Atlas NW - Background
Interactive tools for sustainable development
Background
The theme of sustainable development needs us to look into the future, to see the longer term effects of present day actions. It also needs us to understand better the present, and the tangled web of causes and effects in a complex society which needs to live in harmony with its environment.
The Eco-quest helps throw light on this - so that users can design and explore their region, in both the present and the future. It aims to show the effects of personal choices and policy decisions directly - whether for houses, cars, diets or lifestyles in general. The Eco-quest works best at the regional level - not so large as a nation, yet large enough to show the natural support systems of energy, water and landuse.
The Eco-quest NW at present is a prototype, to show what is possible for the next stage, for other regions, or for other sectors. It also aims to be a platform on which material can be accumulated as it becomes available.
