A climate stress test for a neighbourhood, a heat stress analysis, or a living environment assessment for spatial development. For these kinds of spatial challenges, data, computational models, and indicators are brought together. But what if the same analysis method is needed for another area or project?
With Template Projects in the Tygron Platform, experts can capture and reuse existing model setups and workflows. Other professionals can then apply these to new areas, plans, and scenarios, without having to configure the entire analysis from scratch.
One analysis, multiple applications
A municipality is investigating which measures can reduce water flooding in a neighborhood. To do this, spatial data is collected, a hydrological model is set up, and basic assumptions are established. The results are verified and used to compare various measures.
When the same analysis is needed for another neighborhood, the entire model setup does not need to be built again.
With a Template Project in Tygron, existing models, settings, indicators, and visualizations can be reused. Relevant geographic data is loaded for the new project area, and area-specific settings can be adjusted.
This creates a repeatable workflow where the same analytical method can be applied to different areas.
What is a Template Project in Tygron?
A Template Project is a pre-configured project in the Tygron Platform that serves as a foundation for new spatial analyses.
A template can store elements such as calculation models, parameters, indicators, data source configurations, and visualizations. Experts can use existing Tygron functionality and enrich it with their own data, models, and methods.
When starting a new project, the configuration of the template is adopted. Area-specific data and settings can then be adjusted.
This allows professionals to perform analyses from a recognizable analytical foundation. The models and assumptions used remain transparent, allowing calculations to be verified, repeated, and compared.
More information about Template Projects
The expert sets up, the policy advisor applies
Complex spatial challenges—such as water flooding, heat stress, and climate adaptation—require specialized knowledge to configure models correctly and evaluate results.
Experts determine which data, calculation models, parameters, and indicators are used. They verify how the models function and assess whether the setup is suitable for the intended application.
By making this configuration available as a template, policy advisors and other users can work with it without having to configure the underlying models themselves.
For example, a policy advisor can investigate various measures against water flooding. With a pre-configured template, this advisor can modify a plan, run a calculation, and compare the effects with other scenarios.
The expert determines and verifies the analytical foundation. The policy advisor can then independently investigate, modify, and compare plans and measures.
The results provide a solid basis for spatial decision-making. The interpretation and evaluation remain the responsibility of the professionals involved.
Making specialized knowledge scalable
Templates make it possible to use a developed analytical method across multiple projects. This offers several practical benefits:
Consistency:
The same models, parameters, and indicators can be applied across multiple projects.
Time savings:
Existing model setups do not have to be rebuilt every time.
Traceability:
Applied settings and assumptions remain accessible for verifying calculations.
Knowledge retention:
Developed analytical methods and specialized knowledge remain available for other projects and users.
Independent use:
Professionals can independently investigate plans and scenarios using an analytical foundation set up by experts.
Flexibility:
Adopted models, data, and settings can be adjusted where necessary to fit new areas and challenges.
A template also provides ample room for customization. It is a starting point where existing knowledge, models, and configurations are reused without locking the user into the original settings. For instance, a different rainfall event can easily be calculated, or the distance to amenities can be changed from, say, 300 to 400 meters. Area-specific data, models, and assumptions can also be modified or supplemented.
Furthermore, a previously validated model setup is not automatically suitable for every location. Experts remain responsible for assessing applicability and conducting any additional validation.
How do you use a Template Project?
An expert first configures a project with the necessary models, indicators, data configurations, and settings. After verifying the setup, this project can be made available as a template.
When starting a new project, the user selects the template as a foundation. The existing setup is adopted and applied to the new project area.
Users can then, for example:
Import an existing spatial plan or adjust measures.
Run calculations using the available models.
Compare the effects of different scenarios.
Adjust assumptions and re-run the analysis.
In this way, an organization can continue to use a developed workflow and improve it further where needed.
Templates in practice
Various organizations use the Tygron Platform to reapply developed models and analytical methods. The following examples show how specialized knowledge can be made available to multiple projects and users.
Municipality of Dronten: repeating and comparing climate stress tests
The Municipality of Dronten is developing a Tygron template for climate stress tests and spatial assessments.
The models, settings, and assumptions are configured and verified, enabling the municipality to apply the same analytical method to new scenarios, measures, and spatial plans.
This allows the municipality to build upon an existing model setup, rather than starting from scratch for every new analysis.
Province of Utrecht: Healthy Area Development (GGO)
The Province of Utrecht developed the Healthy Area Development (GGO) methodology and made it available as a template in the Tygron Platform.
The methodology includes indicators and calculation methods for health, climate adaptation, noise, air quality, and green spaces, among others.
Municipalities and other users can apply the template to their own project areas. They can evaluate spatial plans, calculate effects, and compare different scenarios based on the same methodology.
The underlying calculation methods do not need to be developed anew.
Also read the Tygron article about the Digital Twin for Healthy Area Development:
NL Greenlabel: applying a sustainability methodology to different areas
NL Greenlabel combines its methodology for assessing sustainable living environments with the data and computational capabilities of the Tygron Platform.
This allows areas to be evaluated on themes such as climate adaptation, biodiversity, and health. Users can view the results and compare the effects of potential measures.
The collaboration demonstrates how a specialized assessment methodology can be applied to different locations using a digital platform.
More information:
https://www.tygron.com/blog/een-aantoonbaar-groenere-stad-met-big-data-nl-greenlabel-en-tygron
From a one-off analysis to a repeatable workflow
A spatial analysis does not have to end with a single project. The data, models, settings, and indicators used can also be valuable for future studies.
With Template Projects, experts can document, verify, improve, and share their workflows. Other professionals can then apply them to new areas and scenarios.
This way, specialized knowledge is reused while the foundational assumptions of the analysis remain transparent, and professionals remain responsible for evaluating the results.
Want to learn more about templates?
Read our support wiki to learn how to create a Template Project and use it as a basis for new projects.
