Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1. Identify those sustainability indicators and procedures, known and already
tested by each research unit and with reference to multiple urban sustain-
ability paradigms (land consumption,
environmental comfort
,
energy
efficiency
, quality of the natural environment, landscape, building quality,
and so on), that manage to describe better than other indicators the territo-
ry of the Adriatic city in its specific characteristics and components, and
which best compare with other known indicators.
2. Construct a system for collegial comparison of the indicators identified in
the first phase with the goals of:
a. Selecting those that are actually useful (because they are sufficiently
integrated and easily applicable) in quantifying the components of the
model we wish to construct.
b. Constructing or adopting the indicators where (lacking consolidated
references in the literature) they are seen as useful and convenient for
signaling and measuring the interrelations between the effects of differ-
ent phenomena on the territory, which are at times antithetic.
3. Create and test the model, with the scope of evaluating the interpretational
and/or predictive capacities. Testing in this phase is performed on some
“sample territories” in the Adriatic city, with contributions from stakehold-
ers and interested deciders, to furnish them with usable information that
can be integrated with real policies. In particular, the model is applied to a
scenario “0” coinciding with the current state of the territory under exami-
nation, and to a scenario “1” coinciding with the provisions contained in
the local or large-scale plans under consideration.
4. Evaluate the imbalances in the current state and the effects on quality of
life from the urban transformations programmed by the planning tools
under examination. Research—via planning simulations built with the sup-
port of the
model
—an
equilibrium condition
between scenario actions
foreseen or foreseeable for the future and the objectives of sustainability
and quality of life assumed by the territory.
5. Refine the model following the first experimental application, with the aim
of calibrating and optimizing its performance with respect to the selected
indicators and the results expected.
The model becomes a decision support system that is easily usable by pub-
lic administrations and interest holders in the Adriatic city and can be replicat-
ed anywhere with the right modifications. It allows different
development
scenarios
, policy proposals, or present or future plans and projects to be com-
pared with the aim of establishing the most satisfactory intervention hypothe-
sis to be implemented, providing for all possible improvements in the succes-
sive monitoring phase [8]. In support of this tool, a
protocol
is made available
to establish themes of interest,
general strategies
, and the need to promote the
sustainable development of different cities in the Adriatic area, which should
be shared and made operational by the
entities
and
institutions
involved, and
which will find a useful verification and evaluation tool in the application of
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