www.elbis.de supplies information on the water quality and related topics for the river Elbe. The geographical information system (GIS) ELBIS is based upon extensive data from measuring campaigns. The ARGE Elbe (Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Reinhaltung der Elbe/Elbe River Water Quality Board) supplies the measured values of 218 different variables. The ELBIS generally includes data from 1994 onwards, for the measuring point Schnackenburg, however, the values are available back to 1985. Annual data updates of the database would be necessary to ensure the system's topicality. The continuous time series enables the assessment of the water pollution load of the river Elbe. In order to make the information available to a broad circle of users, ELBIS was created as an internet information system. To simplify its usage a broad meta-information and navigation concept was developed. The user interface enables data to be accessed by laymen as well as specialists. An important element of the user interface is the geographical component: Via a digital map the user can specify which area he or she is interested in. The data basis of the ELBIS is held in a database management system. Thus new data can be added easily.