The Waikato Integrated Scenario Explorer (WISE) is a dynamic, spatially-explicit computer simulation model that assesses the effects and trade-offs of alternative future development scenarios or the consequences of policy options.
It spatially integrates economic, demographic, environmental (climate, hydrology, water quality, biodiversity) and land use (suitability, accessibility, local influence, zoning) information to undertake these asessments. For a quick overview of the spatial planning tool WISE watch this short video - Click here to view...
The Waikato Regional Council is now advancing the practical application and further enhancement of WISE to support regional and local government planning and decision-making processes.
For the Waikato Region future projections of land use, population, households, workforce, employment, value added for 2013-2061 have been developed, based on WISE model outputs, to inform regional and district planning. These projections were based on WISE V1.4 and 2013 census data.
New Projections based on the 2018 census are planned for completion in 2020 pending the release of required data from 2018 census by Stats NZ. To find out more about the New Waikato Projections - Click here..
In addtion to being a key modelling component for the Waikato Projections, WISE has also been used for several other projects. These are presented as case studies. They have included included understanding the pressure and risks to soils resources, exploring the potential consequences of desired economic development, and understadning possible land use consequences of coastal inundation.
For more on the potential uses for WISE - Click here..
The Waikato Reference Scenario is the 'starting setup' for the WISE model. The Reference Scenario provides a plausible future projection based on current policies, plans and associated zoning, current and planned infrastructure, current projections of population and economic growth, and geophysical suitability of the landscape.
The Reference Scenario provides a starting point onwhich to built alternate future scenarios and a 'baseline' set of indicator outputs for comparision with any alternate scenarios. To find out more about the Waikato Reference Scenario and its projection into the future - Click here...
An upgrade of the WISE model is being undertaken during 2019/2020. Following on from improvements in V1.5 the new version (V1.6) will have a number of other improvements. These include: New modelling start date of 2018 and includes an updates starting land use map for 2018 Up-to-date zoning and growth strategy information for the regional territorial authorities... >>
Work is underway to update the 2013 Waikato Projections. These projections provided a consistent set of data across the Waikato Region for plan and strategy development. The new 2018 projections will be based on 2018 census results and an updated land use for the Waikato Region. The project is awaiting the release of required data... >>