Models to help decision makers

Posted: November 2, 2012 1:30 p.m.

Gordon Huang, professor of Environmental Systems Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Photo: U of R Photography

The decisions governments and industry must make about energy and environmental issues involve an overwhelming number of complex and often uncertain variables.

Gordon Huang of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science has eased the burden of complex decision-making by developing innovative decision-support software that can be used to analyze and manage energy and environmental issues.

Huang's research addresses current problems such as management of energy resources, management of solid waste and pollution of ground and surface water. The computer models he has developed allow complex social, economic, environmental, technical and political factors to be taken into account.

One result of his work is an energy systems planning model that is now available to government and industry in some parts of Canada for use as a decision-making tool. Models for other areas are planned.

The energy model makes it possible to weigh options for the changes in energy use required to meet lower carbon emission goals, using variables such as how much to cut consumption of fossil fuels, what sectors or industries to cut, timing and consequences.

"It is very complicated for government to create policy for managing our energy sector, against the pressure from society to reduce carbon emissions or increase renewable energy development," he says.

According to Huang, the software factors in all the complexities involved in an energy or environmental decision, making it possible to make better, more cost-effective decisions.

The project Modeling of Energy and Environmental Systems Under Complexities is funded by the Canada Research Chair Program, Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment.