Places+Spaces, a newly developed modelling tool, promises to break new ground on sustainable development decision-making for municipal and regional governments. As the first of its kind in Canada, this comprehensive new computer-based platform allows users to input various development factors including buildings, transportation, energy, water and land-use, economic and employment, education and healthcare. They are then integrated to calculate their interdependent relationships to produce various sustainability scenarios.
This three-year project, funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, brought together for the first time a private sector modelling company, whatif? Technologies, with a worker’s cooperative, Sustainability Solutions Group, to help create this unique sustainability decision tool for local government decision-makers.
The beta version has been released as an open source tool and is now available as a free resource for use by all regional and municipal staff and elected leaders.
