Principles of organization and function of the ECOINFORM information retrieval system for the Urals and Western Siberia

Currently, it is necessary to overcome the informational and territorial disconnection of academic ecological institutions and state reserves, as well as to coordinate and promote joint fundamental ecological studies in Russian regions. For this purpose, it is proposed to develop and set up an integrated specialized information retrieval system (IRS) ECOINFORM. Foremost, a local element of this IRS for the Urals and Western Siberia is to be constructed. It is planned to create the specialized Internet server (http://www.ecoinf.uran.ru), as well as to use the existing Internet servers in the Urals and Western Siberia. The system will be comprised of a distributed database including hypertext and multimedia and allow for semiautomatic updating (in the moderation mode). The database will contain information both to be used for decision support in the field of fundamental ecological problems and to assist in the profession- and subject-oriented formation of ecologists' communication groups. It is also planned to create an interface and system navigation tools. The principles of organization and function of the IRS are described.