Software products include:
EcoCalculator (2024) It calculates: (1) Emergy indicators (transformity and specific emergies) as were developed by the systems ecologist Howard T Odum; (2) prices and profit rates as defined by the Italian economist Piero Sraffa. Both Odum and Sraffa characterise systems (economies, ecosystems) in terms of physical measurements and flows, and mathematically Sraffa’s prices and Odum’s transformities/specific emergies can be calculated in exactly the same way. Both sets of metrics also are seen as ‘objective’ valuation metrics. Because of the similarities some authors have argued that the two methods are convergent, and particularly useful in dealing with natural resource and environmental problems that are encountered in disciplines such as Ecological Economics. The EcoCalculator provides a range of methods for solving simultaneous linear equations, some of which are different to those implicit in Sraffa’s original work. The EcoCalculator can be be run from here
Developer was Murray Patterson
EECA Energy End-Use Database (1992, 1993, 1997, 2004, 2008) This database provide a complete picture, for a given year, of uses of energy across sectors (≈ 25) in the New Zealand economy, by end-uses (≈25) by technology type (≈25). Murray developed the database structure which provides for very flexible interrogation of the data, in terms of asking literally millions of questions of varying degree of complexity. Murray regularly updated the database from 1992 to 2008 and advised EECA on other updates including most recently 2019. The current version of the database can be run from here. The project report on the 2008 update is available here
Developer was Murray Patterson
Optimisation Model of Potential Energy Savings in New Zealand (2010-2011) This model was developed for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, based in part on data from the EECA Energy End-Use Database. The model identified technological options for improving New Zealand’s energy efficiency and reducing energy sector carbon dioxide emissions. Download a copy of the project report here. EECA has continued to develop and use models based on the original model formulation.
Developer was Murray Patterson
Ecological Footprint Calculator (2003, 2005) This Online calculator was developed for the Ministry for Environment. By entering lifestyle data such as energy consumption, personal transport, diet and recycling, a personal ecological footprint or household ecological footprint could be calculated. The calculator was removed from the Ministry for Environment website as it was seen to unfavourably reflect upon the New Zealand agricultural sector.
Developer was Murray Patterson
Ecological Footprint Calculator for the ‘Wa$ted’ TV Programme (2005, 2008). This online indicator was used on a reality TV programme ‘to measure the ecological footprint of contestants’ households. Contestants aimed to reduce their ecological footprint by undertaking a number of measures such as improving their recycling, reducing or changing their use of motor vehicles, and changing their shopping habits. Episode 2 of Wa$ted can be viewed here (go to 20 minutes 30 seconds to see the use of the Calculator). The series spawned versions in 15 countries outside of New Zealand most notably in the United States but also in Canada, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, and Malaysia. More details can be found here
Developer was Murray Patterson
EcoLink Database System (1997). This database was developed with funding from the Ministry for the Environment and participating councils in the Waikato, Auckland and Northland regions. It showed how different sectors and regional, city and district councils used natural resources and produced pollutants. Available on CD from Murray, but unfortunately it is not operational on many modern-day operating systems. Reports available here and here
Developers were Garry McDonald and Murray Patterson.
Massey University Agro-Food System Input-Output Model (MASIM) (1987). The development of this model was funded by the New Zealand Energy Research and Development committee. MASIM was initially developed to focus on energy optimisation problems related to achieving nutritional goals from a national perspective, and then extended to cover economic factors as well. As such it was one of the first models to determine optimal diets using both ecological constraints (such as the availability of natural resources) and economic constraints – of note Dooren (2018) asserts that Wilson et al.’s (2013) New Zealand model was the first such model to do so internationally, which is an assertion we dispute – MASIM achieved this 26 years’ earlier than the Wilson model. MASIM was also one of the first input output models to measure flows between economic sectors in physical terms. MASIM is no longer operational. The programming code (MPS Format) is however available from the developer.
The project report is available here
Developer was Murray Patterson