Environmental information systems based on physical flows

Abstract

This paper deals with the basic aspects of environmental infonnation systems and advocates their integration in the infonnation systems that already exist in companies, especially those focused on production control. A strong emphasis is on the central role of physical infonnation, i.e. material and energy flows. A multiple-input multiple-output physical-flow model is proposed to be the standard module for describing the whole range of primary industrial processes and the basic reference to infonnation related to production. It is concluded that the logic consequence of integrating environmental infonnation in the existing infonnation system results in a production oriented infonnation infrastructure concept, in which environmental infonnation is an integral part rather than an extension. This serves clearness and flexibility of the infonnation system and will be profitable to the core activities of the company as well.