QUEST is a state-of-the-art computer model for regional scenarios that has the look and appeal of a computer game. QUEST allows audiences to interactively create and compare future scenarios for their region and to evaluate the consequences of their choices through a wide range of sustainability indicators from air quality to unemployment. QUEST has been developed over the past ten years at the University of British Columbia and Envision in a large project to bring scientists, decision makers and the public closer by combining the sophistication of a integrated modeling framework with a game-like interface.
QUEST has been designed to address the three critical challenges surrounding urban and regional sustainability:
1. The need to consider both the long and short-term consequences of choices facing the region;
2. The need to consider a wide range of complex environmental, economic and social issues when making decisions; and
3. The need to both educate and consult with a wide range of stakeholders and the public.
The purpose of QUEST is to encourage thinking about sustainability by actually placing the user in the position of making decisions that impinge upon issues such as regional development and displaying the consequences of these decisions. Sustainability, after all, may be what we choose when we understand the consequences of our choices.
QUEST has been described as:
* A state of the art computer model that has the look, user-friendliness and appeal of a computer game, allowing it to cater to experts and non-expert audiences;
* An interactive modeling approach that allows users to actively explore different possible future scenarios, which can be custom-built for any region of the world to capture the regionÃs priority sustainability issues;
* An innovative tool that facilitates dialogue and new understanding among a variety of stakeholders about sustainability and strategic options; and
* An integrated model which allows users to evaluate the social, economic and environmental consequences of their scenario choices.
Regions as diverse as Whistler (Canada), Bali (Indonesia), Manchester (England), and Vancouver (Canada) have successfully used QUEST to engage decision makers and the public in the planning process.
General Info
Developers:
Envision Sustainability Tools Inc.
Strengths:
Jim Fulton, Executive Director of the David Suzuki Foundation writes ìI think we'll very rapidly see QUEST become part of the social decision-making process all over the planet. QUEST is probably the greatest single tool to improve governance on the planet in a generation. It will lead to much better, much more informed, much more ecologically sound, and much more ecosystem-based decision making
Outputs:
The results from QUEST are an extensive list of your region's key performance indicators, projected from the present to 40 years hence, in 10 year increments.
QUEST is designed for interactive workshops with decision makers and key members of the public, and the interfaces tie together your scenario choices and their consequences. QUEST implementations include kiosks, interactive decision theatres, and interactive Web access.
The technical results (indicators) from QUEST are available for further analysis and reports in EXCEL spreadsheets, and the spatial results are in GIS attribute tables.
Resources
User Input Requirements:
QUEST users (or the workshop audience) make high-level choices to define a scenario, or detailed choices to refine their scenario. The analysis by QUEST is automatic and immediate, whereupon the users can review their results, again at a high level or in detail, and compare scenarios.
Time Commitment:
Learning how to navigate and present QUEST is simple, say 2 hours. Gathering the information and pictures for regional customization of your QUEST interfaces might involve 15 days. Further customization requires approximately 100 days committment for data assembly, models validation and calibration, and interface customization.
Data Input Requirements:
QUEST can be implemented for illustrative, educational use based on widely available GIS and tabular data available free from from federal and other sources (USGS, TIGER). Customization involves extensive assembly of local information, including economics, demographic trends, pollution sources, transportation infrastructure plans, etc.
Equipment Needs:
QUEST version 3 (Dec. 2003) is built with Microsoft technology and runs on regular PCs and laptops. An interactive Web version can be implemented for your region, hosted and maintained by Envision.
Limitations:
David Bell, Director of the York Centre for Application of Sustainability, writes ìQUEST as a concept has garnered widespread enthusiasm and support within the GTA. To move from interest to implementation it is clear that many collaborators will be required. Indeed one of the most attractive features of this project is the partnerships that can and must be forged to achieve it; and the way it brings together expert knowledge and public understanding to create the possibility for wiser decisions by individuals and organizations across all sectors ñ decisions based on increased knowledge and awareness of urban sustainability challenges and opportunities, decisions that will move us closer to the vision of the GTA as the Living City.î
Staff Requirements:
dependent upon project. QUEST is a decision support system or planning support system, and its regional implementation typically involves planners extensively in defining meaninful scenarios, developing and calibrating new models if these are required, managing the public process around the application of QUEST, and using QUEST for presentations to elected officials, decision makers and the public.
Software Cost:
Dependent upon needs for custom model development and models integration and calibration. The basic implementation of QUEST can be customized for your regional issues using widely available datasets and Envision's standard models for transportation, land-use, demographics, air and water pollution. Typically Envision provides consulting for QUEST projects.
Preview:
a 10 minute tour of QUEST is available as a video for download. Just ask!
Maintenance Costs:
not required unless we implement and host the interactive Web version your region's QUEST.
