An architectural design for a forest information and communications portal (FICP)

The need for information and communication systems relating to European forests, and associated projects, is reviewed. Consideration of potential user groups, and potential data and information providers indicates that (i) a range of communication protocols are required, (ii) a forest standards conversion-harmonization facility is essential. These and other architectural design considerations for forest information and communication portal are then put together, in Figure 1, to produce a high-level prototype architectural design of a fully functional system. The main requirement of the core of a FICP is that it should provide directory services (i.e. a metadata framework, and a multi-lingual translation) and search services (both local and global). It should also provide access to a data-compatibility conversion service. Other useful facilities and tools, such as the grid, visualization, GIS-mapping, summarization & tabulation, and statistical and ecosystem modelling tools should not be part of the core system.