Software Tools

Source: Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium

The PCIC has produced high-resolution maps of the likely effects of climate change in BC.

Source: BEQUEST

This software demonstrates a system to support decision makers concerned with Urban sustainability. The system is composed of 4 modules: the Protocol module, the Assessment Methods Module, the Advisors module and the Glossary.

Source: Torrie Smith Associates Inc.

'Point-and-click' software tool to help members of the International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) Cities for Climate Protection Campaign develop their local climate action plans. Software covers both in-house and community wide greenhouse gas emissions from energy use and waste as well as quantifies financial savings, air pollutant reductions and other co-benefits of greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies. Automates energy conversions, embeds emission coefficients, speeds up analytical and monitoring component of local action plans.

Source: American Forests

GIS-based software tool that measures community tree canopy and the energy and air quality benefits of vegetation. Designed to help people understand the value of trees to the local environment, to test landscape ordinances, to evaluate site plans, and to model development scenarios that capture the benefits of trees.

Source: Criterion Planners/Engineers

Stakeholder-customized GIS-based model that measures energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and other indicators of sustainability for neighbourhoods, communities, and regions.

Source: U.S Environmental Protection Agency

This program shows effective ways to reduce home energy consumption. Topics include insulation, windows, doors, weather-stripping, and caulking. The expert system feature allows users to calculate how much they will save by making their homes more energy efficient. After you enter information about your home and the energy-saving changes you intend to make, the program uses local utility and climate data to calculate your savings in money, energy, and reduction of pollutants.

The program is available as a downloadable, self-extracting zipfile.

Source: Community Analysis and Planning Systems, Inc.

Designed to allow non-technical people in public forums to use GIS information to support community-based dialogue and collaborative decision-making. Performs land suitability analysis and alternative policy evaluation. Can explore alternative community development scenarios and project future land use patterns and associated population, housing, and employment trends. Can also examine the likely impacts of alternative policies for controlling urban growth, preserving agricultural land, or expanding public infrastructure in easy-to-understand maps and tables.