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You can also view this FAQ in Finnish!
What license is the software released under?
IPAT-S is freely available, with open source. It is being distributed under
the Gnu Lesser Public License. The developer
holds the copyright to the software, but you can modify the code, include
it in other software, use it for free and freely distribute it.
Who develops IPAT-S?
IPAT-S is developed by Eric Kemp-Benedict, a Senior Scientist at the
Stockholm Environment Institute.
How can I support the development of IPAT-S?
You can support IPAT-S development in several ways: by reporting bugs,
suggesting code changes, or by joining the project as a developer.
How can I contact the site administrator?
For comments or questions about the site, please send an e-mail to
admin@ipat-s.org.
How can I report a bug?
To ask for a new feature or to report a bug, you can use the
project Trac. You
need an account on SourceForge to report an issue, but they are
free and easy to set up.
You can also simply send an
e-mail to support@ipat-s.org
reporting the bug or requesting the new feature.
If you send an e-mail we will never reveal your information to a third party and will never send unsolicited
e-mail.
Has IPAT-S been used in a real project?
Yes, IPAT-S has been used in real projects. The developer
is a senior scientists with the Stockholm Environment Institute and has used
IPAT-S on several projects. Also, although there is no formal tracking of people who use IPAT-S around the
world, there are occaisonal reports of its use in studies of energy systems, urbanization, agricultural land
use, and other applications.
Why is the language called “IPAT-S”?
The S in IPAT-S stands for “Script.” “IPAT” is shorthand for a
formula with a long history in discussing population-environment interactions. (See the discussion in IPAT &
ImPACT.) The IPAT formula has its origins in environmental work, but is easily generalized to
other applications. The IPAT-S language builds on the IPAT idea, and goes beyond it, as
demonstrated in the sample scripts on this site.
What is the design philosophy behind IPAT-S?
See the page IPAT-S Philosophy for an explanation
of why IPAT-S has the form it does.
What’s the best way to get started with the language?
First, download and install IPAT Studio. This
will install the IDE and several sample scripts. Then read
Introducing IPAT-S (a PDF file, about 0.5 MB).
There is also a (short) online tutorial.
What does a script look like?
See the Sample Scripts page for several examples
of IPAT-S syntax and structure.
How can IPAT-S be used in a real project?
Look at the How-To’s on the
Documentation page for ideas about
using the IPAT-S Suite in projects. Also, see the Resources
page for case studies of applying IPAT-S to sustainability topics.
What is the IPAT equation?
The page IPAT & ImPACT explains
some of the history of the IPAT equation and how it is interpreted.
More information is available on the Resources page.
How can I learn more about scenario development and
sustainability?
Some links to web sites about scenario development and sustainability are
available on the Resources page.