Integrated Dynamic Environmental Assessment System (IDEAS)

Purpose

IDEAS is a set of linked models for assisting stakeholders in planning catchment futures. From a future vision of the catchment, which may be articulated in a variety of ways, IDEAS may be used to assess the environmental and socio-­economic impacts of the vision. Integration of environmental and socio­economic factors facilitates learning by stakeholders of the impact of their personal visions on other stakeholders.

Description

The purpose of IDEAS is to provide an Integrated Dynamic Environmental Assessment System within which modelling tools provide answers to real catchment questions about cumulative causes and effects of a mosaic of catchment developments. IDEAS is a scenario modelling tool designed to facilitate collaborative learning for catchment stakeholders. This is achieved by "a loose coupling of biophysical, economic and agent-based models".

IDEAS runs multiple biophysical models simultaneously and summarises outputs as a mean value of "environmental intensity' for each land use. IDEAS may be applied at a range of scales, from local through to regional.

It has particular strength at the catchment scale where bio­physical processes have strong spatial interactions. IDEAS feeds information into the dialogue between stakeholders so that a shared vision of a catchment can be generated. It helps stakeholders understand the present status of the catchment, in terms of environmental, economic, and social performance, and how this can change with various catchment management scenarios.

In technical stream of work the biophysical models predict the flow of water, and associated sediment, carbon, nutrients, and pollutants, through the catchment and into the marine environment. Inputs to the models is spatial data (land use is time dependent). Outputs from the models are time-dependent digital maps of mass flows (water, carbon, nutrients, and pollutants). No one model is able to handle all of the processes of interest in the catchment, so several models are used  for what are judged to be the important processes and these are then linked.

Latest Version	23
State of Development	Closed Beta
Current Development Activity	No

Scope

Outcome Areas	Economic, Environmental, Social
Management Domains	Land, Community
Subdomains	Fishing & Aquaculture
Intended End Users	Researcher Regional Council Scientist Policy Analyst Scientists, planners, policy makers
Spatial Resolutions	10-100m
Spatial Extents	Local (i.e. Catchment or District)
Spatial Dimensions	1D, 2D
Temporal Resolutions	Years
Temporal Extents	Decades
Steady State or Dynamic	Dynamic
Level of Integration	Economic, Environmental, Social, Cultural

Input & Output Data

Key Input Data	Macro-economic data, Land Use, Land Cover, Rainfall, Runoff, Drainage, Temperature, Potential Evaporation, Population cohorts, Migration, Fertility, Deprivation index, Cultural
Input Data Formats	Any format one of the models support.
Key Output Data	Macro-economic data Water quality & quantity indicators, Jobs, CHI
Output Data Formats	not specified

Accessibility

Open/Closed Source	Closed Source
Licence Type	Not released to public.

User Information

Operating Systems	MS Windows
Software Needed	Excel
User Interface	No user interface
Ease of Use	Easy The coupling is easy to use.
Use in Policy Process	Plan (Policy Formulation)
Documentation	None
Support	There is willingness of the developers to support users
Users Forum	None

Technical Considerations

Programming Language	A variety of languages as it is a loose coupling.
Methods included for calibration and validation	All sorts of methods for the individual models. For example, NZEEM is validated using in-stream measurements.
Methods included for managing uncertainty	The coupling does not consider uncertainty
Analytical Techniques	use of environmental intensities
Model Structure	Loose coupling of a variety of models
Keywords	policy development, catchment, model coupling, socio-economic
Linkages to other Models	New Zealand Empirical Erosion Model (NZeem®) Linkages to other models is dependent on links to other models as it combines biophysical models (riverine water quantity, sediment, E. coli faecal bacteria, trout numbers, nitrogen transport, marine productivity), a socio-economic model (includes gross output, gross margin, job numbers), and an agent-based model.
Links	Integrated catchment Management and IDEAS : http://icm.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/research.asp?theme_id=5&research_id=67 Presentation for ICM Motueka - http://icm.landcareresearch.co.nz/science_wrap/documents/04_IDEAS_Integrated_Models_for_ICM_JohnDymondConvenor.pdf
Key References	Dymond JR, Davie TJA, Fenemor AD, Ekanayake JC, Knight BR, Cole, AO, de Oca Munguia OM, Allen WJ, Young RG, Basher LR, Dresser M, and Batstone CJ 2010. Integrating environmental and socio-economic indicators of a linked catchment-coastal system using Variable Environmental Intensity. Environmental Management 46(3): 484-493 - http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00267-010-9539-6?LI=true Dymond J, Davie T, Fenemor A, Cole A, Montes de Oca Manguia O, Knight B. and Batstone C. IDEAS: an Integrated Dynamic Environmental Assessment System Hydrological Society Conference, Rotorua, 2007. - http://icm.landcareresearch.co.nz/knowledgebase/publications/public/hydrosoc_dymond.pdf

Associated Case Studies