Recent research
at the University of Sydney and the University of Ballarat has produced methods
for advanced computation and automation that enable the rapid and
cost-effective deployment of harmonised, large-scale, detailed MRIO systems.
These concepts and methods have been trialled with the research teams in this
application. Following recent workshops, the participants agreed that (a) these
trials were successful; (b) the data infrastructure of the teams could be
united in a way that would maximise the benefits for all; and (c) the codes and
procedures are now sufficiently proven to be leveraged onto a jointly operated
large-scale computational platform.
In particular, any researcher using
the Industrial Ecology Lab would be able to: undertake a wide range of environmental
analyses at unprecedented regional and industry sector detail, based on timely
data, access, process and analyze long and continuous historical time series,
and benefit from comprehensive information, increasing the reliability of
analytical results.
The
Laboratory will have numerous additional uses beyond the field of environmental
sustainability. It will deliver significant improvements to the predictive
economic capabilities of Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling, and to
support research into socio-economic indicators such as employment, health and
inequality.
This
Industrial Ecology Lab eResearch infrastructure will greatly accelerate,
streamline and synergise the input-output work undertaken across a number of
research organisations across Australia. It will enable this by delivering
substantial improvements in the efficiency and quality of
environmentally-extended MRIO data that can be generated at a sub-national
level. The result will be an integrated environmental-economic research tool
that provides the most comprehensive available picture of the Australian
economic and environmental structure, and enables Australian researchers to
undertake ground-breaking sustainability analysis and assessments with
unprecedented detail, accuracy, speed, and relevance.
Broader alignment with
national research priorities and infrastructure is demonstrated by the interest
of CSIRO CSIRO believe that the
Industrial Ecology Lab provides an exceptional opportunity to link (MR)IO
analysis to other integrated assessment models for assessing the sustainability
implications of different scenarios for future economic and urban development
in Australia. The Industrial Ecology Lab project is also strongly supported by
governmental institutions such as the ABS and the Department of Climate Change
and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE). The ABS charter includes research that (a)
supports strategic policy making, and (b) provides data to underpin much
applied research carried out by other institutions. The ABS is increasingly
engaging in research on emissions and extractions (e.g. water use) embodied in
the final demand from various sectors of the economy. The DCCEE and many other
government departments are interested in modelling the implications of the
carbon tax on economies at different scales. The outputs of the IE Lab are
highly relevant for such modelling.
The business objectives are:
- To provide automated process of raw data pre- processing, data reconciliation and data model analysis.
- To provide mechanism for data management, assessment methods control and user management.
- To provide tools for environmental researchers to improve research efficiency.
- To provide high quality system integration hence reduce system errors along the way of transferring raw data into actual statics.
- To provide searchable research datasets and online analysis tool box for researchers to encourage the study using MRIO model.
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