Sustainable Development Assessment of Cities and Their Residential Districts
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EKOLOGIJA. 2007. Vol. 53. Supplement. P. 49–54 © Lietuvos mokslų akademija, 2007 © Lietuvos mokslų akademijos leidykla, 2007 Sustainable development assessment of cities and their residential districts Edmundas Zavadskas, The aim of this study was to assess the sustainable development of Vilnius residential districts. To this end, a thorough analysis of scientific articles, specific databases and other information Milda Viteikienė, sources was made, different indicator systems for assessment of sustainable urban development were reviewed and a system of 22 indices defining the aspects of sustainability was compiled. Jonas Šaparauskas Residential areas were evaluated for their facilities, residential and business environment. On the basis of the surveys performed by experts, the significance of the indices was deter- Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, mined. Application of the multipurpose evaluation method COPRAS (Complex Proportional Saulėtekio al. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Assessment) allowed to establish the rank of priorities of residential areas in respect of their Lithuania sustainability. The results of such assessment may be helpful for city authorities in distributing E-mail: [email protected] resources among the wards in a more rational way. Key words: sustainable development, residential areas of the city, indicators, COPRAS, evaluation INTRODUCTION appraisals, estimated the level of sustainability and made sug- gestions on how to solve water supply problems in cities. Zhang A city is a complex physical and social phenomenon that is un- et al. (2003) analysed sustainable urban development indica- der constant development. Quantitative and qualitative changes tors. The research object chosen by Kountouris et al. (2005) is take place there. For various reasons the number of cities’ inhab- sustainable development of cities’ environment. Bagaeen (2006) itants grew up from 3 to 50 per cent in the world. According to examined the influence of military bases on urban sustainabil- forecasts of the United Nations, in year 2030 the number of ur- ity. Turskis et al. (2006) developed a methodology that can help ban population will reach 60 per cent all over the world. city planners to determine and localize problems of urban fabric Cities concentrate manufacture, trade and service industries. density, to enhance the motivation and versatility of decisions. Most people spend the larger part of their life in urban areas. Melchert (2007) analysed building ecology and urban sustain- Consequently, cities have become an integral part of modern ability planning problems in developing countries. civilization. They shape people’s social, economic and cultural Giving the multiplicity of sustainability characteristics, lifestyle. the problem of their inconsistence appears. To evaluate a great The welfare of the whole society depends on the sustain- number of indicators it is necessary to apply multiple criteria ability of urban development. Urban sustainability can be char- optimization methods. acterized by social, economic, environmental and engineering- technical indicators. However, while assessing the sustainability SYSTEMS OF INDICATORS OF URBAN of cities and their residential districts the question arises which SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT characteristics of sustainability should be evaluated. For instance, the objects of the research chosen by Nijkamp Indices defining a sustainable city and Ursen (1998) are pollution of water and atmosphere, also In order to evaluate urban sustainability, system of indicators consumption of energy in a sustainable city. Brenheny and should be compiled. In the world, different indicator systems Archer (1998) concern with urban density, the influence of local characterizing urban sustainability have been developed. authorities on sustainable development, also on the problems of Based on the conceptual framework of the urban ecological communication among the residential districts. Banister (1998) economic system (Huang et al., 1998), 80 indicators have been characterized obstacles that hinder sustainability in a city. Diepen selected through participation in non-government organiza- and Voogd (2001) studied the peculiarities of urban trans- tions (NGOs), which can be used as policy-making indicators port planning in a sustainable city. Henn and Henning (2002) for measuring Taipei’s urban sustainability. These are natural analysed the indicators of economic, social and environmental area, biodiversity, area productivity, population density, housing sustainability. According to authors, there is a need to improve vacancy, fossil fuel use, per capita GDP, etc. The policy-making the performance of such indicators. Dalhuisen et al. (2002), by indicators have been further aggregated into ten general public comparing five European cities, compiled a solid structure for indicators. 50 Edmundas Zavadskas, Milda Viteikienė, Jonas Šaparauskas Atkisson (1996) describes the developing of indicators of Sustainable Measures (2005) develops indicators that meas- sustainable community. At first,a total of 99 indicators had been ure progress toward a sustainable economy, society and envi- recommended by the stakeholders. Since nearly everyone agreed ronment. The indicators are grouped into the following catego- that such number of indicators was too large a set for the public ries: Economy, Education, Environment, Government, Health, to digest, it was agreed to let a technical review group winnow Housing, Population, Public Safety, Recreation, Resource Use, the list down to a manageable number. This group, formed of Society, Transportation. For instance, Housing indicators have members, met several times over the winter of 1992–93, elimi- sub-categories such as Availability, Condition, Cost. Under the nating indicators that were unmeasurable or difficult for a lay heading “Condition” stand: Floor area per person in housing, person to understand. The result was a final list of 40 indicators Low-income housing with severe physical problems, Percentage grouped into five categories: 1) Environment (biodiversity, soil of dwellings in need of major repair, Housings that are inade- erosion, air quality, etc.); 2) Population and Resources (popu- quate, overcrowded, or cost over 30% of income. lation growth, residential water consumption, renewable and The indicator system (Šaparauskas, 2003) for three alterna- nonrenewable energy use, etc.); 3) Economy (real uneployment, tive future scenarios of Vilnius has been developed. The system distribution of personal income, health care expenditures, etc.); consists of twelve social, economic and environmental indica- 4) Youth and Education (adult literacy, high school graduation, tors. For example, environmental indicators are: NOx and par- juvenile crime, etc.); 5) Health and Community (equity in jus- ticulate matter emissions exceeding healthy levels, surface water tice, gardening activity, perceived quality of life, etc.). quality, green areas per inhabitant, percentage of waste recycled. Theindicatorstomeasurequalityof lifeinBristol(McMahon, Zavadskas et al. (2005) proposed an indicator system for sus- 2002) were grouped under 14 sustainability topics such as waste tainability evaluation of city neighborhoods. This system charac- management (total domestic waste, domestic waste recycled, terises business environment, quality of life and infrastructure. etc.) energy (energy rating of counsil housing, average carbon dioxide emissions from council, etc.), transport (traffic flow, car Indices defining a sustainable residential area ownership, etc.), environmental protection (days of moderate Sustainable development is becoming a dominating principle in or poor air quality in Bristol, rivers of good or fair quality, etc.), planning a new and compact format of a city residential area. biodiversity (sites of nature conservation interest, local nature Awareness of impossibility to live in such residential areas as reserves, etc.), housing and shelter (demand for re-housing, we have now forces us to reconsider our present practice of city homeless households, etc.), sustainable business (Bristol busi- planning. Acceptance of new and innovative ideas in the process nesses actively engaged in measurable environmental improve- of city planning is a new challenge for development of sustain- ment, share of eco-labelled, organic or fair trade products in able landscape. total consumption, etc.), health and well-being (families with A sustainable district should satisfy the requirements of sus- health needs, population dissatified with the neighbourhood, tainable development, embracing ecological, social, construction etc.), community safety (fear of crime, children on child protec- and traffic aspects.Its facilities are coordinated and handy to all tion register, etc.), social economy (jobs in the social economy in residents (The Sustainable Region Initiative,2005). Bristol, number of social economy organisations, etc.), culture Residential areas are defined by economic, ecologic, social, and tourism (total visitors to museums, accesss to green space technical, engineering indices. These issues were discussed in a and services, etc.), land use and development (reuse of wasted number of publications. homes, listed buildings at risk, etc.), education and poverty (citi- The initiative committee of a sustainable district points zens with no educational or technical qualifications, primary out the following indices defining a sustainable district (The school achievement, etc.). Sustainable Region Initiative,