Australian-developed software that simulates how water customers will respond to price changes has secured a prestigious technology award for Adelaide-based company Intelligent Software Development.

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) this week announced that Intelligent Software was one of the South Australian winners in State finals for the prestigious 2008 iAwards, which recognise the most outstanding information and communications technology (ICT) innovators in the State.

Intelligent Software won the Applications and Infrastructure category with SIMULAIT WATER, a unique Artificial Intelligence-based software simulation that supports smarter water management.

Utilising data on patterns of use, Intelligent Software's SIMULAIT software can model thousands or even millions of components of a city, such as households, organisations and infrastructure. It also models behaviours over time, which is critical to strategic planning.

Intelligent Software and other South Australian winners will represent the State at the national iAwards, presented at a gala dinner in Melbourne on May 28 as part of Technology Week.

Intelligent Software's CEO Dr Don Perugini said he expected the iAwards would let more people know how the latest generation of predictive analysis tools could improve strategic planning and forecasting.  "SIMULAIT

allows decision makers to extract information not only on what individuals are doing, but gets down to the fundamental human truths of why," he said

"That's how it brings complex data to life."

The benefits of Intelligent Software's technology have been demonstrated in the SA water industry by analysing Adelaide's water pricing policies. Intelligent Software modelled more than half a million households and 400 demographic types, as well as their water consumption, household water bill and total government revenue. By simulating different water prices, SIMULAIT identified a model that provides a fairer pricing policy than is proposed while at the same time increasing revenue.

For full details of the winners, go to www.iawards.com.au.

About Intelligent Software Development

Intelligent Software Development Pty Ltd has drawn on expertise from the defence industry to use Artificial Intelligence technologies to create realistic virtual models of cities for strategic planning and forecasting purposes. As with the popular SimCity computer game, Intelligent Software's AI approach models elements of a city, such as households and their demographic characteristics. This simulation can be used to assist with strategic planning and demand forecasting by running "what-if" scenarios and analysing the impact that proposed strategic decisions, infrastructure and policy will have on the population's behaviour, including demand, spending and consumption.

More information

For more information, call Dr. Don Perugini on (08) 8343 8455 or visit www.intelligentsoftware.com.au. For media assistance, call John Harris at Impress Media Australia on 08 8431 4000 or email jharris@impress.com.au.