Th OreSand Toolkit is a practical, evolving set of decision supports to help teams design and deliver OreSand projects.
The Toolkit is organised around real decision contexts—strategic, management, and technical—rather than around specific software. Early tools include sampling and characterisation protocols, business-case supports, market adoption/rejection diagnostics, and project-scoping frameworks.
We are releasing the Toolkit in stages to prioritise usability and learning-by-doing. We refine each tool through field feedback before full publication on this site. No log-ins are required for early access. As tools mature, we will link them to worked examples and case materials from demonstration projects.
What is a decision support tool?
Decision support tools help people make better choices in complex situations. They bring together three basic elements:
- Data: the information that matters for the decision.
- Analysis: simple ways to test options and see trade-offs.
- Presentation: clear outputs that decision-makers can use.
In sustainability and minerals work, decisions are rarely simple. There is uncertainty, multiple objectives, and different perspectives. Decision support tools create a shared frame. They help people see the problem, compare options, and move forward with more confidence.
Our approach
Decision support tools often fail because they are built for the technology, not for the people who should use them. Common problems include:
- tools that are too complex for day-to-day work
- tools that are too simple to be trusted
- systems that cannot be updated as things change
- outputs that do not match how people actually decide
- resistance in organisations that do not see the value
We take a different approach
- Problem-driven, user-oriented, iterative. Start simple; improve with feedback.
- Structured, not prescriptive. Help teams surface trade-offs and move forward under uncertainty.
- Fit for the ecosystem. Align technical steps with policy, finance, procurement, and skills.
- We focus on usefulness, not on flair. Tools are light, easy to access, and easy to download. They work in places with limited bandwidth and can be adapted locally.
The OreSand Decision Support Toolkit keeps it simple. No heavy software. No black boxes. Just clear tools that help real teams make real decisions.
The Toolkit
The Toolkit is organised around decision contexts. Each tool is starting its life as a beta version in simple, accessible formats (for example, .xlsx, .pptx, .docx). As teams use them, we improve them. Over time, these prototypes will grow into robust decision supports that reflect the real world of OreSand projects.
For project champions and executives who shape direction and commit resources.
Explain the concept to partners and boards
Use cases
Frame the business case
A use case for identifying where OreSand projects are more likely to succeed
Management level
For project managers and coordinators who turn ideas into plans.
For project managers and coordinators who turn ideas into plans.
A suggested ecosystem-scale project strategy
Stakeholder mapping frameworks
Planning and tracking templates
Technical level
For engineers, analysts, and specialists who generate and interpret data.
Protocols for sampling and characterisation.
Checklists for testing market possibilities.
Basic cost–benefit and performance comparison tools.
Early access and collaboration
Want early access or to road-test a tool?
Tell us about your project and we will share relevant draft tools and opportunities to contribute feedback.
Contact us
Dr Louise Gallagher
Senior Research Fellow
Global Centre for Mineral Security
The OreSand program sits within the Global Centre for Mineral Security (GCMS) at UQ's Sustainable Minerals Institute.