Web-based Information Systems and Databases

Topics Covered / Competencies

In the course of development of information systems for various fields of use, the project groups also conduct application-oriented research in computer science. The following research topics are of relevance to the "web-based information systems and databases" working group:

•    Web-based information systems, web services
•    Database-based information systems
•    Meta data, content management, and knowledge management systems
•    Workflow management systems
•    Geo-information systems

The research work accomplished within the framework of a single project frequently covers several of the topics indicated above. Applications often are web-based information systems as far as access to information via the web is concerned. At the same time, database technology is used on the server side and mechanisms to describe data with meta data and/or further components for content or knowledge management are required. Applications in the field of geo-information systems typically use databases for the storage of geo-data. Web-based information systems frequently include access to geo-information systems to describe the geographical location of information..

Research-oriented work is aimed at making the handling of the information systems to be conceived as simple and specific as possible for the user. In this respect, work in the fields of meta data, content management, knowledge management, workflow management, and geo-information systems is considered to be of crucial importance and future relevance. With these systems, the classical web-based and internet-based information systems are extended by mechanisms (e.g. for intelligent specific information search, administration, and supply of information) that optimize work of the various user groups of the systems developed by the IAI. This particularly applies to our primary users in the scientific-technical field, but also to authorities and industrial companies, as here less and less employees have to manage increasingly complex tasks that require the use of intelligent work-optimizing software solutions.

Another important aspect is the linking of information systems via the internet. First approaches can be found in web-based workflow or B2B systems, where various systems exchange work processes, contracts etc. via the internet. Another example is the linking of systems in the scientific-technical field for software-supported coordination of e.g. complex scientific work processes, such as modeling, simulation, and optimization, which are geographically distributed in various projects.