EEA and Microsoft will bring environmental information to your fingertips

Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the EEA, and Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman Europe, Microsoft Corporation, signed a partnership agreement, aimed at creating an environmental information platform. This platform will be based on Microsoft's 'Virtual Earth' and will not only host scientific data but also observations provided by local users. The technology developed by Microsoft will enable users to upload and share their information with others. Where possible, the information on the platform will be accessible through mobile devices. 

'This collaboration is a first of its kind to establish a two-way communication on the environment. Until now, authorities, including the EEA, have communicated their data to the public. But local observers, who are often the first to notice real change in their environment, had difficulties sharing their observations with others. This partnership will provide them a platform to do exactly that', said Professor McGlade. 

The platform will be open to contributions by other information providers and will be functional in the weeks to come. 

See also

• Microsoft EMEA Press release