Title: The potential
positive impact of E-government projects
Abstract: Flanders,
the northern region of Belgium, is densely populated. In relation with the
federal structure of Belgium, Flanders produces annually a huge amount of
complex l legislation to protect the environment. This can result in
legal insecurity, wrong investments, increasing barriers for starters and
increased governmental cost. To counter these negative effects Vito, the Flemish
Institute for Technological Research founded in 1998 on initiative of the
Flemish Government a legal environmental expertsystem. In order to
evaluate the success rate of the Flemish Environmental Legislation Navigator
(www.emis.vito.be/navigator) Vito launched a large-scale inquiry. With a response
rate of almost 1 out of 3 (28,8%) the investigation can therefor be called
representative. Daily the Navigator creates more than 500 pageviews. Two
typical visitor profiles can be distinguished. On the one hand the ‘professionals’
consisting of environmental coordinators, consultants and inspectors/controllers
who appeared weekly till daily to consult the Navigator. On the other hand
the ‘occasionals’ who are situated by policy makers, administration, technicians,
staff, researchers and students and uses the Navigator monthly or less. The
‘professionals’ consult the Navigator by searching in the full text versions.
Vice versa, less frequently users relay upon the expertise behind the
system and use especially the keywords. In general 75 % of the request make
use of the thematically juridical indexation made by legal staff of the University
of Ghent . Especially those who are in charge to enforce environmental regulation
are the most satisfied with the result. Finally the frequent users are clear
about the cost-effectiveness of the Navigator. They are convinced that the
Navigator saves them much time during their job. In Flanders the overall use
of the Navigator could reduce the total enforcement cost with € 457
380.
Authors: Geert De Meyer
and L. Lavrysen