Exploring the Patterns of Diffusion of Environmental Information (Case study: Department of Environment, Iran)

This study aims to explore the diffusion patterns of information based on ontology. Methodology was survey- descriptive. Data was collected by questionnaire. Population was the experts of department of environment (DOE), that 178 persons using systematic random sampling method. Findings showed that concepts of ontology, environmental impacts and pollution are the main information flowing in sections of DOE, and finally, general subject about environmental condition. Regarding the ontology of diffusion process and patterns, findings also revealed that one step and two steps patterns are used to transform environmental information, and among the network patterns, models of the vector with side branches, the network and the tree are applied to flow environmental information. About the ontology of knowledge objectives and methods, results also showed that respondents used internet web (email and search of information), workshop, news website, article and proceedings of conferences and seminars as methods and tools of local and global to obtain and diffuse environmental information. Finally, based on the results and in framework-driven ontology engineering processes, developing an environmental social web network was recommended to facilitate information flow for environmental protection.