5. Intelligent multimedia information systems

The data on natural resources come in the form of images, graphs, maps, audio and text that all need to be integrated and processed. The existing GIS can handle only graphics, maps, and text data types for creating processing and displaying of information. It is desired that the database on natural resources must be built on multimedia objects and to be stored and displayed using CD-ROM. This will compact the delivery mechanism and convey the information very effectively to rural users. As the GIS is integrated with relational database management system, (RDBMS) it can be extended to handle the multimedia data with expert system and decision support capability. In fact, multimedia database can be built up using RDBMS and applications can be developed through the use of objected-oriented technology and Graphical User Interface (GUI). Mathematical model on various ecological parameters can be incorporated in the system with the use of C programming interface of RDBMS. The various production rules can be defined to built up the knowledge base from the existing database to bring the expert system capability in the systems. The structure of the proposed intelligent multimedia information systems for management of natural resource information is shown in fig.2. Its major components data model and knowledge base are described in the following para.