On track with the Environmental Protection Authority

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is New Zealand’s national environmental regulator. Its work involves administering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), applications for projects of national significance, regulations governing new organisms and hazardous substances, and specific activities inside the Exclusive Economic Zone. The EPA is governed by a board appointed by the Minister for the Environment.

The Challenge 

The EPA needed a completely new register that would enable it to effectively and accurately record, track, trade, manage and report on carbon emission units. Due to its complexity, the solution had to be bespoke and would draw on extremely scarce domain knowledge aligned with complex, diverse and changing international standards and authorities. The client also had challenging expectations in regard to the solution’s scope, flexibility, time frame and end-user experience.

The Datacom Difference

Once selected, Datacom initiated a multi-stage development that was conducted across four time zones and involved the skills of more than 120 people. One crucial element was sourcing someone with domain knowledge of emissions trading, a scarce commodity in the international market, and Datacom was fortunate to identify and recruit an expert who relocated to New Zealand for the project’s duration. Over nearly  36-months of development work the project team exhibited great dedication, excellent communication and the collaborative approach necessary to ensure the client received the best outcome. This included co-locating EPA and Datacom staff for critical Project phases. Development addressed more than 1,600 functional requirements. User experience was a major focus area and more than 8,000 test conditions were executed to ensure quality. 

Results

The end result of this partnership between the Environmental Protection Authority and Datacom delivered  an entirely new register that is built around the user who can now access the full-range of processes online. It is easier and more intuitive to use now than its predecessor, and will assist users in keeping their Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) activities up to date.

 

Due to its complexity, the solution had to be bespoke

and would draw on extremely scarce domain knowledge aligned with complex, diverse and changing international standards and authorities.