Systems Based Planning & Information Networks
Abstract
Many regions of Australia and New Zealand are facing challenges that are not dissimilar to those faced within other countries around the world. In urban areas there are challenges with development control, the delivery and maintenance of all forms of infrastructure to a changing population, and the multiple impacts of traffic congestion. Rural areas are dealing with declining populations, changing farming practices, economic pressures from world markets, environmental degradation and resource sharing conflicts. Governments and communities are struggling with these challenges because of the highly inter-related nature of the issues and the integrated institutional and community response that is required to achieve the aspiration that is sustainability. The analysis of human and environmental systems and their interaction offers much in terms of capturing and expressing the complex interactions, which can underpin more robust, outcomeorientated planning and action. Furthermore, a more mature approach to collecting, sharing and reporting information is a vital ingredient in improved planning and delivery of sustainable development. Innovative systems-based approaches to regional planning and information systems are demonstrated with several case studies.
Author
Dr Nicholas Fleming
Practice Leader for Sustainability, Sinclair Knight Merz, Australia