DOI
https://doi.org/10.17559/TV-20160209132849

Summary
The paper contributes to promoting environmental informatics in the technical science and professional society. The authors describe the application possibilities of environmental informatics, the techniques of data collection and processing, conceptualization, and parametrization from the perspective of complex systems. The survey was performed in Croatia for 31 students and 11 teachers. They were asked 10 questions and 8 questions respectively. The questions were related to GIS (geographic information system), modelling environmental management systems, differential equation and data processing, web, and application of environmental informatics. The study showed that students and teachers are not engaged enough to environmental issues and therefore are not interested in collecting environmental data, processing it, and modelling system behavior. The authors emphasize the need to educate the students about the benefits of environmental informatics in the technical sciences.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
The authors present how the environmental informatics can help to identify the problem, collect data, create an appropriate model to uncover bottlenecks of processes and design strategies for a greater success to protect nature, cultural and historical heritage, manage rapid industrialization and urbanization. Undoubtedly, the creation of such models requires understanding of biophysical, social and economic processes, their complex interactions and how they respond to various changes. The interpretation of the results obtained using the model requires analytical skills to assess the possible outcomes and analyze alternatives. In this case, information technologies are an important field to develop the model and make sustainability-based decisions in the field of environment protection.

Point of Strength
The strength of this article is that it discovers the importance of the environmental informatics to create models of environmental policies with respect to the holistic approach including biophysical, social and economic processes.