AREAS OF IMPACT
STUDIO
Team
How might we understand the EEA context and design a data platform that ensures environmental information improves our understanding of our natural systems’ contribution to economic and human wellbeing and the impact that our economy has on our natural assets?
The challenge
Environmental Economic Accounting (EEA) ensures environmental information is captured in a way that improves our understanding of our natural systems’ contribution to economic and human wellbeing and the impact that our economy has on our natural assets.
The Australian Federal Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW, formally DAWE) sought to design a national platform to allow people and organisations to engage with EEA data, tools and guidance under Australia’s EEA accounts capability, and provide a central hub for the various existing data collection and accounting initiatives.
Our response
ThinkPlace was engaged to research and understand the EEA context and design for the platform. We led the Business stream of work and partnered with our technology partner, Annex, to co-deliver the technology component of the project.
We identified key insights to inform the design of the Platform across 10 workshops with the Department, government and research cohorts; 36 discovery interviews with government, industry, research and NGO organisations; and extensive desktop research of literature, technology assessments and case studies.
How we did it
On the business side, the research informed the development of high-level business requirements to identify key functions for optimal user experience, as well as a Target Operating Model for the future digital platform (including business capabilities).
Alongside our technology partner, Annex, we created a Solution Options Paper and the high-level System Architecture outlining the key technology solutions for the platform.
ThinkPlace delivered comprehensive visual prototypes of the future platform design as well as prototypes of curated, interactive and engaging EEA narratives through the data storytelling platform, Shorthand.
The impact
The discovery research identified that the EEA platform experience would drive better understanding, policy design and decision-making; build awareness and educates users on EEA, its use and its value; and create a focal point for the EEA ecosystem to build momentum, connection, leverage, innovation and community.
Case studies
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