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Our Work
UpShift designs, develops & delivers digital solutions to human questions. We care about & specialise in, projects based in sustainability, health & food.
Here is some of our work:
Carbon Analysis, Reporting & Reduction Software: NZ
dCarbon / Ekos
Ekos is a New Zealand-based organisation dedicated to creating a low carbon, biodiverse, & climate resilient future. Founded as a marriage of ecology & economics, Ekos works with values-aligned partners who want to make a positive difference to the world. The organisation specialises in carbon & sustainability solutions, nature-based solutions, & environmental consulting, helping clients ranging from governments & corporates to community groups. Since 2008, Ekos has developed restorative carbon projects & biodiversity initiatives, with a core belief that private sector investment is fundamental to meeting the climate & biodiversity challenges of the coming decades.UpShift has developed Ekos's software systems since 2020. Below is an article from NZ Geographic about Ekos & UpShift's work by Sarah Lin Turner.
App for Exploring the Health of Lake Ecosystems: NZ
Lakes380
The Lakes380 programme is the biggest survey of natural lakes in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand. An ambitious project led by the Cawthron Institute and GNS Science, the programme collected data on the water quality of approximately 10% of 3,800 lakes across the country. Of course, a dataset this large, with value to so many groups, needs a simple, user-friendly interface. That’s where UpShift came in.“It’s an enjoyable challenge to be presented with data, and figure out the best way to make it make sense - make it into something people can easily navigate,” says lead developer Will Macgregor.
Online Store for Sustainable Wool Clothing: NZ
Nelson Merino
UpShift loves working with locals. While we might have clients in many corners of the world, sometimes the best stories are happening right down the street. That was the case with Nelson Merino, a kiwi owned & operated company making clothing with 100% New Zealand wool.While New Zealand weather might be on the mild side most of the year, we all know the chill of a good old Antarctic southerly. And if you’re heading out into it, it’s common knowledge natural fibres like merino wool are the best way to keep fingers and toes toasty and frost-free. That’s why Nelson Merino works with one of the most ancient breeds of sheep on earth – and the first type to be imported to New Zealand in large numbers. And the team knew it wasn’t just us locals who were after garments made from that far-travelled fine fleece.
App for Analysing the Impact of Wood Treatments on Aquatic Environments: USA
Environmental Modelling Tool
Longline Monitoring App for Seabird Protection: NZ
Sink Rate App
No one wants to hook a seabird on a fishing line. Seabird by-catch can be devastating for seabird populations & is an upsetting experience for fishing crews.
The New Zealand Department of Conservation has been working with scientists, technologists & commercial fishers with the aim to eliminate by-catch of seabirds.
ZebraTech, a Nelson-based marine technology company, approached UpShift to develop a mobile application that would revolutionise how commercial fishing operations monitor longline sink rates. The app needed to interface with ZebraTech's specialised sensors that measure how quickly fishing lines descend through the water column - critical data for reducing seabird by-catch & improving fishing efficiency.
Seabirds can only dive so far below the surface. By tuning the configuration of weights & hooks on longlines, fishing crews can move their hooks away from seabird diving depths as swiftly as possible. But how can fishing crews know when their hooks are safely out of the reach of seabirds?
Costing Tool for Railway Construction & Maintenance: USA
SelectTIE III
To help railway line managers make the right decision the Railway Tie Association had developed a scientific/ engineering model that took in all the information about the railway line – both its physical structure & use – and returned pricing for different construction materials.Often wooden railway ties are the most cost effective solution to railway infrastructure & they're more environmentally sustainable than concrete or steel ties.
RTA wanted to create an app which could be used by anyone to identify the most cost effective use of materials for railway line construction & maintenance.
UpShift took a complex model & created a straightforward digital costing tool that is accessible & easy to use.