Strategic Sustainability Assessment

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SSA and LEAM

Regional Sustainability Solutions

Regional sustainability objectives are a set of long-term goals as defined by the region.  Therefore, regional stakeholder participation is crucial in developing and achieving these goals.  Some means of obtaining stakeholder input are:  conducting workshops, using an interactive website, or employing mailed surveys.  Recurring issues of concern include: air quality, water quantity and quality, threatened and endangered species, renewable and non-renewable energy availability, housing availability and affordability, education, and the ability to test and train.

Regional stakeholder participation is also crucial in developing potential scenarios that influence patterns of growth.  A scenario is a potential policy or investment decision important to the region.  These can include, for example, military personnel changes, infrastructure improvements, or environmental protection areas.  The LEAM model (what is LEAM?) forecasts the potential changes and implications that these decisions might incur.  It uses a base map of existing land use, along with the scenario inputs being tested, to project the potential composition of future land uses.  These potential outcomes are then assessed for their social, environmental, or economic implications.

LEAM results are presented in a series of maps, tables, and graphs that describe possible futures.  A variety of modeling tools are then used to assess their potential implications.  Backcasting techniques are used to simultaneously derive the set of issue-based potential strategic interventions based on the region’s desired future.  The gap between the desired and predicted future state informs the selection of these strategic interventions.  Interventions can include policy measures, technological solutions, or planning tools.

A series of iterations of the growth model are run, implementing a variety of interventions at different points in time, to determine an optimum array of strategies to achieve a sustainable future.  These are sometimes called “what if” model runs.  The figure to the left shows the impact of potential water conservation measures.  In some cases the desired future may not be attainable under any circumstance and the model iterations will suggest a revised set of sustainability objectives.

For more information on LEAM in general, or on how to use SimMaps, please view our FAQ.