List of Participants of the Network Groups, the Structure of the Network and its Working Protocols

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1. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS OF THE NETWORK GROUPS, THE STRUCTURE OF THE NETWORK AND ITS WORKING PROTOCOLS.

 

The network created under this Project enables the collection of agreed-upon data from the territorial information nodes (TINs) and transfer thereof to the Dnipro Russian Information Center (DRIC). In addition, it is used for transferring consolidated verified data on the state of the Dnipro Basin and its exposure to anthropogenic pressures to the management bodies, namely, the Conference of Authorized Representatives (Russia-Ukraine) and the Joint Commission (Russia-Belarus). At subsequent stages, the DRIC will also arrange for the downloading of data obtained under other Program projects.

 

1.1. List of the participants of network groups

 

1.1.1. Network nodes of a territorial level

 

 

1.1.2. Network nodes of federal and regional (basin) levels

 

 

1.2. The structure of the network

 

The Russian Dnipro computer network comprises 23 nodes located in major cities of the six Russian riparian regions – Smolensk, Kaluga, Briansk, Oriol, Kursk, and Belgorod and the city of Moscow (See Fig. 1.1).

 

The computer network has been designed to serve as a communication link that will make it possible to share information at the federal and interstate levels. The federal level includes national agencies responsible for nature and water conservation and scientific and research institutions involved in the protection of the Russian Dnipro Basin environment, namely:

 

- Transboundary Water Bodies Division of the Water Resources Department of the State Water Management Agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia;

- Moscow-Oka Basin Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia;

- State Sanitary and Epidemiological Inspection Agency of the Ministry of Health of Russia;

- Global Climate and Ecology Institute affiliated with the Rosgidromet and RAS.

 

 

Fig. 1.1. The network nodes

 

The interstate level enables communication among Belarus and Ukraine’s Dnipro information centers and the Dnipro Interstate Information Center. The central node (DRIC) is connected to the sectional nodes via dial-up telephone line. The territorial natural resources and environmental control departments of the Ministry of Natural Resources are linked to the territorial bodies of the Rosgidromet and of the Ministry of Health in the same manner. The dial-up connection is maintained via communications equipment and dedicated software installed at the network computers.

 

In addition to the unidirectional dial-up connection (DRIC – sectional node – territorial bodies of the Rosgidromet and of the Ministry of Health) all network computers are connected to the Internet. All network computers located in the Dnipro Basin have a dial-up Internet connection via the nearest Internet provider and the DRIC computers have a dedicated Internet connection.

 

Besides, the computer network being created allows information to be shared with local databases of the basic DRIC organizations – the Register and Cadastre Center and the Open-End Joint-Stock Company “VODNIIINFORMPROEKT”.

 

For security purposes, data protection soft hardware packages developed by leading designers in this field are provided.

 

Under the Computer Linkages–1 Project, 7 soft hardware packages were delivered to the DRIC and 6 Dnipro Basin sectional nodes (MNR of Russia territorial departments for natural resources and environmental control) and connected to the Internet via dial-up line. In Fig. 1.1 this shipment is colored turquoise. To complete this Project it is necessary to purchase and install 16 soft hardware packages of which 12 will be provided to the territorial bodies of the Rosgidromet and the Ministry of Health and the remaining 4, to the federal agencies responsible for nature and water conservation (in Fig. 1.1 they are colored light green).

 

The list of required computer and communications equipment and basic software is presented in Section 4 of this report.

 

Fig. 1.2. The structure of the network

 

1.3. Network Operation and Working Protocols

 

The main functional priorities of the computer network are as follows:

 

First, database filling. Special-purpose software installed at the DRIC server establishes a dial-up connection with the work stations of the sectional nodes. The Transport Control Protocol and the Secure Sockets Layer allow data to be sent from the nodes to the database of the network central node. Data management is carried out by the database server (SQL-server). (See Fig.1.2).

 

The second functional block of the network is about ensuring that all potential network users get access to information. This is done with the aid of a web server with installed software and a populated database. The web server is an Internet node which is registered under a unique address and operates twenty-four hours a day while providing access to information and system services. The node contains a web site (information page) comprising relevant information on the state of the Dnipro Basin environment. Provision is made for interactive communication among the network nodes and among users of the information system via interfaces such as Chat (communication on a real time basis, according to the prenegotiated time schedule of user sessions), Forum (discussion of pressing issues related to the Dnipro Basin environment) and the Bulletin Board (that allows the user to get a rough idea of available information).

 

Since access will be provided to both specialists and other interested users full and restricted access modes are envisaged for which purpose an access right authentication procedure will be used. Thus, the information system resources will be accessed through the standard protocols such as HTTP (Hyper Text Transport Protocol) and HTTPS (Hyper Text Transport Protocol Secure).

 

Organization of the DRIC internal network. To protect data circulating in the network there will be installed a Firewall soft hardware package which protects information against unsanctioned assess. The primary intent is to protect the database server, applications server and users’ computers from external attacks. The main function of the Firewall is to screen off the database and applications servers as potential targets of external attacks from an unauthorized access in addition to their internal protection. The Firewall software and hardware solution was produced by D-Link company, a leading developer of security appliances. The firewall was set up on the basis of the D-Link DFL-500 solution, provided as a part of the project as a contribution of the Russian side (VODNIIINFORMPROEKT).

 

 

Fig. 1.3. Network Block Diagram and Working Protocols

 

The WEB server is designed to present the end-user with information, such as static and dynamic pages and bitmapped images, which is to be provided at the user’s request. The WEB server produces both static information (which is stored in the file structure of the server catalogues) and dynamic information obtained as a result of execution of CGI applications. The WEB server being created under this Project is based on the Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS).

 

CGI applications, initiated by the WEB server at the user’s request, analyze input information and on this basis generate an answer to the user’s request by using input information processing data, database queries and application server queries. Meanwhile, the WEB server interacts with the user through the HTTP protocol or its secured version – HTTPS. In addition to issuing information some CGI applications are responsible for interaction (dialogue) and entering information in the database. CGI applications are being designed on the basis of the Active Server Pages (ASP) Web-programming technology.

 

DBMS ensures storage and updating of information, which is structured in accordance with thematic (subject) blocks, and delivers information formatted according to users’ requests. It was proposed that the Microsoft SQL Server be used as the DB server. The DBMS MS SQL Server is a high-power industrial option which offers reliability, guarantees data security and has a wide range of functional and administrative facilities. Currently, DBMS Microsoft Access is being used to develop and debug software.

 

The applications server is designed to support the operation of the WEB and DB servers using software which is not included in the accompanying software packages. It is proposed that a GIS server ESRI ArcView 8.x be used as an application server which will prepare respective cartographic information in response to requests coming from the WEB server. In responding to these requests the applications server uses the database to store its own information and to fill up tables that ensure storage of information on environmental resources.

 

In addition, the applications server has special-purpose software which allows for the reception of information from territorial departments via dial-up line in the manual, automatic and semi-automatic modes. The special-purpose software is being designed in the Borland Delphi programming environment.

 

1.4. Network Operation Modes

 

The Project envisages 3 operation modes

 

- normal;

- preventive;

- emergency (extreme).

 

Besides, an auxiliary training mode to provide training to the network participants is envisaged.

 

In the normal mode the volume of issued information and frequency at which it is made available depend on schedules of respective departmental information networks. Thus, in this case basic information is derived from the State Water Cadastre (SWC) data and defines quantity, quality and uses of surface and ground water resources. The data are updated once a year according to the SWC maintenance schedule. Information on safety levels of hydraulic structures is updated more dynamically, that is each time a safety declaration is filed.

 

The normal mode also includes furnishing information obtained from joint analytical monitoring of hydro-chemical and radiological parameters of water bodies at transboundary sampling sites under the 1992 Ukrainian-Russian agreement on transboundary water bodies between counterpart basin water management organizations. In this case the data are updated four times a year.

 

The network operates in the preventive mode in cases where water contamination levels exceed normal levels but are below extreme levels. In this case, the network schedule envisages establishing directed data transfer channels that provide information once a week.

 

Emergency (extreme) mode (in cases where extreme water contamination levels are exceeded) requires furnishing information on a daily basis.

 

To enable the network participants to take appropriate and timely measures in an emergency an auxiliary training mode is envisaged. This mode consists in emulating an emergency situation in the Russian Dnipro Basin and assessing the network participants’ readiness to act in compliance with relevant schedule provisions.

 

1.5. Data Flows

 

The general data flow diagram is presented in Fig. 1.4. Initially, data from territorial bodies of the Rosgidromet and the Ministry of Health are sent to the MNR of Russia’s sectional node located in the same region. After initial processing and analysis, data are transferred to the DRIC’s database where they become accessible to the end-user via DRIC’s WEB server.

 

In an emergency, network data flows get extended to cover the potential impact of an emergency situation on the Russian Dnipro Basin, Belarus and Ukraine and to take into account the scale and location of a pollution source and hydrographic parameters of the Dnipro Basin water bodies. Data about the state of an affected water body are then sent from the sectional node located in the emergency area to downstream nodes thus allowing appropriate bodies to take timely action to eliminate after-effects. In the case of transboundary water bodies, data are sent to the Belarus and Ukrainian information centers. Thus, data flows are arranged in such a way as to objectively reflect the hydrographic network of the Russian Dnipro Basin. Fig. 1.4 shows as a dot line data flow routes for the preventive and emergency modes in case of an emergency affecting water bodies of the Russian Dnipro Basin.

 

If necessary, the regional network participants come in direct contact and share data via e-mail while transmitting an electronic copy to the DRIC.

 

Fig. 1.4. Network data flow diagram