This research programme, led by EERNZ/Massey University, is about integrating state-of-the-art research with policy to enable better decisions in Spatial Planning. It builds on the Creating Futures project and ‘Sustainable Pathways 1' and runs from 2009 to 2015. There are three parallel research streams:
The purpose of the National Advisory Group for Integrated Planning (NAGIP) is to support integrative spatial planning in New Zealand. The focus of NAGIP is to promote the development of appropriate systems and tools such as models and decision support systems (DSS) to undertake integrated planning. Members are from central and local government, including representatives from research institutes and universities.
The project will produce a searchable web-based directory of existing spatial models and other decision support systems for policy and resource management by regional councils. The directory will provide standardised key information for each spatial model/DSS and will also include examples, where available, of how they have been used and applied by regional councils or other agencies. The directory will be designed to allow for the required flexibility to regularly review, update and add new models/DSS.
RIKS is one of the key Creating Futures partners and supporting and further enhancing WISE. RIKS has been producing software tools for over 20 years to support planners by allowing them to test and analyse the outcomes of potential decisions. Their tools consist of a range of computational models that are integrated together to form a Spatial Decision Support System. For WISE, including the software frameworks GEONAMICA (used for WISE) and METRONAMICA.
In this project a computer-based model framework for freshwater models is being designed and tested to proof-of-concept stage. The framework will allow a number of existing mathematical models for freshwater quality and quantity to interoperate by sharing data, communicating to each other, and making use of visualisation or mapping tools.