Conceptualisation of the design of an environmental GIS system in Malta

Abstract

When Malta joined the European Union (EU) in 2004, it was obligatory to adhere to the Union’s rigid environmental regulations. As a consequence, to date, most environmental data requires reporting in spatial formats, thus conventionally distinctive focus was given to the Geographic Information (GI) environmental aspect (EEA, 2014). In 2002 the need for integration stemming from EU obligations resulted in the amalgamation of the then Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and Planning Authority (PA) to form the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). Prior to this merger, the PA had its own Geographic Information System (GIS) whilst the EPD did not. Throughout the years to come the EPD as part of MEPA (now called the Environment Protection Directorate, bearing the same acronym [EPD]) sought a GIS system and constantly requested data thus consuming a considerable amount of time from the GIS professionals of the Authority.