FAQ

On this page you'll find answers to commonly asked questions. The answers often link through to other pages on this community wiki.

General

Installation

Which should I download: the client or full-platform installer?

That depends on what you want. MSP Challenge is a so-called client/server application. Do you just want to use MSP Challenge on your own? Then you'll need the client and you can just log on to one of our demo servers. Do you want to set up and host an MSP Challenge server that others can connect to, including yourself? Then you'll need the full platform.

My computer won't let me run the installer I downloaded. What should I do?

Both Windows 10 and macOS have security settings that by default may disallow you from running downloaded software unknown to the operating system. In both cases there's a way to circumvent this and continue anyway. See the installation instructions page for details.

How do I know if my computer can run MSP Challenge?

We have listed system requirements for both the client and the full platform on this page. Do take note of the difference; if you're an end-user who only wants to use MSP Challenge to connect to a server somewhere, then the system requirements are a lot lower.

Ownership & Licensing

Who owns the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform?

Short answer: Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) and individual code contributors. That's because the platform was first developed by BUas staff and later released publicly through an open source license on GitHub.

What am I (not) allowed to do with the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform?

The platform is released with a particular open source license and an R&D Code of Conduct. See the Terms and Conditions page.

How can I contribute to the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform's further development?

We have released the source code of the entire platform (to the extent that we are legally allowed) on GitHub. See also the Community_Contribution page.

Costs

How much does the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform cost?

The platform itself is free. We have embraced a free and open source license. See the Terms and Conditions page.

Ok, so how much does an MSP Challenge Simulation Platform session or workshop cost?

That depends. You are free to use this community wiki to learn how everything works yourself, and then organise your own session or workshop. That way it's free (well, you'll need to spend time learning and organising). If you don't have or want to spend that time, you are free to get in touch with key staff through contact@mspchallenge.info and ask us to do it. That, of course, will cost you a little money. The exact amount will depend on what you exactly want. Typically we are talking somewhere in the region of a couple of hundred euros.

I'm interested in seeing some new features being developed in the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform. How much will that cost?

That depends on what you want of course and who you ask. In principle anyone is allowed to contribute code to the platform, client- or server-side, through GitHub. This is because the software has an open source license. See Terms and Conditions and Community_Contribution.

I'd really love to get an MSP Challenge edition revolving around my sea basin. How could we make that happen?

Great idea! It starts with ascertaining if and if so, where, there is geodata about the sea basin of interest. We have a whole separate page about this: Your_own_edition?

Using the Client

Settings & Connecting

I don't understand the MSP Challenge client's opening screen. What do I do?

MSP Challenge is a so-called client/server application. You need to log on to a server with that client you just started. So this opening screen is asking you to find and select a server to log onto. You can always log on to one of our own demo servers if you don't know what server you can or should log onto.

The client application is running full-screen, but I want to switch to another window. What do I do?

You can de-activate the client's default full-screen mode through Main Menu > Settings. See also the Changing Settings tutorial video.

Ok, now I can't seem to change the client window's size. What's up?

The client's window size is set through the Screen Resolution setting under Main Menu > Settings. See the Changing Settings tutorial video.

The client's interface looks quite small - I can hardly read the texts. Can I increase the font size somehow?

The size of texts and windows within the client can be altered by moving the UI Scale slider under Main Menu > Settings. See also the Changing Settings tutorial video.

So I've logged on to a server. Now what do I do?

Now you are ready to roll! Why don't you review some data layers and draw up some new spatial plans? Feel free to try clicking around. If you prefer a more guided approach, then check out our tutorial videos.

Viewing Data

I can see the whole sea basin, but I'll need to zoom in and pan over the map if I'm going to properly see smaller details. How do I do that?

Can I find more information about a specific bit of geometry I found when I selected a particular layer for viewing?

Can I find more information about what this particular layer is offering on the first place?

What do all the colours mean on the map when I select a particular layer for viewing? Do you have a legend somewhere?

What's the source of all this data I'm seeing?

There's so much data visible on the map, I can't make heads or tails of it anymore. How do I clean up the map?

I saw text and numbers on the map before, e.g. on wind farms. Now they're gone again. How do I get them back?

Drawing up Plans

I can't figure out how to draw. What am I missing?

I drew up new spatial designations, such as a new wind farm. But after I finished that, they disappeared again. What happened?

I'm trying to start drawing an energy cable, but nothing happens when I click on the map. What's going on?

Energy cables can only be drawn between specific other geometry, namely an offshore renewable energy area (e.g. a wind farm) and a landing or converter station. See the energy planning tutorial video for more information.

My plan to change or remove something doesn't seem to register. The change is undone, or the thing I removed is still there. What's going on?

Can I make a plan to change something that already exists, or even remove something?

What realisation date should I select in the Plan Wizard?

I drew up a spatial designation (e.g. an MPA), but it seems it's not the right type (e.g. not prohibiting fishing). How do I correct that?

How do I solve this Error I got in the Plan Details overview after I finished drawing?

I want to create a plan that builds upon a previous plan I made, but that previous plan hasn't been implemented yet. Do I need to wait for that?

Setting a realisation date for a plan - why does that matter at all?

I've come to realise that I need to draw in more layers than I originally thought. How can I add the missing layers to my existing plan?

Collaborating & Approving

My plan already got archived, but I still want to try to get it implemented. What do I do?

What does the Archived state do to a plan?

What does the Consultation state do to a plan?

Why can't I select the Approved state for my plan, but there is this option Approval?

What do these plan states mean: design, consultation, approval, approved, implemented, archived?

I'm done drawing and want to get my plan approved, but the only option I have besides Design is Archived. Why is that?

Simulating & Evaluating

When are my plans going to be implemented?

How can I start the clock, as in, start the simulations?

How can I review how things changed once my plans are implemented?

How do I figure out why the simulations responded the way they did to my plans?

Why aren't I getting any or all of the energy of this wind farm I planned and got implemented?

My plan got implemented, but I'm not happy with its consequences. How can I undo or change it?