Support for Telematics Applications Cooperation with the Common-wealth of Independent States STACCIS is a support action TAP project SU1116, supported by DGXIII C of the European Communities STACCIS Project Web site: http://www.ednes.org/staccis/ The project aims to strengthen cooperation in telematics applications in the areas of education, science, technology, and environmental decision-making between the European countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and their counterparts in the European Union. UNESCO Coordinator: Rene Cluzel STACCIS Project Communication, Information and Informatics Sector UNESCO 1, rue Miollis 75015 PARIS, Cedex 15, FRANCE Tel: 33-1-45 68 38 85 Fax: 33-1-45 68 55 86 Email: r.cluzel@unesco.org STACCIS Project Manager Tatyana Shulyakovskaya c/o Centre of Geophysical Data Studies and Telematics Applications (CGDS) 3, Molodezhnaya, Moscow, 117296 RUSSIA Tel: 7-095-1334339 Fax: 7-095-9305559 Email: shu@wdcb.ru The STACCIS Newsletter is printed in both English and Russian and is delivered electronically at the project's Web site. Reproduction of the text is authorised, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged, but STACCIS is not responsible for the use made of the information.

Chernobyl'99 A snapshot from EU-UNESCO Demonstration Workshop "Telematics Applications for Research and Environmental Protection" in Kiev, Ukraine. At the territory of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station (sarcophagus over destroyed reactor is visible) left to right: A. Troussov, J. Bonnin, O. Sidletsky, A. Novikov, A. Gvishiani Inside this Issue Editorial * EU-UNESCO Demonstration Workshop "Telematics Applications for Research and Environmental Protection" * STACCIS Technology-Watch Web-Site: update * The results of STACCIS implementation in Moldova * STACCIS CD-ROM project: state of the art * EETP - European Educational Teleports project * STACCIS Wokrshop in Georgia * IST Programme * STACCIS in Baku today * "Portal to the Future" New Telematics Technologies of blaxxun interactive * STACCIS Partners in Moldova * Centre of Geophysical Data Studies and Telematics Applications (CGDS) - * New STACCIS Project Coordinator *

A demonstration of selected products developed within the framework of the Education & Training sector of the Telematics Applications Program took place in Moscow on October 2-6, 1997. The demonstration was followed by STACCIS East-West Consensus Workshop on Telematics for Education and Training (October 6-8, 1997). These event are described in STACCIS Newsletter Volume 1, ¹2

STACCIS Baku Informational Demonstrational Center (IDC) was among the first deployed centres. A detailed account on its first steps, including assistance missions from Moscow STACCIS IDC, can be found in the issue Volume 1, ¹2, December 1996—July 1997. The paper "STACCIS Baku Informational Demonstrational Center today", placed in this issue, is a mosaic which shows the everyday life of a full fledged center.

The Demonstration Workshop “Telematics Applications for Research and Environmental Protection” was organized in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February, 18-20, 1999. The Workshop was funded by the European Commission DGXIIIC and UNESCO. The principal organizers of the Workshop were EDNES (Earth Data Network for Education and Scientific Exchange) and National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” – NTUU “KPI”.

Additional assistance was provided by the Institute of Applied System Analysis (IASA), International Research and Training Centre (IRTC) at Glushkov Ukrainian Institute of Cybernetics. Other organisations involved in the Workshop were: Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education of Ukraine, Ministry of Ukraine on Affairs of Protection of the Population from the Consequences of the Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, State Committee of Ukraine for Science, Technique and Industrial Policy, Ukrainian Institute of Scientific, Technical and Economic Information “UkrINTEI”, National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, Ukrainian office for International Projects, Innovation Fund of Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

The first implementation plan outlining the Workshop was proposed and discussed at the work meeting of the National STACCIS coordinators on October 6-8, 1997, in Moscow. Upon approval of the European Commission and consultations with UNESCO, STACCIS Ukrainian focal point, Steering and Local Organization Committees decided to postpone the Workshop to 18-20 February 1999.

The National Technical University of Ukraine “KPI”, that hosts STACCIS Kyiv Information Demonstration Center (IDC), was selected as the place for the Workshop. The contract between EDNES (Earth Data Network for Education and Scientific Exchange) and the NTUU “KPI” (National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”), foreseen following stages of preparation:

1. To publish special issue of STACCIS Newsletter timed to the workshop.
1. To perform the second demonstration Workshop “Telematics Applications for Research and Environmental Protection”, 18-20 February, 1999, in Kyiv, Ukraine, not later than February 18, 1999. To organize and provide the financial support of the travel of national focal points, coordinators, and four EU demonstrators to the Demonstration Workshop in Kyiv.
1. To prepare a video-film about the Demonstration Workshop in Kyiv.

The call for application to Kyiv Workshop together with Registration form, information about Steering and Local Organizing Committees, Venue and Schedule, List of Participants, Tentative Program have been installed on the STACCIS project major Web-site and were visible in the Internet.

The Demonstration Workshop was aimed to present the key results of the EC DGXIIIC Telematics Applications Program and other EU supported telematics applications to potential telematics users, developers and vendors in the European CIS countries, involved in different kinds of environmental activities. Actually, the Demonstration Workshop was one of the key actions in the framework of the STACCIS project, and main objectives of the Workshop coincide with the objectives of STACCIS, namely:

• formation of a circle of educated telematics network users from the scientific, educational, environmental and business communities;
• assistance to the seven European CIS countries in establishment of National telematics applications information services and user training programs along with the line of research and environmental activities;
• formulation of a strategy for East-West cooperation in the development, exchange and use of telematics applications with account of market conditions and opportunities in the European CIS countries;
• provision of reliable data to a wide circle of interested parties in both European CIS and EU countries on the opportunities and developments in the CIS countries concerning telematics applications.

The Demonstration Workshop was opened on February 18, 1999, at the Academic Council Hall of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”.

The opening session started with the welcome speech of M. Zgurovsky, the Chairman of Steering Committee, Rector of the National Technical University of Ukraine “KPI”, N. Proscura, Deputy Director of the Administration of Exclusion Zone and Zone of Natural (Obligatory) Deportation of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, the Chairman of Local Organizing Committee in Chernobyl, A. Novikov, the Chairman of Local Organizing Committee, Dean of the Faculty of Physics and Technology. All the speakers have stressed the important role of the Workshop in general, and particularly, for development and promotion of telematics among the researchers, computer engineers, professors, teachers, students, administrators of Ukraine. The special attention was paid to the fact that the Workshop takes place in the National Technical University of Ukraine, the University with the centenary history and traditions in the application and development of the advanced technologies. The speakers also pointed out the significance of such organizations as EC and UNESCO for the spreading of the most prominent achievements of mankind all over the world.

The first plenary session of the Workshop was focused on the telematics applications for research. Then, during that day, two demo sessions took place in the demonstration laboratory of the STACCIS IDC, one (2:00pm-3:45pm) was focused on the telematics applications for research and the other (4:00pm-5:30pm) – on the telematics applications for environmental protection. Simultaneously, a poster session (2:00 pm-4:00pm) followed by discussion (5:30pm - 6:00pm) took place.

Next day (February, 19) the plenary sessions was held in the Administrative Council room of NTUU “KPI”. The session was equipped with good facilities for oral presentation with simultaneous demonstrations of different kinds, like video and computer with on-line Internet connection. The first session was aimed at the discussion of general prospects of telematics applications for research, environmental protection, geosciences and education. The second session was focused on the results of STACCIS in Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine, while the third session was devoted to the results of STACCIS in Caucasus. The following computer demo session also was devoted to the achievements of telematics in European CIS countries.

On the third day, February, 20, the specialized session of the Demonstration Workshop was organized in the Infocenter-Chernobyl. The participants of the Workshop visited Pripyat’ and Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, then arrived to Infocenter-Chernobyl. The session in the Infocenter was focused on the application of telematics in solution of global environmental problems, especially those related with Chernobyl nuclear accident. The session was followed by the discussion on the prospects of usage of EU supported telematics applications for environmental problems in Chernobyl.

The Workshop audience was formed as a combination of key specialists in telematics applications development and users group representatives from seven European CIS countries, participating in the STACCIS project (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation, and Ukraine), and local audience that received information about the forthcoming Demonstration Workshop through information dissemination activities of STACCIS in advance. The total number of persons who attended the Workshop exceeded 200 people. The audience included:

• telematics users, developers, and vendors of computer hardware and software;
• telecommunication service providers and database holders;
• environmental scientists and geoscience specialists;
• scientists and engineers in applied mathematics and statistics, computer sciences, electronics and telecommunications;
• university professors and tutors, students and postgraduate students, especially those who are involved in distance education and training;
• college, gymnasium, and school teachers.

The program of the Workshop was elaborated after a series of work meetings of the Local Organizing Committee. The first plenary session of the Workshop was planned to have a large attendance: besides those who were invited to participate in the Workshop and those who have got an information about the Workshop from the Internet and from other available sources, a lot of students and tutors of the NTUU “KPI” was expected to attend this session. Taking into account these considerations, three presentations were selected for the first plenary session of the Workshop:

• “3D Emerging Technologies for Interactive Graphics and Web Collaboration” by P. Schickel (Blaxxun Interactive AG, Germany);
• “Distance Training Over Telematics (Web and Satelite Based) – Virtual Campus – Courses and Services at a Distance” by G. Di Paola (Italy) and D.Menini (Spain);
• “The State and Perspectives of Development Ukrainian Research and Academic Network (URAN)” by B. Paton, M. Zgurovsky and Yu. Yakimenko (Ukraine).

The idea was to exhibit some advanced achievements of EU in telematics and to show a development of telecommunications in Ukraine — the country that faces now a great requierement in application of telematics to various spheres of life, especially, to environmental protection, education, scientific research; this idea reflects the main objectives of STACCIS.

The session took place in the Academic Council Hall of NTUU “KPI”. The expectations of the audience of the session came true. The first and the second presentations have demonstrated the new achievements of European leaders in the development of telematics applications. Mr. Peter Schickel (Blaxxun Interactive AG, Germany) made a great impression on the audience with 3D interactive graphics generated using newest VRML technologies. P.Schickel worked several years for the Joint Research Centre (JRC ISIS) of the European Commission located in Italy at Ispra, where he made significant contribution in the development of VRML-JAVA 3D technologies. Dr. Graziano di Paola (Trainet S.p.A., Italy) has showed some results of the European Educational Teleports project that developed and delivered distance learning services via a Web-based Virtual Campus — the most sophisticated and versatile system of distance learning. The third presentation made by Prof. Yu. Yakimenko (NTUU “KPI”) was devoted to the state and perspectives of the development of Ukrainian Research and Academic Network (URAN) — a potential user of the advanced telematics applications.

The following computer demo sessions was held in the STACCIS IDC demonstration laboratory. The demonstrations attracted a great interest. The most impressive were the demonstrations presented by A.Beriozko (CGDS, Russia) “Internet based GIS and Pattern Recognition of Linear Structures” and “WWW-based Earthquake Acceleration Database for Engineering Seismology”, by A.Troussov (EDNES, Russia) “Telematics in Environmental Protection Developed by World data Centres System of ICSU”, by P.Schickel “Virtual Conference for CAD Design” and by O.Jorgensen (Belair Co, Denmark/Monaco) “MPEG3 Real Audio and Real Media Data Compression”.

After these demo sessions a discussion on the Technology-Watch Web-site developed by the STACCIS Belarus IDC took place.

A poster session was opened at the same laboratory. Posters were exposed during all the time of the Workshop. All the posters has drawn an attention of participants of the Workshop and caused active discussions. The most notable was an interest to the presentation made by A.Troussov “Environmental Telematics: Project Summaries (Environmental projects of the Telematic Application Programme)”. The poster was composed as a brochure that was printed in color with a small circulation, it was distributed between participants of the Workshop, the copies of the brochure were placed into the libraries of the STACCIS IDC in NTUU “KPI” and of the Infocenter “Chernobyl”.

On February 19, 1999, three plenary sessions were held in the Academic Council Room of NTUU “KPI”. The room was equipped with a computer with on-line Internet connection, multimedia projector, TV & video facilities. It was especially convenient to make an oral presentation with simultaneous demonstrations. Some presentations originally planned only as computer demonstrations, were moved into the plenary sessions.

The topic of the first session was “Telematics Applications for Research, Environmental Protection and Geosciences”. The presentations selected for these sessions were:

• J.Babot (DGXIII European Commission) “Telematics Applications Programme of the European Commission: Results and Prospectives” (deliver by A.Gvishiani);
• P.Schickel, (Blaxxun Interactive AG, Germany) “Telematics Applications for Research”, "Virtual conference for CAD Design: CAD designers at distinct locations are able to collaborate on one project in a virtual environment";
• J.Bonnin (IPGS, France), “Telematics and the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement of the Council of Europe”;
• V.Petrov (IPRI NAS, Ukraine), “Telematics for the Information Space for the Ukrainian Science”;
• V.Lialko, A.Sachatsky (EARC of GSI NAS, Ukraine) “Experience of Satellite Imagery Environmental Monitoring in Ukraine”;
• V.Gritsenko (IRTC UNESCO/IIP, Ukraine), “New Information Technologies and Telematics in IRTC”;
• M.Zheleznyak (IMMSP NAS, Ukraine), “Telematics Applications for Research and Environmental Protection”;
• A.Troussov (EDNES, Russia), “EU Join Research Center ISIS Program CEO: Telematics for Climate and Environment”.

The second session “STACCIS in Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine” was focused on the detailed review of results of STACCIS in these countries. The main scope of presentations was the experience of Information-Demonstration centers created in the countries within the framework of STACCIS. The following presentations took place:

• M.Makhaniok (Belarus), “Computer Networks, Telematics Applications and STACCIS Information Demonstration Center in Belarus”;
• A.Secrieru (Moldova), “The Results and Prospective of STACCIS in Moldova”;
• Gvishiani (CGDS, Russia). “Telematics in Earthquake Studies and Seismic Engineering Projects and STACCIS”;
• M.Zgurovsky, A.Novikov, N.Graivoronsky, V.Kovgar (Ukraine), “STACCIS Information Demonstration Center at Kiev Polytechnic Institute”;
• S.Kudriavtseva (IRTC UNESCO/IIP, Ukraine), “The Training Component of STACCIS Information Demonstration Centre in Kiev”.

All the presentations were followed by active discussions. The third session “STACCIS in Caucasus” was devoted to STACCIS Project in Caucasian countries, current results and plans for 1999, and included such presentations:

• T. Babaev (Azerbaijan), “Computer Networks and Telematics Applications in Azerbaijan: STACCIS and UNDP projects”;
• O.Shatberashvili (Georgia), “STACCIS Project in Georgia. Preparation of the Third STACCIS Demonstration Workshop in Tbilisi”;
• G.Sagyan (Armenia), “STACCIS Project in Armenia: Results and Perspectives”;
• G. Sagyan, G.Mailian (Armenia), “STACCIS CD-ROM Project”.

The session was followed by the discussion on STACCIS CD-ROM.

The plenary session was followed by the computer demo session “Telematics for Research and Environmental Protection in CIS countries”. The program of the demo session was adjusted to refrain from repetition of some demonstrations that actually were successfully carried out with a great during the preceding plenary sessions in the Administrative Council room.

It is worth to mention the demonstration “The Distance Experiment for Students Training in Physics” by N. Graivoronsky, D. Galyant, A. Skulish, A. Cherevko (Faculty of Physics and Technologies, NTUU “KPI”, Ukraine). The system developed by the students and tutors of NTUU “KPI” gives a possibility to watch and to control an experiment conducted on the installation in Physics Laboratory of FP&T via WWW. The purpose of the system is to excite an interest of a wide circle of pupils of schools having Internet connections to studies of physics as well as other subjects with the use of modern technologies of distance learning and distance experiments.

The demonstration caused a discussion which has shown that some European products may be useful for NTUU “KPI” in development of the system of distance experiments. Especially interesting was comments of Dr. Graziano Di Paolo (Trainet S.p.A., Italy) who participates in European Educational Teleports project in development and delivery of distance learning services via a Web-based Virtual Campus". On the other hand, participation of NTUU “KPI” in development and delivery of distance learning in Ukraine may be of interest for European developers as a base for application of their products in Ukraine.

The Outdoor Session “STACCIS – KYIV – CHERNOBYL” held on February, 20, 1999 in Chernobyl was one of the substantial stages of the Program of the Second Demonstration Workshop EU-UNESCO “Telematics Applications for Research and Enviromental Protection”. Access to Chernobyl zone is limited and the fact of organization of such a Seccion indicates the acknowledgement of the importance of the STACCIS project for enhancement of solution of environmental problems in Ukraine.

The program of the Outdoor session was prepared by the Local Program Committee on the basis of the Infocenter “Chernobyl”: Proscura N.I.. – the Chairman of Local Organizing Committee in Chernobyl, Deputy Director of the Administration of Exclusion Zone and Zone of Natural (Obligatory) Deportation of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station; Sidletskii O.G. – Director of Infocenter “Chernobyl”; Itshuk A.V. – Head of the Department in the Infocenter ”Chernobyl”; Mikhailets A.A. – Head of the Department in the Infocenter ”Chernobyl”; Novikov A.N . – NTUU “KPI”.

The center “InterChernobyl” at the Direction of Exclusion Zone of Ministry of Chernobyl of Ukraine provided the support in management of the Outdoor Session.

20 experts in the field of telematics application for protection of an environment have participated in the Outdoor Session, 10 of them were from the countries – members of EU and CIS, and 10 were the experts of Infocenter “Chernobyl” and “InterChernobyl”.

Deputy director of Administration of an Exclusion Zone and Zone of Natural (Obligatory) Deportation of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station Proscura N.I. made a presentation about telematics applications for the researches of the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. Very interesting presentations were also made by the leading researches of the Infocenter “Chernobyl”.

The President of EDNES J. Bonnin in his concluding speech underlined the importance of strengthening of cooperation between the experts from the European CIS countries and their colleagues from EU countries in the field of telematics application, in particular, usage of products of EU countries for environmental problems.

In the course of discussions, the participants of the session determined the ways and perspectives of wide participation of the experts from the countries of the European Union in researches aimed at liquidation of harmful consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.

Application of telematics products of the countries of the European Union, thus, becomes the important factor for increase of efficiency of the information communications and scientific researches directly in a Chernobyl zone. The fact that Infocenter "Chernobyl" has qualified personnel and telecommunication equipment, makes this center as an attractive potential validation site for new European telematics projects.

Demonstration Workshop has provided an opportunity to elaborate the main problems and perspectives of telematics applications for research and environmental protection in the European CIS countries.

It was pointed out an insufficient coordination between Ukraine and Belarus (the countries most suffered from Chernobyl) in the field of telematics application to the solution of Chernobyl problems. STACCIS Workshop opened the ways for the intensification of such a coordination. During the Workshop, the specialists of Infocenter “Chernobyl” (Ukraine), NTUU “KPI” (Kyiv, Ukraine), Institute of the Applied and System Analysis (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Centre of the Applied Information Technologies of National Academy of Sciences of Belarus had a possibility to contact with each other and they achieved preliminary agreements. The above-mentioned organizations are incorporated into the leading centres of Ukraine and Belarus’ that develop the telematics projects on Chernobyl in their countries.

The head of the National STACCIS focal point in Moldova Dr. Secrieru raised the question about development of telematics public training courses and special professional-oriented training courses concerning the civil actions in the case of emergency of natural and man-caused character. Such a training is of great importance in the regions of high seismic activity.

STACCIS Technology-Watch Web-site (URL: http://www.bas-net.by/idc) was developed by the STACCIS Belarus IDC with the assistance provided by EDNES STACCIS personnel. The mirror of the site became visible on the STACCIS major high-speed connection Web-site in Moscow (URL: http://www.ednes.org/stw) since October 16, 1998.

After an introduction of the Web-site by Dr. M. Makhaniok, the Web-site was examined and evaluated by all participants of the discussion. The well-elaborated structure and completeness of the information presented at the Web-site were noted. This Web-site is especially effective for successful promoting of European telematics products into CIS countries due to the combination of such features as good choosing and presenting of telematics applications products, their promotion throughout main Web-searching services, recommendation for the localisation for CIS countries, investigation of potential application’s fields.

The Web-site already contains the information about such projects supported by DG XIII-C of the European Commission under the auspices of the TELEMATICS APPLICATIONS Programme as: BIC (Blueprint for Interactive Classrooms), SAVIE, ELECTRA (Electronic Learning Environment for Continual Training and Research). The Web-site also provides VRML-JAVA 3-D applications developed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC ISIS) of the European Commission. The Web-site enables contacts of the seven European CIS countries with European VRML Association (EVA) provides an information about EVA activities and research projects.

Significant part of the Web-site is devoted to telematics applications for the environmental protection and geosciences: environmental protection and geosciences technologies of the Joint Research Centre (JRC ISIS) of the European Commission (the CEO programme); engineering seismology telematics products of Louis Pasteur University, France; telematics for studies, monitoring and prevention of natural and technogenic disasters and environmental problems, including satellite imagery telematics applications.

During the discussion the participants of the CIS countries noted the importance of such section of the Technology Watch Web-site as “Telematics help-desk”, containing information useful for software localization, Unicode, telematics hints. The participants of the EU countries, in particular, Dr. G. Di Paolo and Mr. P. Schickel noted the good potential effectiveness of the Web-site in promoting of European telematics products into CIS countries. They expressed the wish to advertise and promote through this Web-site the newest products of the organizations they represent.

All the participants agreed that the idea and realization of the Belarus STACCIS Technology-Watch Web-site are successful. The Web-site reaches its main objectives.

The active discussion on the current state of STACCIS CD prepared by STACCIS Armenian focal point followed the demonstration of a part of the CD contents on the plenary session on February 19, 1999. The contents was evaluated by all participants of the session. They noted that the previous discussion concerning the contents of the CD, which was held by the Internet (staccis@perun.wdcb.ru) and enabled for STACCIS focal points took an active part in the discussion, lead to significant improvements of the structure and presentation of the information.

Escpecially effective was the assistance of Moscow IDC and EDNES association (Earth Data Network for Education and Scientific Exchange). By their suggestion a special section was included, devoted to materials useful for software’s internalising, including the examples showing the variety of ways numbers, dates, times, and currencies represented in different CIS countries.

All participants supported the project, made valuable contribution to the discussion and raised some important questions. Inclusion of above mentioned technical problems gives opportunity to underline cultural links between CIS countries. The participants of the discussion agreed that the idea and realization of STACCIS CD-ROM is successful. The selection and presentation of information is good, and the design is very impressive. The CD may be very useful for European companies interested in doing business in former USSR.

The following directions for cooperation were found to be most perspective

1. Application of the virtual reality modeling technology (VRML, in particular, the products JRC ISIS, ISPRA Italy) and 3D modeling for visualization and study of radioactive pollution in a small space volumes.
2. Application of the European telematics products for the problems of the remote control of the radioactive pollution level, remote diagnostics of health of the exclusion zone personnel (telemedicine), remote decision-making.
3. Application of the advanced telematics technologies of satellite monitoring of emergency situations related with increased radio-nucleus migration (fires and season flood) in the 30-km zone of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, etc.
4. Intensification of cooperation between NTUU “KPI”, the Institute of the Applied System Analysis, partners from CIS countries and Infocenter “Chernobyl” in the development of proposals to IST Program
5. Promotion of the licensed software in the Infocenter “Chernobyl” and creation of the joint Russian-Ukrainian-Belorussian Database on the radioactive and biologic researches.

During the Outdoor Session “STACCIS – KYIV – CHERNOBYL” held on February, 20, 1999 in Chernobyl along with the elaboration of the perspective directions of cooperation between the specialists of European CIS countries and their colleagues from the EU countries, the following documents were discussed and signed:

1. The Agreement for mutual Mirror-sites exchange between STACCIC and Inforcenter “Chernobyl”,
2. The Agreement between the Institute of the Applied and System Analysis of Ministry of Education of Ukraine and National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, National Technical University of Ukraine “KPI”, and Administration of the Exclusion Zone of Minchernobyl for cooperation in the field of telematics application for the research and environmental protection in the zone of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station.

A set of the documents of the Demonstration Workshop including proceedings, posters, and the brochure on Eurotelematics by Dr. Alexander Troussov was placed into a library of the Infocenter “Chernobyl”.

The EU-UNESCO Demonstration Workshop “Telematics Applications for Research and Environmental Protection”, the second workshop in the framework of the STACCIS project, was held at 18-20 February 1999. The Demonstration Workshop in Kyiv was aimed to present key results of the EC DG XIIIC Telematics Applications Program and other EU supported telematics applications to potential telematics users, developers and vendors in the European CIS countries, involved in different kinds of environmental activities.

The audience of the Workshop has included the telematics applications developers, researchers, environmental scientists and engineers, decision makers in telematics and environmental protection, professors and students of Kyiv Universities, school teachers. The Demonstration Workshop was designed with the objective of encouraging maximum interaction and activity among participants. Trying to achieve this goal, the following elements have been held: plenary and posters sessions, discussions and demonstrations. Plenary sessions were devoted to provide different views about the concerned theme from the invited keynote speakers. Demonstrations introduced the products, prototypes or projects that show either on-line or off-line, the design issues, function, etc. in a real way. These sessions allowed the audience to understand in a tangible way how all these products work. Numerous presentations prepared by the Kyiv IDC including remote physical experiment reflected the tendencies in the telematics in Ukraine. The poster session gave an opportunity to advertise the new products and innovations in a permanent way during the Workshop.

The Demonstration Workshop have promoted the achievement of such STACCIS goals as:

• formation a circle of educated telematics network users from the scientific, educational, environmental and business communities;
• assistance the seven European CIS countries to establish national telematics applications information services and user training programs along the line of research and environmental activities;
• formulation a strategy for East-West cooperation in the development, exchange and use of telematics applications taking account of market conditions and opportunities in the European CIS countries;
• delivery of reliable data to a wide circle of interested parties in both European CIS and EU countries on the opportunities and developments in the CIS countries concerning telematics applications.

The Outdoor session in Infocenter “Chernobyl” was successful in establishing the direct contacts between the telematics specialists of Ukraine, Belarus, Russian Federation involved into solution of environmental problems caused by Chernobyl nuclear accident and representatives who have introduced the telematics products of the countries of the European Union.

STACCIS Technology-Watch Web-site (STW) was developed by the STACCIS Belarus IDC with the assistance provided by EDNES STACCIS personnel in 1998 (http://www.bas-net.by/idc and http://www.ednes.org/stw). The experience of Belorussian STACCIS partners in monitoring of technogenic disaster in conjunction with EDNES (Earth Data Network for Education and Scientific Exchange) expertise in geosciences ensures high level applications to environmental problems.

To promote European telematics products into CIS countries STW pays much attention to vertical markets in technologies, which will shape the future. Recently emerged Virtual Reality Modeling and 3-D modeling technologies enable to provide online communication suitable for environmental problems. This conjuncture – VRM and Environmental protection - is the hinge of the STACCIS Technology-Watch Web-site.

The new section "Telematics HiTech: Java, VRML, 3D graphics, Internet collaboration" has been added this year (http://www.ednes.org.stw/hitech), which gives links to several new accompanying Web-pages, including Java-Beat and VRML-Beat.

Recent development, especially in 1998, of 3-D modelling on the Internet: for building scenes, browsing them, for programming VRML tools, gives new way of net communications. Of special importance are VRML-JAVA 3D applications developed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC ISIS) of the European Commission located in Italy at Ispra. ISIS is the European Union centre of expertise in the application of emerging technologies for the protection of the individual citizen and of society as a whole. "VIRTUAL DEMO" prepared in JRC by Peter Schickel shows what VRML powered Web-pages can do. This Demo was shown on EXPO 98, now it available for STW visitors.

Visitors of STW can walk around JRC

and visit its offices.

Award-winning products for Internet Multimedia Communication of BLUXXUN INTERACTIVE ^TM ( http://www.blaxxun.de ) are widely presented on STW (see special article in this issue).

Information, computer and applied networking technologies can be characterised as a qualitatively new phenomenon, leading to the revision of the very essence of interrelations among all structures of the society, including individuals. The process of organizing a new medium and of transition to a new social-economic formation named a new information society or global information one has been proceeding.

The most important event of the transition period is broadening of notion about nonmaterial values (basic productive funds). They include software, databases, methodologies, licenses, patents, etc. All this makes knowledge and information, in order to purchase which it is annually spent 32 billion dollars in the USA and nearly 100 billion in the world according to the estimation of the investment bank Veronis Suhler (PC week/Re No 48, p. 22, December 8, 1998). Simultaneously new forms of labour organization – tele-work, telecommuting, distant teaching - become firmly established. According to some estimates these forms provide with job 16 million people in the USA and 4 million in the EC countries; it is supposed that to the year 2005 about 20 per cent of employes will be engaged in new kinds of labour. These facts serve as a rationale for initiatives on working out international, regional and national projects in telecommunication technologies and telematics industry.

The paper “From computer revolution to the construction of the global information society of the XXI century” claims: “Computer revolution has taken place and now the USA, EU countries and Great Seven (G7) states have been realizing the programs of the global information society construction, a real return of which we may wait only in the XXI century” (PC week/re N-44, November 10, 1998, p.23).

STACCIS project contributes greatly into realization of a general strategy of information integration of the CIS countries and European ones. The Republic of Moldova is one of STACCIS project participants, doing its bit in the fulfilling its program aims.

In spite of the economical difficulties, there is an active interest in the development of the networking infrastructure, information technologies and telematics in the Republic. This can be explained by a number of reasons, including:

• development of the information infrastructure is indispensible for satisfying the needs of all social structures and individuals in information;
• the pace of development and introduction of new information technologies in Moldova are behind the European and world level.

New Intranet/Internet technologies are widely spread in the scientific-educational and banking spheres. Basic networking and information technologies are elaborated in the Academy of Sciences and leading universities of Moldova. An active support of international organizations and foundations, founds realization of projects connected with the development of information infrastructure: UNESCO, NFTO, EC, Soros foundation, EURASIA foundation, etc., is an additional factor, promoting the process. Participation of Moldova institutions in STACCIS project realization influences somehow on development of the applied telematics in Moldova. Cooperation in the sphere of the applied networking technologies, used in education, scientific researches and other fields in EU and CIS countries is the purpose of STACCIS project, which is in good conformity with the aims of the information technologies elaboration in Moldova.

The objective of the STACCIS project national coordinating structure in Moldova for 1999 is the development of national STACCIS Information Demonstration Centre (IDC) in Kishinev and its Web-site providing access to relevant information resources in Moldova.

The contract between EDNES and Information Technologies Centre of the ASM, became the basis for commencing the work in 1998. The main purposes and tasks of STACCIS IDC in Moldova include:

• development of information exchange and creation of a networking infrastructure on the basis of international standards, utilizing the experience of European countries;
• maintaining direct connections with the networking technology workers out in various establishments of Moldova;
• training and raising the level of skill of information and networking technology users, including the methods of distant education;
• development of direct connections and broadening of interaction among scientists and specialists in Moldova and their colleagues in West Europe and CIS countries, including joint participation in international projects.

CIT ASM - STACCIS national Focal point in Moldova - is the leading executor and coordinator of work according to the project of creation IDC in Moldova, envisaging solution of the following tasks:

• working out IDC structure;
• engineering providing of IDC Web-site deployment;
• software support of IDC Web-site functioning;
• practical work for IDC information filling;
• carrying out IDC Web-site administration and constant development of information database and services.

The practical realization of IDC Moldova Web-site has been conducted in full accordance with the program, contained in the Workplan. Information needs of the potential users of IDC Moldova have been examined during the Workplan preparation. The main groups of IDC users have been systematized: those who interact with the IDC information base through the inner infrastructure of the scientific - educational network of Moldova, and those who use Internet resources for the access to IDC information base. It was decided that information database has to be oriented on the following groups of potential users:

• Research workers, professors, teachers and specialists;
• Post-graduate students;
• Research workers specializing in the sphere of informatics and computers, who study INTERNET network facilities;
• Students of Moldova Universities;
• College students;
• Students of various courses organized in the framework of the STACCIS project in Moldova.
• The representatives of the scientific community of European countries;
• Foreign scientists and specialists, participating in joint investigations and projects with representatives of the scientific community of Moldova;
• Representatives of foreign educational organizations, interested in development of contacts and exchange of experience and information with the colleagues in Moldova;
• Representatives of international and state organizations of European countries.

The development of detailed structure of IDC Web-site was completed in October 1998. At that time the decision on accommodation Web-site on local server was accepted. It was chosen server SUN Ultra 1 with SUN SPARC Storage Array with operational system SOLARIS.

The next stage included the fulfilment of the first and the second information levels of Web-site databases. Connections to databases and other information arrays on science and education in Moldova were established, the references to others information servers of the Republic were included in Web-site structure, as well as an information about its economy and economic agents, enterprises and firms of Moldova. This stage was finished on November 11, 1998. IDC Web-site was placed on CIT ASM server at

The information about STACCIS project Information - Demonstration Center (IDC) created in Moldova was placed on the most popular information retrieval servers in Moldova. The basic principles of IDC Moldova development, its structure and databases content description were presented in the reports "The Concept of creation of the STACCIS project Information-Demonstration Center in Moldova" and "The structure of IDC Moldova information database" at the conference "INTERNET 98", which took place in Kishinev on November 18-20, 1998.

The high-speed connection with Moscow STACCIS WWW server is provided by means of available IDC technical base, in particular:

• High-efficiency workstation HEWLETT PACKARD 712/60;
• The router for connecting of local Academy intranet with global networks: TELEBIT NetBlazer PN4 HUB;
• Radio-modem CYLINK 128s for connection Academy backbone with INTERNET access point;
• Server SUN Ultra 1, SUN SPARCStorage and SUN SPARCStation 5 are used as basic IDC information servers.

The information database of created IDC has multi-level hierarchical structure.

In the first section the information on the political system, economy, history, geographical position, structure of a society, science and education is presented. The references to the governmental servers, information on the basic educational and scientific establishments of the Republic are given there.

The second section contains the information on the project STACCIS. The information on the institutes and organizations participating in the project can be find here.

Special sections contain information about CIT ASM and EDNES.

Within the framework of the project the Computer Center of Moldova State University and Department of Computer Science and Computer Techniques of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova developed and introduced applied information technologies for training a wide circle of personal (science officers, engineering personnel, post-graduates, students) use of modern network information technologies. The following training courses are organized by the Computer Center of the Moldova State University:

• The course of Intårnet navigation provides knowledge of Internet based technologies. The complete sets of 5 books developed by the employees of the Computer Center of the University of Moldova in Russian and Romanian languages were offered to the students;
• Windows 95, Word 8.0, Excel 8.0 (150 men per year, including: professor staff - 60, research workers - 35, administrative personnel - 33, post-graduate students – 22, have been trained);
• Courses of improvement of qualification for the teachers of computer science of schools of Moldova - 300 persons from total 1100 persons in the Republic have been trained.

At the Department of Computer Science and Computer Techniques of ASM more than 100 postgraduates, competitors and employees of research institutes and other scientific organizations of the Academy of Sciences and Kishinev are trained annually. The courses are intended for three categories of the students:

• Physical, mathematical and engineering sciences;
• Chemical, biological and medical sciences;
• Humanitarians.

It is necessary to note that the received results may be considered as the first stage of the realization of IDC STACCIS creation project in Moldova. Work on information filling of IDC must be continued in 1999.

The significant results have been achieved in the framework of STACCIS project. Now it is important to work out strategy for the next period. The project perspectives include the following directions:

• further development of IDC construction ideology;
• broadening the STACCIS project zone.

The first direction is connected with the development of the IDC information basis, infrastructure and main functions. It is important to extend and to supplement the sections, containing information on the development of the basic and applied networking technologies in Moldova and other countries - STACCIS project participants. The perspective information database concerns the creation and organization of telematic educational courses, accounting modern approaches, based on the distant teaching conception. Information and telecommunication technologies change both knowledge and its dissemination methods. Therefore there exist a lot of problems such as the problem of choice of material to be taught, tests and exercises, knowledge control, and also of interaction between a teacher and a student.

It is necessary to develop the section, containing data about scientific teams, leading researchers and specialists of Moldova, and also the proposals on organization of cooperation with the scientists of European countries with the aim of fulfilment of joint scientific and technological projects.

Perfection of exploitation technology, improvement of basic functions and access to IDC resources is connected with the development of IDC infrastructure and technical base. One of the approaches consists in the increase of the communication channel and equipment capacity to create conditions, permitting to apply modern methods of information presentation, accumulation and collection of information resources, and also use the ideology of WWW-servers network creation. It will allow to widen work with multimedia applications and to organize on-line interaction conditions within the systems of distant teaching and knowledge control.

The second direction supposes the extension of the STACCIS leading project subjects. This is connected with working out new projects-satellites, which correspond to the strategic purposes of STACCIS project. STACCIS project is a support program for new narrow telematic projects in all countries-partners. So a favourable atmosphere of cooperation will be created in order to work out national and multinational projects in the sphere of applied telematics and information technologies, having an important value for separate states or groups of countries. Such projects-satellites may be submitted for consideration of European Commission in the framework of the functioning coordinating mechanism of STACCIS project.

Moldova is interested in the program of telematics for studying, monitoring and prognostication of nature and technological catastrophes, including problems connected with them. As a concrete proposal it may be considered the earthquakes studying subjects and the connected problems of consequences minimization, inhabitant protection and working out of the optimum model of a person’s behaviour under extreme conditions. We propose the project “Telematics in studying earthquakes: information resources for prognostication, consequence damage minimization, protection and training of residents”. The project is to cover the following directions:

• studying and prognostication of earthquakes;
• division into districts of seismic zones;
• working out recommendations for seismostable construction;
• creation of information resources about earthquakes;
• telematics for teaching people how to behave in corresponding situations.

It is connected with the fact that Moldova is situated in one of the active seismic zones of Europe. The important social and humanitarian feature of the project is the development of knowledge on safety rules and correct behaviour of children and adults during an earthquake and also ability to give the necessary help. For realization and information filling of the project it is planned to enlist the Institute of Geophysics and Geology of ASM. Problems and knowledge, connected with such a terrible nature phenomenon, are very important for some other CIS countries: Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan.

Another project is entitled "Telematics for Ph.D. students teaching and research workers qualification growth". This project is dedicated to the problems of creation of the information system and telecommunication support for training of post-graduates in Moldova. Only post-graduate courses in the Academy of Sciences number 300 persons, who annually enrol to special courses on Informatics, Foreign languages and Philosophy. The proposed project is directed to the raising of knowledge level, perfection of preparation to the exams. The principal tasks of the project include the creation of telecommunication structure and working out courses of distant training. It will allow ensuring comfortable and effective conditions for teaching post-graduates and research workers in distant organizations throughout Moldova towns.

Movement to the global information society suggests the development of computer networks and basic technologies infrastructure, typical services (E-mail, on-line access to databases, etc.) and applications (tele-work, distant education, etc.). Moldova has no the developed information and telecommunication infrastructure and technologies yet, and the state and commercial investments into science and technology are practically absent. Therefore a real mode for Moldova to start an active movement in this direction is through participation in various international projects. Cooperation of Moldova in the framework of the projects of European Union and other international organizations promotes its integration into European and the world information space.

A screenshot of completed parts of the CD

Continuing education and training, being a strategic area for the economic development of EU industries, constitue also a powerful market - worth more of 30 billion ECU in the EU in 1994 - in which companies of every size and public administration invest at a continously faster pace to remain competitive in the global market. Information Technologys recent developments have demonstrated a growing impact on creating positive attitudes to technology-based and distance training.

The rationale of the European Educational Teleports (EETP) Project is to be found on the idea of creating a Europe-wide market, overcoming the limits of the present approach to distance continuing education in Europe, such as poor transnational co-ordination, inadequate efforts to find homogeneous user populations; overemphasis on the technical side of services rather than on learning and economic effectiveness.

This EC funded project devoted to the developing and delivering distance learning services to facilitate the continuous training of professionals throughout Europe, was finished 31.12.98.

The main results - a network of 20 organisations throughout Europe sharing a common model for distance learning, an European catalogue of distance learning courses and services, such as a customisable Virtual Campus, five transnational courses ready for the European market.

Distance Learning courses are delivered via a Web-based Virtual Campus and are supported by video tuition. Teleports for Learning The European Educational Teleports project (EETP) provides low-cost access to high-quality distance learning courses and services to Small and Medium Enterprises, government and corporate sector professional associations and organisations. The project is investigating, designing and evaluating a shared European marketplace and structure for educational services delivered through a network of Teleports. This research and development includes validating telematics-based access to education and training resources. EETP also aims to promote increased familiarity with telecommunications-based tools for professionals and increased access to telematics for communications and training in SMEs, administrations and the telecommunications sector in particular. Twenty European educational institutions and company-based training providers in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Finland have come together to create a common European-wide structure for continuing education services through the establishment of training centres known as Teleports.

Each Teleport is a provider of distance learning services for learners and producers of learning material. Services are integrated in Web-based virtual learning environments. Remote areas are linked to the Teleport via high-speed data transfer via satellite, ISDN and Internet. Each Teleport is a service provider merging the Distance Learning resources of the European network. The EETP showcase is its Web site at http://eetp.trainet.it.

Teleports offer a variety of distance learning services. Services for organisations include: consultancy on training methodologies and management, training for instructors and tutors; physical training facilities, customisation of training products and services, delivery of training support and materials to the learners nationally and Europe-wide, technology based tools and learning environments such as Hypercom Virtual Campus(r). Educational Teleports provide learners with easily updateable courses, interactive lectures, counselling on learning needs, on-line tutoring, evaluation and certification, libraries of multimedia content.

The EETP Partners have developed a common vision of what is needed to build an effective distance education and training system. The EETP model is based on remote virtual classrooms, remote knowledge bases and a broad range of support services integrated and made accessible via network communications. EETP learners use both Web-based distance learning and satellite-delivered video tuition. Communication is bi-directional and interactive. EETP courses have a European scope and when necessary are adapted by individual Partners to meet specific national requirements. In all the courses learners are provided with on-line and off-line course materials as well as interactive tutoring.

The project has produced five trans-national courses. They are: European Funding for training and local development, ATM technologies, ISDN technologies, Managing the marketing process in small and medium business, Introduction to accountancy. All these course have an European scope, being specifically designed to be used by the all Teleports. When profitable, they can be localised by adding modules with national scope content. Beside the five transnational course, products in their national version are offered by the course providers of the network to be localised on demand.

Training is provided through Web-based Virtual Campus as well as TV broadcasting which utilise digital satellite technologies, while connections between the Teleports throughout Europe are provided via Internet and satellite Data and Video Broadcasting.

Virtual Campuses are the leading technology for distance learning and training on the Web. On a virtual campus communication, information and training materials are integrated into a single environment. Learners may enrol in courses, studying individually or in groups with access to a tutor as well as to libraries of multimedia learning materials. A secretariat is available to deal with administrative matters. EETP services are based on Hypercom Virtual Campus(r), an advanced Web-based virtual campus developed by Trainet Spa and adapted to trans-national distance learning use. The functional characteristics of Hypercom Virtual Campus make it possible to oversee the entire training process: planning and holding of courses, the supply of teaching materials, in a structured and co-operative model as well as in individual information retrieval model, plus the evaluation and certification of the activities of the user. Hypercom Virtual Campus is based on an operating platform which, in addition to allowing the user to dialogue with the system in the language of his or her choice, can be personalised in a wide variety of ways in order to construct a training environment which meets the specific needs and languages of the organisation involved. Specific national services also use Formare(r), a proprietary solution from Telecom Portugal and Top Class(r), a commercial solution produced by WBT Systems.

User may access distance learning courses with a PC connected to the internet and, when course have a video content, with a satellite receiving kit among the commercial ones. The project is also experimenting the possibility of transmitting both video and data signals for the delivering of multimedia files. In this particular setting the users, individually, but more likely in equipped classrooms, will be able to receive at the same time video lessons and multimedia files in their PC. Furthermore the satellite transmissions technology adopted enables to select only authorised sites for file receiving.

The EETP project is targeting the rapidly expanding market for education and training technologies and products based on telematics technologies. Users include both telecommunications and educational personnel, particularly educational providers interested in finding or increasing their market outside their traditional market niche.

Existing users of EETP's educational technology services include small and medium-sized enterprises, local public authorities and the corporate sector, especially companies already making intensive use of telecommunications services.

EETP is consolidating a pool of education and training programmes on a European scale for its users. This serves to improve both the cost-effectiveness of the education and training sector as well as the efficiency of the course delivery methods. Thus, EETP is promoting a broad, self-sustaining market for European hardware and software products for multimedia education and training.

The goal of the EETP Partners is to promote a shared European marketplace for the production and delivery of distance learning through via the creation of a co-ordinated network of Educational Teleports.

In this way the Partners intend to improve the cost-effectiveness of professional training through the dissemination of best practices and products and the creation of telematics based distance learning environments. This network supports cultural flexibility and integration as well as the stimulation of existing national-level approaches to education and training. In this regard, EETP helps to promote best practice in telematics-based education and training, preparing the ground for the Information Society. These innovative services offered by EETP will create new employment opportunities while supporting the EU objective of providing lifelong learning for its citizens.

The Georgian Research Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (Techinformi), Business Communication Centre (BCC-Tbilisi) and Multimedia Centre (MMC) with support of the European Commission and UNESCO have organised an International Workshop (Demonstration) TELEMATICS CAUCASUS-99 on the application and perspectives of telematics facilities in the Southern Caucasus. Chairman of Organizing Committee is Oleg Shatberashvili, contacts:                          

This event took place on 20-21 May 1999 in Tbilisi. It was timed to the International Conference, which starts before the Workshop. The Conference: INTERNET AND MULTIMEDIA: THE PRESENT AND FUTURE IN THE CAUCASUS held on 18-19 May in Tbilisi:

Primary objectives of this workshop were:

• Demonstration of multimedia software products, the Internet and telematics facilities
• Consumer orientation on the application opportunities of new information technologies

The workshop was focused on telematics applications for education and training, health care and business. The latest achievements in the sphere of distance education, telemedicine (telediagnosis), virtual supermarkets, etc. were demonstrated by representatives from European and CIS countries at the workshop. According to these main themes of the workshop presentations and discussions were grouped under three working sessions “Education and training session” “Health care session” and “Telebusiness session”.

The conference was attended by Telematics and multimedia sphere experts from Europe and CIS countries, participants of the STACCIS project, the EU IT-EDUCTRA programme, other programmes, governmental, non-governmental and commercial organizations, representatives of EC and UNESCO, Ministries of Georgia. Among others there were representatives from Austrian National Oil Company (OMV AG), Austrian Society for Documentation, Austria; Siemens Business Services Osteuropa GmbH, Russia; PricewaterhouseCoopers, Russia; Bel Air International Ltd, Monaco.

The delegation from the STACCIS Russian focal point presented one report and two demonstrations of telematics products. The report “WWW-projects of the CGDS RAS” was presented by Mr. D. Nechitailenko. It described main activities of Center of Geophysical Data Studies and Telematics Applications. More detailed information about this Center, which also hosts Russian IDC, can be found in this Newsletter in a special article. The report was accompanied by a demonstration of telematics products, developed at CGDS. The demonstration was presented by Ms. T. Ilina. It included description and demonstration of various geophysical and environmental oriented products. Of special interest to the audience were the following products: Strong-motion database, Database of earthquakes and database of seismic stations, developed with utilization of visual interface and interactive response to user’s queries.

Another separate demonstration under the title “STACCIS major Web-site and STACCIS Technology Watch Web-site” was presented by Mr. D. Nechitailenko. This demonstration, apart from updating people on the new information, which has been added to the official web-site of STACCIS project, had a special highlight – STACCIS Technology Watch Web-site. Included into this web-site are the Virtual Demonstration EXPO-98 by Joint Research Center (JRC ISIS) and a special page devoted to Blaxxun Interactive AG (the market leader for Internet multimedia communication and important participant of STACCIS activities) draw the maximum of audience’s attention. Its main goal was to demonstrate the possibilities of using VRML technology for environment protection and global processes modeling and this goal was successfully reached with the help of beautifully designed three-dimensional interactive models of our planet. More about this Technology Watch Web-site can be found in an article in this issue of Newsletter.

The report and two demonstrations made by STACCIS Russian focal point representatives produced a huge amount of feedback and were considered to be among the most interesting and professional presentations.

An IST Programme Information Day, organised by the European Commission, took place on 22 February in CNIT—Paris la Défense. The Programme was also presented on 25 February during a two-day event in Essen covering the entire Fifth Framework Programme. IST 99 will take place in Helsinki on 22-24 November.

European Commission
IST Information Desk
e-mail: ist@cec.be
Tel. (32-2) 296 85 96
Fax (32-2) 296 83 88

1. In accordance with the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 22, 1998, concerning the fifth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) activities for the period 1998 to 2002 (hereinafter referred to as the fifth framework programme), and with the Council Decision of January 25, 1999, adopting the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on a “User-friendly information society (1998 to 2002)” (hereinafter referred to as the specific programme), the European Commission hereby invites proposals for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme.

In conformity with Article 5 of the specific programme, a work programme, specifying detailed objectives and RTD priorities and an indicative timetable for their implementation, was drawn up by the European Commission to serve as the basis for implementing the specific programme. The objectives, priorities, indicative budget and types of indirect RTD actions referred to in this call notice correspond to those set out in the work programme.

2. This call relates to:

STACCIS Baku Informational Demonstrational Center today

A room was repaired for the library, and a full-time librarian has been recruited (these activities were funded by Baku Scientific and Training Center - BSTC). With financial support by STACCIS, 164 books have been purchased for BSTC library. These books have substantially expanded the BSTC library and brought it up-to-date. The library is now in a position to supply Baku IDC staff with the literature on the latest IT developments, thus enabling them to improve training curricula, increase their own knowledge in IT, and provide the up-to-date literature to other STACCIS participants in Azerbaijan.

Based on same funds, a library has been established and started operating at Sumgait branch of BSTC. The BSTC Sumgait branch is the first and the only establishment in Sumgait to connect to the Internet and offer Internet services. This makes availability of the library even more important, as this city experiences severe lack of professionals in IT area, especially in the Internet, and the library will help improve the situation. The large number of trainees currently having their IT courses at BSTC Sumgait branch. Further facilitates raising the Information Technology and the Internet awareness of inhabitants of Sumgait.

Two modern multimedia workstations have been purchased and installed at BSTC library. These computers have improved the library facilities in the following ways. They simplified library administration. A database of the books is being created, which will allow to automate the process of book borrowing. In a near future, every book and every library user will be issued a unique ID. This ID will be coded in a computer-readable format on a book ID card and library user card, respectively scan device will be purchased that will be able to read the code, and an application will be develop that will interface the device and the library database, so that the process of book borrow/release will be fully automated. This will greatly increase the efficiency of the library work and will server as a basis for introduction of similar systems of other establishments of Baku.

The multimedia workstations allow users of the library to view not only printed information, but also electronic materials, such as those on CD-ROMs, various demonstration disks, and from the Internet. The use of materials is increasingly growing, and no library can be rated fully functional if it does not provide access to electronic materials. This allows users to view information in static picture, video, sound and hypertext formats.

On 18 January BSTC held its second Internet Demonstration, this time intended for general public. The demonstration was announced through local newspapers. All together, well over 200 people attended the event. In spite of organizational problems caused by the huge number of visitors, most of them had a chance to see the one-hour-long demonstration of such Internet services as e-mail and World-Wide-Web and their applications in science, business and leisure.

The visitors were given evaluation forms, which would help us to improve our services and make the next demonstration even better. 176 visitors kindly filled the forms. Once processed, the resulting statistics will be posted on this Web site.

Now that BSTC has two Microsoft Certified Professionals, it will greatly enhance its capacity to perform training as well as offer system integration services. To obtain an Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer status, one must pass six sophisticated exams testing the examinee's ability to plan, install, troubleshoot and maintain Microsoft Windows NT-based networks in the enterprise environment, and Windows NT-based server software such as Microsoft SQL Server.

Mr. Babayev, the Director of BSTC and STACCIS Baku IDC, visited the Eurasia On-line International Conference held in Almaty in early October 1998. This event, jointly organized by UNESCO, European Union, and the Ministry of Communications of Kazakhstan, drew a lot of attention from Information Technology professionals from all over the world, and was visited by many IT scientists and professionals from the CIS countries, Europe, and other regions of the world. This conference enabled the Baku IDC representative to familiarize himself with the latest achievements in Information Technology, Telecommunications, Telematics, and other IT-related areas. This event also let the Baku IDC representative to make contacts among leading European institutions specialized in Information Technology. Several Memoranda of Understandings have been signed, between:

• KIMEP (Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Audiovisuele dienst, K.U.Leuven, Belgium; and BSTC;
• Turkmenistan, Kirgizstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan representatives and Politecnico Consortium,Rome;
• European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (EUTELSAT) and BSTC;
• Middlesex University and BSTC.

These memoranda reflect the parties’ intentions to co-operate in the future in various fields of Information Technology, Telematics, etc. All expenses associated with the travel were covered by the STACCIS project.

International Society Technologies (IST-98) took place in Vienna (Austria) from 30 November to 2 December, 1998. Mr. T. Babayev, director of Baku Scientific and Training Center, and Mr. A. Mamedzadeh, chief manager of Informatics and foreign contacts of Committee of Science and Techniques of Azerbaijan, to visited IST-98. This conference allow to Baku representatives to familiarize with a new Telematics Facilities and meeting with coordinator of IDEALIST- EAST.

• Since the start of the STACCIS project, Baku IDC has been increasingly improving and modernizing its training methodologies. At the moment, telematics facilities such as audio/video conferencing and application sharing are commonly used in the learning process. This allows for more efficient training, increasing the number of topics covered in a course whilst retaining the time allocated for the course, and greatly improves perception of the course by trainees.
• Other STACCIS participants in Azerbaijan have been given access to the Internet using Baku IDC facilities. The establishments’ staff are welcome at Baku IDC, where they can always come and use the Internet. At the moment, BSTC is starting to provide previously unavailable dial-up access to the Internet, which will further expand the assistance that Baku IDC provides to other STACCIS participants.
• On 15-20 September 1998, a seminar was held at BSTC titled “State of the Environment Reporting on the Internet”. The event was organized by UNEP/Grid Arendal, the German Technical Assistance Agency (GTZ), and the State Committee of Ecology of Azerbaijan. During the first part of the seminar, discussions took place regarding state of the Environment reporting using modern technologies and other issues related to environment protection and environment situation in Azerbaijan and the Central Asia countries. At the second part of the event, the participants ere taught how to use the Web technology to prepare SoE reports for the Internet.
• BSTC also organized a one-day-long seminar titled Modern Information and Database Systems. The Participants of the seminar were mainly from environment protection institutions, both government and non-government, and higher educational establishments. The participants were familiarized with the current situation in the area of database and information systems development.

STACCIS Technology Watch Web-site (STW) has several accompanying Web-pages devoted to cutting edge telematics technologies. One of them is devoted to blaxxun interactive, which is market leader for Internet Multimedia Communication.

The following article is a reprint of the survey prepared by STACCIS Telematics Application Engineer Dr. Alexander Troussov for STW (all pictures are given in cortesy of blaxxun interactive.)

blaxxun interactive, an international company with offices in San Francisco, CA and Munich, Germany was founded in 1995. The company is market leader for Internet Multimedia Communication and addresses the markets Commerce, Communities, and Collaboration.

For these segments, blaxxun interactive develops and markets software, such as the award-winning blaxxun Community Platform and standard applications for expert collaboration, shopping, and community operation. Moreover, blaxxun designs and delivers complete customer for the above markets, for example online shopping, online banks, virtual shareholder meetings, company presentations, virtual events, online cities, customer clubs, communities of interest, virtual offices, virtual universities, and expert collaboration. Finally, blaxxun, together with partners, owns and operates selected online based on blaxxun's technology.

blaxxun develops and markets award-winning products for Internet Multimedia Communication.

blaxxun Contact 4.0: Free client product that enables users to visit Internet Multimedia Communication applications, such as virtual stores, 3D chat rooms, online cities, interest communities, virtual shareholder meetings, and online events.

blaxxun Community Server 4.0: The engine behind all the Internet Multimedia Communication applications.

blaxxun Community Platform SDK 4.0: A product for developers who want to customize or extend the blaxxun Community Server.

Tecoplan DMUConference: A CAD collaboration product jointly developed by blaxxun and its partner Tecoplan.

blaxxun Instant Community: A standard application for community creation and operation. Will be sold through VARs.

blaxxun Virtual Store: A standard application for visually rich and interactive shopping. Will include a leading 3rd party shopping product and be sold through VARs.

blaxxun Virtual Office: A standard application for employee communication and virtual meetings. Will be sold through VARs.

The Internet is not only connecting over hundred million PCs, but also over hundred million people, who can communicate and interact in ways that were simply not possible before. But that requires not only network infrastructure and hardware, but also innovative software solutions.

Today's new software can leverage powerful PCs that are many times faster than the machines from just a few years ago. Attractive multimedia interfaces suggest a paradigm shift from machine-centric to human-centric computing. Modern solutions focus on the interest of people and enhance their business and entertainment experience.

Such solutions are now being created by blaxxun interactive, its partners and its customers. Based on the award-winning blaxxun Community Platform, a variety of unique applications support commerce, community, and collaboration scenarios. They bring people together, support shopping, offer access to living communities, and enable new ways of collaboration and information access.

Visit 

and you will see why customers including Bank Austria, BMW, Canal+, CBS Sportsline, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Telekom, IBM, Intel, NTT Data, Siemens, and Ticketmaster have all implemented multimedia communication solutions based on the blaxxun Community Platform and how their users have benefited.

blaxxun jointly owns and operates some of the most innovative Online Communities on the World Wide Web.

One of the largest communities for people who are interested in futuristic themes, high-tech, and games. There are many areas with activities and information.

The largest social multimedia community on the Web, with everything from an Employment Office to a Sports Stadium. Members can take over roles (like City Librarian) or even run for Mayor. Homesteading in themed communities is offered with 3D homes and integrated chat.

Sports City: Together with top international partners, blaxxun is currently building Online Communities for sports fans all over the world.

Education/Kids City: Together with leading players in various countries, blaxxun is currently building education communities targeted at young people of different ages.

• Centre of Information Technologies of ASM;
• Centre of technical and information services of Moldova State University;
• Institute of Geography of ASM;
• Institute of Geophysics and Geology of ASM;
• DNT S.R.L. (Dynamic Network Technology).

Main research directions of CIT ASM deal with elaboration of basic software for creating distributed information systems, development and implementation of local and regional computer networks, creation and maintenance of databases in various fields of science. Due to increased interest of scientific-educational community to problems of Web-design and allocation this works are develop very intensive now. Many information systems for scientific research purposes are implementing in collaboration with other ASM institutions. The Center maintenance the central communication node of the Academic network with Internet access.

Centre of Geophysical Data Studies and Telematics Applications (CGDS) (http://www.ednes.org/CGDS/) was founded as a part of Institute of Physics of the Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPE RAS) on January 15, 1991. CGDS is located near the campus of Moscow Lomonosov State University at 3, Molodezhnaya st., Moscow 117296 Russia.

CGDS specializes in development and adaptation of new computer networking technologies, to support earth sciences data studies and exchange, with special emphasis to geophysical applications, as well as humanitarian activities.The centre includes three research groups: artificial intelligence laboratory (Head, Prof., Dr. Alexei D. Gvishiani), laboratory of network technologies (Head, Dr. Mikhail N. Zhizhin), and laboratory of geoinformation systems and technologies (Head, Dr. Alexander E. Beriozko).

CGDS’s staff consists of 32 members including two full professors (DoS) and 8 PhDs. Professor Alexei D. Gvishiani has been the head of CGDS since it has been founded. Leading CGDS scientists M.N. Zhizhin, A.V. Troussov, E.B. Burov, A.E. Beriozko, V. Zaalishvili, M.D. Kovalenko, S. Agayan, E.M. Graeva, engineers, managers and system administrators A.V. Andreev, T.D. Shulyakovskaya, E.S. Bolotsky, D.V. Nechitailenko, E.O. Kedrov, and others are well known and recognized in Russian scientific community, as well as at international level.

CGDS operates a powerful local area network (LAN) (8 servers and 32 workstations operating under Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98/95/3.11, Linux Red Hat 5.2 and Solaris 2.5-7) with high speed (100 MBps) fiber optic Internet connection to Moscow Internet backbone through campus network of Moscow Lomonosov State University.

The main topics of CGDS scientific activities are:

• development, adaptation and dissemination of modern computer and telematics technologies;
• development of technologies for collecting, processing and exchange of earth science and satellite data via Internet;
• development of on-line geological-geophysical data banks;
• development of artificial intelligence techniques and software for geophysical and geodynamic studies;
• study of global classifications of seismological records in connection with seismic engineering problems;
• development of telematics technologies for global seismic hazard assessment;
• geographical information systems (GIS) development and adaptation.

CGDS produced more than 150 papers in Russian and international scientific journals. Three books have been published recently (one of them is “Dynamic Systems and Dynamic Classification Problems in Geophysical Applications” by J.O. Dubois and A.D. Gvishiani published in Springer-Verlag in 1998).

Following long history of joint work with international organizations, since 1996 CGDS has been appointed as Russian focal point of Support for Telematics Applications Cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States (STACCIS) project. During the whole project CGDS also served as the central body of STACCIS activities in the CIS countries. In 1996-1999 CGDS hosts STACCIS Moscow Information Demonstration Center (IDC) and provides offices and all necessary infrastructure for STACCIS project manager and telematics engineer.

Currently Moscow STACCIS IDC has local area network (LAN) with fast (100 MBps) Internet connection; a comprehensive regularly updated library of books and CD-ROMs; demonstration software library; help desk on computer networking problems; services to provide telematics documentation and demonstration software to other European CIS countries; STACCIS major web-server.

STACCIS Web-server, hosted by CGDS, is being permanently developed and updated. It contains STACCIS major Web-site which reflects the main STACCIS project events and TAP projects developments, as well as mirrors of several important TAP Education and Training Sector projects Web-sites. IDCs of participating CIS countries have their own Web-sites which are mirrored at STACCIS major Web-server in Moscow. The structure and the content of STACCIS major Web-site (http://www.ednes.org/staccis/) adequately cover main STACCIS project activities. Special attention is also paid to the addition of new telematics related Internet services to the contents of STACCIS major Web-server. An example is installation of STACCIS e-mail server (staccis@perun.wdcb.ru). On-line database of contacts for EU/CIS collaboration in telematics, containing information on project participants/users and other useful contacts in both the CIS and EU countries, was created and is being permanently updated and maintained. STACCIS Technology Watch Web-site developed by Information Technology Centre of Belarus in collaboration with CGDS and STACCIS telematics engineer A. Troussov is also presented at the server.

CGDS contributed much to organization of STACCIS demonstrations of EU supported telematics products in the CIS countries. The demonstrations provided extensive East-West exchange of information on telematics and multimedia applications currently available or under development in sectors 3, 4 and 9 of Telematics Applications Programme (TAP).

CGDS was hosting organization for STACCIS “Demonstration of TAP Products and Technologies” and East-West Consensus Workshop held in Moscow, Russia, 2-6 October 1997. More than 300 CIS telematics users, developers and vendors participated in these events. CGDS also provided important contribution to the second STACCIS demonstration workshop “Telematics Applications for Research and Environmental Protection” held in Kiev, Ukraine, 18-20 February 1999.

In 1991-1996 CGDS was officially recognized as Russian center of the International Lithosphere Programme (ILP) – the well-known long-term joint scientific programme of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). At this time CGDS worked in close collaboration with ILP Coordination Committee “Data Centers and Information Exchange”, being an intermediary between Western institutes and data centers and their partners in Russia and the CIS.

At that time CGDS has been actively involved in UNESCO project of creation of Regional Center of International Decade of Natural Disaster (IDNDR) in Rabat, Morocco, and Scientific Research Center of the Geological Service of Zambia.

Being involved for many years in national and international projects of development and dissemination of modern computer technologies, CGDS took in 1993-1997 an active part in Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Programme (GSHAP) and served as an important component of the Euroasian GSHAP Regional Center. The main CGDS contribution in GSHAP included:

• Syntactical pattern recognition scheme (SRARS) for seismic signal analysis. This artificial intelligence software package was developed in close collaboration with Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg (IPGS), Strasbourg, France, French Atomic Energy Commission and European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC);
• Geographical Informational System (GIS) ATTILA (http://www.wdcb.ru/~ber/gis/gis0.shtml) for personal computers, and GIS-based algorithms of seismic hazard assessment/seismic zoning and linear structures recognition.

Now this software is used by many scientific organizations around the world including Institute of Physics of the Earth of Russian Academy of Sciences (IPE RAS), Moscow, Russia, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP), Paris, France, Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg (IPGS), Strasbourg, France, National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), Boulder, USA.

Starting from 1986, CGDS (and its predecessors in the previous structures) represented Soviet Union and then Russia in European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). In 1993 EMSC began functioning as a distributed structure of “key-nodal members” and CGDS became EMSC key-nodal member, responsible for the world-wide ground Strong Motion Data Base (SMDB). Other EMSC key-nodal members represent France, Germany, Italy and Spain. In 1992 Prof. A.D. Gvishiani was elected as vice-president of EMSC, and Dr. M.N. Zhizhin became head of the workgroup on automated data exchange between Obninsk, Moscow, and Bruyeres-le-Chatel, France. SMDB is available interactively in real time via the World Wide Web (http://perun.wdcb.ru/SMDB/).

Since 1994 CGDS closely cooperates with National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), USA, and actively participates in World Data Center System (WDC). The main CGDS - NGDC - WDC projects include:

• Space Physics Interactive Data Resource (SPIDR (http://plato.wdcb.ru/spidr/) and SPIDR2 (http://plato.wdcb.ru/spidr2/)), which is a distributed network of synchronous databases and application servers designed to allow manage historical space weather forecasts. The space weather data used are geomagnetic field variation and indices, sunspot numbers, ionosphere, interplanetary magnetic field and sun wind parameters, cosmic ray events and sun flares, etc.;
• World Data Center System (WDC) Moscow mirror (http://plato.wdcb.ru/wdc/);
• "Virtual Seismological Observatory" - Seismological Data Centers: WDC - IASPEI Workgroup (WDCWG) (http://socrates.wdcb.ru/wdcwg/);
• Electronic Publishing Experimental Site (http://eos.wdcb.ru/).

Since 1994 Prof. Alexei Gvishiani serves as Vice-Chairman of ICSU Panel on World Data Centres.

Starting from 1998 CGDS hosts the office of Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) Task Group (TG) “Comparative Mathematical Methodologies for Data Handling and Knowledge Extraction”. The TG Web-site installed at CGDS Web-server describes priorities, goals, objectives and activities of TG, as well as mathematical and telematics techniques that TG uses and/or will use to achieve its goals. It also represents CGDS experimental pilot databases for application of developed techniques. CGDS actively collaborates with CODATA and plans to extend the collaboration.

Starting from 1993 CGDS closely cooperates with International Association “Earth Data Networks for Education and Scientific Exchange” (EDNES), which headquarters are located in Strasbourg, France. Moscow EDNES branch was established as a part of CGDS, since the assossiation was founded in 1993. The major CGDS activities connected with EDNES are:

• implementation of UNESCO, UNIDO, The British Council (BC), UK, and Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France, education and training projects in computer telecommunication and Internet technology in the CIS countries;
• Web-hosting, Web-mirroring and Web-design developments.

Since it was founded, CGDS closely cooperates with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris, France, and including UNESCO Moscow office. The main projects of this collaboration are:

• Local Area Network (LAN) development, e-mail (1992) and Internet (1995) providing to UNESCO Moscow office;
• Web-mastering and maintenance of “UNESCO in the Russian Federation” Web-site (http://www.ednes.org/UNESCO/);
• "Culture of Peace" Web-site (http://www.culture.of.peace.ru/). It is devoted to the proclaimation of the year 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace. UNESCO is responsible to coordinate the activities of the International Year for a Culture of Peace, and CGDS helps UNESCO to promote the project in the CIS countries.

In cooperation with UNESCO and UNIDO CGDS implements Internet training programme (http://www.ednes.org/CGDS/TRAINING/). The training programme includes courses for advanced network users, programmers and system administrators. Quite many students successfully graduated from the courses. Among them were representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Mongolia.

CGDS cooperates with Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France, and The British Council (BC), London, UK, Institutes of Physics of the Earth in Paris and Strasbourg, France, Observatory of Nice, France, Madrid Polytechnical University, Spain, Stanford University, USA, INTAS, Brussels, Belgium, etc. The work of CGDS is supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR).