Environmental Virtual Observatories (EVOs): Prospects for knowledge co-creation and resilience in the Information Age

EVOs are a suite of technologies developed for communicating observations and simulation of environmental processes

Abstract

Developments in technologies are shaping information access globally. This presents opportunities and challenges for understanding the role of new technologies in sustainability research.

This article focuses on a suite of technologies termed Environmental Virtual Observatories (EVOs) developed for communicating observations and simulation of environmental processes. A strength of EVOs is that they are open and decentralised, thus democratising flow and ownership of information between multiple actors. However, EVOs are discussed rarely beyond their technical aspects. By evaluating the evolution of EVOs, we illustrate why it is timely to engage with policy and societal aspects as well. While first generation EVOs are primed for scientists, second generation EVOs can have broader implications for knowledge co-creation and resilience through their participatory design.

This research was supported by the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme

Citation

Karpouzoglou, T., Zulkafli, Z., Grainger, S., Dewulf, A., Buytaert, W., Hannah, D.M., Environmental Virtual Observatories (EVOs): Prospects for knowledge co-creation and resilience in the Information Age, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, pp.40-48, 2015

Environmental Virtual Observatories (EVOs): Prospects for knowledge co-creation and resilience in the Information Age

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2015