Scientific review of Land Use Scanner and Environment Explorer
In January 2007 a scientific review of the Land Use Scanner and the Environment Explorer was carried out, organised by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP).
The review was carried out by professor Harry Timmermans (chair) of Eindhoven University of Technology, professor Michael Batty of University College London, professor Helen Couclelis of University of California Santa Barbara and professor Michael Wegener of S&W Urban and Regional Research.
Main conclusions
Main conclusions of the review committee, drawn from the draft review report:
“The audit committee thinks that the Land Use Scanner and Environment Explorer are among the best in the field, and are very useful for assessing policy impacts relating to the spatial distribution of land use at the national level. There are several technical elements that could be further developed but this will not dramatically change the adequacy of these models for their intended purpose.”
Recommendations
More specifically addressed at MNP the review committee made the following recommendations: “MNP is however also increasingly confronted with questions about the regional and even the local scale and questions about management. In general, this means that the models should be sensitive to a wider spectrum of policies, and that other variables may become important. To address such questions and truly embrace the socio-economic activity perspective that is more adequate for such questions, substantial model redesign or the development of a new (activity-based) model is required. In addition, the Agency may consider simpler models for policy development as opposed to policy assessment. Intensifying collaboration with other agencies in the Netherlands and elsewhere in terms of promoting the models and educating other agencies and groups on their use, building on the LUMOS consortium, should be the core of an improved communication strategy.”
Download report and reaction
The full review report is available for download, together with a reaction from MNP on the committees recommendations.
Download Review report
Download MNP reaction on the committees recommendations
