Ton Brouwer

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH EXPERT & SENIOR GIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL-MODELARCHITECT

Ton Brouwer combines scientific modelling with practical, actionable solutions for government bodies, agriculture and nature-conservation organisations.

Unique combination of strategic insight, technical mastery, and scientific foundation.

Experience in direct engagement with farmers, governments, and NGOs.

Capability to make complex models and systems practically implementable.

Expertise in mathematical principles, advanced computations, and deep algorithmic knowledge.

Rapid analysis of complex issues, identifying essential connections and translating them into immediate, effective solutions thanks to extensive domain knowledge and abstract reasoning skills.

Proven impact:

Policy adjustments, participation as an expert in legal proceedings, and media appearances.

Interactive calculation model

Developed by Ton Brouwer. On “optimalisation nitrogen calculations” >

ABOUT TON BROUWER

Strategic Insight, Broad Domain Mastery and Practical Implementability in Nitrogen Policy

Ton Brouwer is an independent Dutch research expert and Senior GIS and environmental-model architect, specialising in nitrogen deposition, emission modelling and agricultural systems.

With 25+ years of deep domain knowledge, scientific precision, technical mastery and a sharp insight into legal and policy contexts, he has developed a full GIS-solution with real-time pub/sub architecture, an optimised calculation model and 3D-visualisation functionality — proven stable across various practical applications. This technology forms the basis for innovative policy analyses and scenario-studies at national level.

CORE VALUES

A Rare Combination of Strength

Ton Brouwer belongs to a very small group of experts worldwide who have full experience in GIS-development, high-performance computations, 3D-modelling and nitrogen optimisation.

Technical expertise

Architect of complex spatial calculation systems (OPS/AERIUS-compatible, scalable and transparent);

Scientific foundation

Developer of the deposition-potential method, a proven efficient optimisation approach for nitrogen reduction;

Policy & legal knowledge

Experienced adviser to provinces, municipalities, the organisation BIJ12, Dutch ministries and NGOs;

Practical experience

Works directly with farmers, governments and societal organisations on implementable solutions;

Public visibility & impact

Involved in legal cases and media work. His publications have repeatedly triggered parliamentary questions and had direct policy influence;

Polymathic thinking

Combines deep expertise with a multidisciplinary approach, resulting in efficient and innovative solutions for complex technical issues.

Integrity and Objectivity are Core to His Work

He works for virtually all relevant parties within the nitrogen and agricultural domain — from agricultural organisations and governments to nature- and environmental organisations. That such a wide variety of stakeholders consult him illustrates the trust in his independent and balanced approach.

His analyses are always factual, transparent and focused on substantive quality — never on serving a single interest.

His work is characterised by an integrated approach and solution-orientation: technical innovation is always linked to societal relevance and administrative feasibility.

He therefore delivers not just analyses, but concrete solutions that contribute to a future-proof nitrogen and agricultural policy.

Competencies

Expertise Usually Requiring a Full Team of Specialists

Ton Brouwer belongs to a very small group of experts worldwide who have complete experience in GIS-development, high-performance computations, 3D-modelling and nitrogen optimisation.

He delivers production-ready systems that transform complex environmental and spatial data into executable, cost-efficient strategies to meet legal and policy goals.realiseren.

Includes:

• Event-driven pub/sub architecture for real-time data synchronisation

• Optimised calculation models for rapid source–receptor deposition calculations

• Fully integrated 3D modules for visualisation and interaction

• Optimisation-based strategy models generating cost-efficient and executable strategies to meet statutory nitrogen objectives

His solutions are stable, operationally tested and strategically impactful — expertise which would normally require a full specialist team.

His combination of technical mastery and domain knowledge is exceptionally rare; globally, it is estimated there are fewer than 5 people who have developed and implemented a similar end-to-end solution.

His work connects science, technology and policy, and offers expertise that normally would demand a full team of specialists.

INTERACTIVE SYSTEM SOLUTION

Extremely Fast Calculation Model for Interactive Nitrogen Calculations

Ton Brouwer developed Nviro, a full GIS solution with real-time pub/sub architecture, an optimised calculation model and 3D-visualisation functionality.

The solution has proven stable in diverse practical applications. Suitable for nitrogen calculations for governments, consultancy firms, nature organisations and other stakeholders, with immediate insight into the effect of emission measures on deposition in nature areas.

This technology forms the basis for innovative policy analyses and scenario research at national level.

5,000x

faster

1,000+

emission sources per second

Calculations at the highest level of detail

OPTIMALISATION NITROGEN CALUCULATIONS

The Features and Capabilities of the Nviro Nitrogen-Calculation Model

1.

High computing power & speed

Nviro boasts a computation capacity that handles thousands of emission sources per second, allowing analyses to be performed “very rapidly”.

2.

Based on OPS-Pro / AERIUS compatibility

The calculation core of Nviro is based on the OPS-Pro model (the calculation core of AERIUS), and its outputs have been validated against AERIUS results.

3.

Flexibility in sources & measures

Supports custom emission sources or external datasets. Users can directly simulate measures and see how changed emissions affect deposition. The model is scalable and can be applied to small sub-areas or the entire Netherlands.

4.

Visualisation / interactivity

It is possible to view in real time how changes in emissions translate into deposition changes in nature areas. Spatial plans can be developed with scenario explorations, and the software offers maps such as a “deposition potential map” which indicates which areas have the greatest influence from emissions.

5.

GIS integration & interchangeability

The input source data and calculation results are fully exchangeable with standard GIS systems.

6.

No limit on number of measures / scale / area size

Nviro is designed to support many types of measures, with large scale flexibility, from small to large-scale analyses.

RELEVANCE OF THE NVIRo CALCULATION MODEL

Develop an Effective Area Plan with Immediate Insight into Impact for Achieving Goals

Direct insight and monitoring with current emission figures

Policy work is often under time pressure. With Nviro, you can quickly calculate which measures are most effective within a given area. In addition, you can monitor directly using up-to-date emission data, ensuring that you always have access to the latest insights.

Scenario-analysis within a single tool

Rather than separate models, you can, within one environment, run and compare different combinations of emission-reduction measures.

Validation and transparency

Because the core is based on OPS/Pro and validated against AERIUS, the system has a solid technical foundation which helps defend outcomes in policy or legal discussions.

Support in legalisation or area-process trajectories

Especially in complex dossiers (for example PAS-notifications), the system can help show which reduction is possible and whether goals are met, with interactive feedback on the impact of changes.

Link Between the Deposition-Potential Method and the Nviro Calculation Model

The deposition-potential method and the Nviro calculation model - both developed by Brouwer - are two complementary instruments which, each at their own scale and with their own strength, contribute to an efficient and scientifically justified approach to the nitrogen challenge in the Netherlands.

Strategic Optimisation

The Deposition-Potential Method

The deposition-potential method is developed as a scientifically underpinned optimisation method which determines, for the whole of the Netherlands, the most efficient allocation of emission reductions. The method works iteratively and focuses at each step on those areas where emission reduction has the greatest effect on exceedance of Critical Load (CDV) in Natura 2000 areas.

Features of this approach:

• Operates at national scale;

• Efficiency and purpose-fulness as a starting point;

• Scientifically transparent and reproducibles;

• Leads to realistic and implementable reduction-strategies aligned with legal rulings and policy goals (such as 50% or 74% area under Critical Load by 2030 and 2035).

The method is excellently suited to determine: how much reduction, where and in what order.

Practical Implementation and Area‐Level Analysis

The Nviro Calculation Model

Where the deposition-potential method determines what must be done and where the most gain lies, the Nviro calculation model makes it possible to translate this strategy into practice.

Nviro offers:

• computing power and speed for large numbers of sources;

• immediate insight into spatial distribution of emissions and deposition;

• real-time monitoring with the most recent emission figures;

• scenario comparison and visual feedback on measures;

• interchangeability with standard GIS systems and policy maps;

• compatibility with the OPS/AERIUS calculation model, making results scientifically robust.

With Nviro, policy-makers, provinces or consultancy firms can develop area-oriented plans aligned with the strategic goals from the deposition-potential analysis.

Aspect	Deposition-Potential Method	Implementation (Nviro Calculation Model)
Scale	National/regional	Area-oriented / local
Purpose	Determine optimal reduction direction	Execute and visualise measures
Nature	Scientific, model-based, strategic	Operational, practical, interactive
Result	Efficient emission-reduction scenario	Concrete implementable plan and measurable measures

COMPLETE SYSTEM

Complementary, not competing

Both approaches complement each other. The combination results in a full system for nitrogen policy:

• The deposition-potential method determines what should be done and where the greatest gain is;

• The Nviro calculation model shows how it can be realised in practice and executed.

COMBINING SYSTEMS

Policy Relevance

By combining these systems you gain a unique opportunity to:

• Base policy on efficiency and effectiveness, aligned with general principles of proper governance;

• Provide scientifically substantiated and legally robust justification for measures;

• Make policy-goals genuinely achievable and implementable, without unnecessary investment or loss of support.

Discover the difference with the Nviro calculation model. Faster. More accurate. Unlimited.

"I reduce the problem to its essence. And then I solve it."

- Ton Brouwer -

Independent Research Expert &

Senior GIS and Environmental-Model Architect

DUTCH PUBLICATIONS

Deposition Potential

What is the task for agriculture to meet the nitrogen goals in 2030 and beyond?

Prof. Jan Willem Erisman, Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen, Universiteit Leiden. Scenarioberekeningen van de stikstof, Ton Brouwer, Gispoint. 14 maart 2025

Naar het rapport >

Towards a more balanced Netherlands

Prof. Jan Willem Erisman, Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen, Universiteit Leiden. Berno Strootman, Strootman Landschapsarchitecten, Amsterdam. Stikstofanalyses met Aerius-model, Ton Brouwer, Gispoint. mei 2021

Naar het rapport >

The nitrogen deposition contribution map for effective emission reduction from agriculture

Jan Willem Erisman, Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen, Universiteit Leiden, afdeling Environmental Biology. Stikstofanalyses met Aerius-model, Ton Brouwer, Gispoint. januari 2021

Naar het rapport >