How to get started
with Forecaz

Your smarter planning platform - ready from day one

Forecaz is a secure, cloud-based planning platform that allows local governments and utilities move from static reports to living, scenario-based models in a matter of weeks. It’s delivered as SaaS platform, so there’s nothing complex to install or maintain on your side.

Establish your Forecaz Tenancy

Your own Forecaz tenancy in the Micrsoft Azure cloud will be established in the nearest data centre to your location.

Secure logins for nominated planners, GIS teams, and analysts will be provided. If required, the Forecaz tenancy can be integrated with your organisation’s Azure tenancy for single sign-on. From your browser, you can immediately explore the Quick Start preconfigured settings ready to customise the base model datasets for your local government region.

Key platform elements include:

Model Builder for configuring zoning densities and constraints, spatial and tabular datasets, and model inputs and scenarios.
Model Viewer for interactive maps, dashboards, and reporting.
Local Azure cloud-hosted data and model versions so teams always work from a single source of truth.

Start with Quick Start configurations and templates

Use the Forecaz Quick Start configurations and templates to generate the core models datasets for your local government or utility service areas.

The Quick Start package includes common zoning density configurations, default Bayesian Network settings and pre-populated spatial and data structure templates for typical residential, non-residential, and infrastructure patterns. This allows you to quickly establish a base model to begin your scenario modelling.

Use the Quick Start package to:

Generate the model’s core spatial and tabular datasets for the model’s baseline, planning scheme zoning settings, and development constraints.
Generate residential and non-residential growth projection targets dataset from State or Council projections.
Collect datasets to support the default Bayesian Network models. These datasets include: water and sewer service areas/catchments and road centrelines.

Generate your base scenario model

Generate the base scenario urban growth model using the core datasets and spatial layers.

Review the initial outputs with model owners and key stakeholders, then use their feedback and the analysis results to validate the model. Refine the model settings until it is calibrated to the growth targets.

Use the base model to:

Visualise growth and capacity across your region.
Understand likely infrastructure demand and timing.
Test scenarios across different horizons and planning schemes.

Refine Forecaz for your local region

When you are ready, your team can progressively enhance the models, add secondary datasets, to match local conditions and strategies.

All configuration is done through the Forecaz web interface, so you don’t need specialist coding or data science skills.

You can:

Load your own spatial and tabular data (development approvals/permits, localised structure plans and zoning settings, location of network assets such as water and sewer pipes) to improve the accuracy of the model.
Adjust zoning densities, constraints, and the staging of development.
Refine growth targets using population, dwellings, GFA, or employment.
Build scenarios to test policy settings and infrastructure options.

Training and onboarding support

To get your team productive quickly, Forecaz offers structured onboarding and role-based training.

Training Sessions can be delivered online or in person and are tailored for strategic planners, infrastructure planners, GIS teams and infrastructure network owners.

Training typically covers:

How the base model works and how to generate outputs.
Using the basic functions in Model Viewer and Model Builder.
Detailed exploration of the advanced configuration options available in Forecaz to configure a model.
Structuring and maintaining Bayesian Network models in Forecaz.

Expert services when you need them

If you want to move faster or address complex questions, you can bring in Forecaz experts to work alongside your team. This keeps the platform self-service while giving you the option of extra support at key points.

Support can include:

Designing and configuring urban growth and infrastructure scenario models for your region.
Data preparation, cleansing, and integration.
Co-developing key model scenarios and strategies.
Ongoing advisory support for enhanced calibration and major updates.

Or you can

Choose your own path

Whether you want a mostly self-managed SaaS platform, a guided implementation, or fully managed ”Turn-Key” implementation, Forecaz offers a flexible pathway that fits your skills capacity, data readiness, and timelines.