URS Economics can help resolve your resource use and management issues, through rigorous analysis and informed advice.
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Managing Water
What are the economic impacts of flooding on communities, and how can they be most cost-effectively mitigated? What are the economic and financial implications of changes to water management and infrastructure? How can water savings be achieved in the most cost-effective way?
URS has vast experience in analysing the complex issues of water supply and demand. This includes determining the optimal allocation of water between the differing needs of society and the environment. We regularly consult with water authorities and government helping to assess the most effective use of public investment in water infrastructure, waterways, and conservation initiatives. This work is demonstrated in numerous business cases, benefit-cost analyses, and other evaluations undertaken by our team.
While water is essential for life, floodwater can be highly damaging. URS has developed a Rapid Appraisal Method (RAM) for assessing potential flood damages for use in both urban and rural contexts. We regularly implement this in benefit-cost analyses to assess the most appropriate structural and non-structural means of flood prevention and mitigation. We also are experienced in addressing water management issues such as how to most effectively conserve water or dispose of unwanted waste water.
Key examples of services provided by URS Economics:
Werribee Plains Urban Water Conservation Study Tool to Prioritise Flood Mitigation ActivityManaging Land and Resources
What is the best use of available land? Are the returns from mining activity greater than the environmental costs of this mining? How do we best use land for agriculture? How do we manage the unintended costs (externalities) from land use?
URS Economics provides integrated natural resource management services to assist public and private sector clients meet their strategic and operational objectives. These include:
- comprehensive catchment planning and management,
- soil conservation and landscape-scale rehabilitation,
- mining, industrial and rural landscape management,
- design and implementation of salinity mitigation schemes, and
- control of land and water degradation.
Members of our team have worked at all levels of land and water resource management, from community based property scale projects to high level strategic and policy setting for State and Federal Governments and listed private companies.
Key examples of services provided by URS Economics:
Sustainability Assessment – the ‘Wood and Water’ project Alternative Uses and Management Options for Former ACT Forest LandsValuing Natural Resources
What’s that river/park/beach actually worth to society? How much would people be willing to pay to water their lawns again? What’s the value of carbon captured by a forest?
Not all of the things we value are bought or sold. URS Economics can provide information for decision-making by valuing non-market goods using non-market valuation techniques such as contingent valuation and choice modeling and the development of appropriate policy frameworks. We can also provide advice regarding the use of market-based approaches to achieve desired environmental and natural resource use outcomes such as maintaining biodiversity and reducing carbon intensity.
Key examples of services provided by URS Economics:
The Economic Value of Victoria's Rivers
POLICY/STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS
Program evaluation
What did the program actually achieve? How can we design a plan to evaluate the success of a particular policy or strategy?
URS’ evaluation practice is grounded on a program logic / log-frame approach, but applied to suit the individual context of each evaluation. Our practice is to validate the information obtained by using both quantitative and qualitative techniques such as Benefit-Cost analysis, Multi-Criteria Analysis, Goal Attainment Scaling, Performance Story Reporting, and Rapid Appraisal Methodology.
Key examples of services provided by URS Economics
Our Rural Landscape Program EvaluationBusiness Case Preparation
What are the options, risks and approaches to delivering business outcomes? How can we comprehensively evaluate important decisions? Given the current business context, where should our priorities lie?
URS is experienced in providing business cases that are comprehensive and focussed on the specific needs of your organisation. We can help you to understand what options you have, the tradeoffs between specific options, and which will best achieve the outcomes you seek. We work with other specialist teams at URS to ensure that the business case best reflects the specific challenges and opportunities in your industry.
Key examples of services provided by URS Economics:
Business Case for Desalination Options at the Western Treatment PlantPolicy Review and Regulatory Impact Assessment
What does the regulatory change need to achieve? Is the proposed approach the most cost effective means of achieving this outcome? What are the benefits and costs associated with this change?
URS’ experience in the development of regulatory policy ensures that the policies and regulations being developed clearly match the relevant policy objectives and represent the most cost effective approach available. This is achieved by thoroughly assessing the problems the policy seeks to address, understanding the related market and community objectives and ensuring all possible options for achieving the desired change are identified and tested. This process includes a rigorous identification of the tangible and intangible costs and benefits of the proposed regulations.
Key examples of services provided by URS Economics:
National Audit of Mining Regulation Benefit Cost Analysis of the Proposed Changes to the 5 Star Standards
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
What impact will your project have on the local community and economy? How many jobs will be created? What are the impacts and how can they be managed?
We have strong experience in preparing social and economic impact statements, supported by our strong capability in community consultation, environmental science and risk analysis. URS Economics prepares impact assessments of projects and events for policy makers and planning approval processes. These assessments combine socio-economic profiles, interviews and research with analysis of incomes, expenditure and employment, using economic models such as Monash University’s MMRF-Green model.
Key examples of services provided by URS Economics:
Economic Impact Assessment of Nowingi Long Term Containment Facility (component of Environmental Impact Assessment)
INFRASTRUCTURE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Does the project meet the strategic needs of the community? Which project option is the most efficient? What impact will this investment have on your business?
URS Economics works with URS engineers, environmental and social scientists to provide comprehensive investment appraisals and business cases. These analyses include project evaluations using market analyses, detailed operating and capital cost assessments, strategic evaluations and benefit-cost techniques to determine financial and economic returns.
Key examples of services provided by URS Economics:
Katandra Irrigation Scheme Feasibility Study Northern Highway Land Use, Business, Tourism and Agriculture Assessment