Constructing Multi-attribute Value Functions for Sustainability Assessment of Urban Projects

Over the past few decades, the strategies to perform energy systems analysis have evolved into multiple criteria-based frameworks. However, there still remains a lack of guidance on how to select the most suitable Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) method. These methods provide different decision recommendations for the Decision Makers, including ranking, sorting, choice, and clustering of the alternatives (e.g., technologies or scenarios) under evaluation. They deal with a variety of data typologies and preferences, and lead Decision Makers in shaping the energy systems of the future. Here, we evaluate the MCDA methods used in 56 case studies performing energy systems analysis at different scales. We find that close to 60% of these studies chose an MCDA method that was not the most adequate for the respective decision problem. In particular, this concerned the use of weighting methods (e.g., Analytical Hierarchy Process) in MCDA approaches not suited for this type of weights, sub-optimal selection of MCDA techniques for specific types of problem statements, and lack of handling rather evident interactions in preference models. Our analysis demonstrates that these deficiencies can be overcome by using a recently developed methodology and software that support Decision Makers and analysts in selecting the most suitable MCDA method for a given type of decision-making problem.

Royal Cosun, Avantium partner in biofuels, bioplastics process development

PurposeThis study aims to focus on the application of a multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method to compare results presented by the Integrated Goals System based on the 12th edition of the Integrated Public Safety Areas (IPSAs) Award, which achieved goals established for Strategic Crime Indicators for the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main objective of this research was to limit the compensatory effects of classification criteria on IPSAs that have achieved goals established for crime indicators by applying the MCDA method.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology was based on the application of MCDA. The MCDA method selected and used was ELECTRE III, being implemented by J-Electre software.FindingsCompared to results of the current method, the results of the ELECTRE III method showed a 94.87 per cent change in ranking positions revealed via the SIM method. This finding denotes the elimination of compensatory effects of the criteria. As a consequence, it can be affirmed that the application of resources by IPSA managers to reduce the prevalence of a single strategic crime indicator is no longer a success factor for awarding in the established goal system.Research limitations/implicationsAs limitations, it is possible to indicate the time cut used to carry out the research. The research may be extended to other issues of the productivity award.Practical implicationsThe methodology applied with the use of ELECTRE III revealed that the government could reduce the cost with the incentive program to reduce criminal indices.Social implicationsAs the MCDA method is based on a binary pairwise comparison system, the methodology imposes a change of attitude on local managers fighting crime to reduce crime indicators and to consequently build a local sense of safety in IPSAs.Originality/valueThis research fills a gap in the literature because there are few studies using the MCDA method in the field of public security. The value of the work lies in the creation of a method that gives the decision-maker, of the law enforcement agency, an alternative to improve the process of rewarding by productividad of the integrated areas of public security.

Multicriteria spatial decision support systems (MC-SDSS) have emerged as an integration of the geographical information systems (GIS) and multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods. GIS-based MCDA allows the incorporation of conflicting objectives and decision maker (DM) preferences into spatial decision models. During recent decades, a variety of research articles have been published regarding the implementation of methods and/or tools in a variety of real-world case studies. The article discusses, in detail, the criteria and methods that are implemented in GIS-based landfill siting suitability analysis and especially the exclusionary and non-exclusionary criteria that can be considered when selecting sites for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. This paper reviews 36 seminal articles in which the evaluation of candidate landfill sites is conducted using MCDA methods. After a brief description of the main components of a MC-SDSS and the applied decision rules, the review focuses on the criteria incorporated into the decision models. The review provides a comprehensive guide to the landfill siting analysis criteria, providing details regarding the utilization methods, their decision or exclusionary nature and their monotonicity.

Private Sector-led Urban Development Projects. Management, Partnerships and Effects in the Netherlands and the UK

Urban regeneration projects have been used in urban planning in different cities to recover strategic areas and combat new land consumption. Often, Public–Private Partnership (PPP) agreements are signed to meet the demands of these projects. In the Italian case, PPP arrangements can be one of three types, namely, contractual, institutionalized, and negotiable. Urban regeneration, in the Italian context, aims to increase the value of the existing infrastructure. Despite this, there are several obstacles to how these practices are developed, which demand more attention to be paid to the enabling environment and the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that can improve the performance of these practices. Based on this, this study aims to analyze the Italian context of PPP arrangements in urban regeneration projects and the specific case of the Livorno “Porta a Mare”. To this end, the study adopts a previously established CSFs framework. The data analyzed are derived from secondary sources obtained through documentary collection and primary sources obtained through interviews. Regarding the PPP process, the results indicate the commitment of the public and private sectors, despite limitations in the selection process and the lack of public participation. Concerning urban regeneration, although not yet completed, the project allocates a significant area of waterfront to urban use.

Exploring the drivers of urban renewal through comparative modeling of multiple types in Shenzhen, China

Being awarded the organisation the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OG) implies that the host cities must tackle several major challenges: The mandatory delivery of the Olympic venues (sport, transport and athletes housing) by the date of the OPG, and the post-Olympic sustainability. Organising the Games demands exceptional urban planning and governance. This article analyses planning law amendments to be made for the OPG in various fields (environment, building permits, participation, etc.), and looks at the link between the level of waiver and the implementation of certain types of urban planning projects (sport venues and flagship projects of international scope). The study is based on a comparative approach to three Olympiads: Paris 2024, London 2012 and Athens 2004, each representing a different level of interaction between the urban project and the Olympic projects. Three aspects are addressed: (1) the political, legal and planning strategies of how to integrate the OPG project into urban mega-projects (which are ‘exceptional’ projects by nature); (2) the waivers and innovations in town planning law; (3) a critical analysis of the specific governance and the socio-economic impacts of these mega-projects on the local residents.

Urban planning can play a very important role in achieving sustainable growth and development by integrating ‗sustainable development principles‘ in urban planning strategies, policies, programs and projects. There are diverse conceptualization and understanding regarding sustainability, and there is still no single format of integrating the principles of sustainability into a cohesive and integrated urban planning methodology. Various agencies and institutions have articulated the concepts and principles of sustainability at various levels and with a variety of depth and details. Based on the literature review this paper studies the emergence of the concept of sustainability, its dimensions and under-pining, and how urban planning practitioners and institutions have attempted to integrate the basic principles into their practices. The objective is to examine to what extent the government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its development agencies have internalized the prevailing notion of sustainability and the principles that entail the concept, particularly how the principles are embedded in development Planning strategies and policies. This paper consists of introduction and three parts: After the introduction, the Part One presents a selective review of the emergence and spread of the concept of sustainability to integrate the substantive principles in the planning practice. It discusses the application of sustainability principles in relation to urban development and planning in general. Then it summarizes some guidelines and related action programs provided by leading professional institutions in urban planning. The literature review part concluded with sustainability assessment criteria. Part Two outlines the institutional developments and national policies and commitments in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in respect of sustainable development as stated in the 8th and 9th National Development Plans, National Spatial Strategy, and General Environmental Law. The review of Saudi experience concludes with an assessment summary showing to what extent sustainability principles have been incorporated in Saudi Arabian development planning strategies. Part Three concludes that Saudi Arabia has incorporated most of the major sustainable development principles extracted from the literature review. It highlights policies and programs for implementing the principles at regional and local levels by various urban development actors (the communities, public agencies, private firms and academia) and sectors such as housing, transportation and infrastructure, urban services, industrial and commercial land uses, etc. would go a long way in achieving sustainable urban development in Saudi Arabia. The paper is based primarily on the literature review and secondary data collected through a review of some previous studies, books, articles and local and international reports on the subject, including the basic terms and concepts as well as some important international experiences in sustainable development and urban planning.

Sustainability indicators are gaining more and more attention as a powerful tool for supporting policy making, providing information on different fields, such as environment, economy, society, technology etc. A very important aspect when dealing with sustainability indicators is related to the procedure for the construction of composite indices, that combine the information coming from several indicators and that are easier to be managed and communicated. The paper investigates the use of indicators in sustainability assessment of projects, plans and programmes and proposes an application of the Multi Attribute Value Theory (MAVT) for the definition of synthetic indices of evaluation. With the aim of highlighting potentialities and limits of the proposed approach, the methodology is applied to a real case concerning a set of well-being indicators. The results of the study show that MAVT is suitable for dealing with the aggregation of indicators systems.

The city of Zacatecas, founded in the 16th century and with its unique characteristics of a city without a Renaissance layout, rather a mining city that grew along the course of the stream and the mining benefits, was part of the broader project to explore the mines in northern New Spain. Although it is true that throughout the 16th and 17th centuries architectural spaces were built that defined the physiognomy of the city, we locate a first modern urban transformation at the end of the 18th century, with the so - called Bourbon reforms, and their urban planning project. The first two intendants carried out some urban interventions, which contributed to urban reorganization, the most important of them was the division of the city into quarters, a measure that contributed to having a better social and population control of the city. Some new spaces were projected redefining the city. We have the project for the grain warehouse, which was able to be carried out at the end of the 18th century due to the pressing needs for grain storage, but for various reasons the building was unable to fulfil the function for which it was intended. The layout of the Alameda was planned so that the city would have a recreational space for the inhabitants of the 18th century, however, despite the opposition of many sectors of the population, it was frowned upon by society. Talking about the history, culture and art of the city of Zacatecas means referring to what we consider to be three stages of urban transformation throughout its history. In this sense, we will focus on three moments in the history of the city that underwent transformations that influenced urban morphology, which means moving away from other moments, projects and social actors that intervened in the physiognomy of the historic city. This study sheds light on how Enlightenment ideals shaped urban governance and spatial arrangements, providing valuable insights into the historical evolution of modern urban planning.

The research investigates the relationship between cities and climate change by examining how urban projects shifted to mitigation and adaptation for climate change at an urban scale. The article is based upon two complementary approaches, a multilevel analysis from sustainable transitions theory and a framework of interrelations of urban mitigation and adaptation projects. The methodological design is a case study; we analyzed the case of Medellin that, at the beginning of the 2000's, implemented public transport projects, urban parks, educational and cultural facilities, and risk mitigation projects in the surrounding hills. The main findings are that specific projects at an urban scale are operating as niches or experiments, taking advantage of windows of opportunities, and triggering changes in the urban design routines, framing a new sociotechnical system. It is found that governance, leadership, teams of experts and urban planners are drivers for the transition of urban projects, which were initially designed for social and transport needs, to urban mitigation projects for climate change. At the same time, urban mitigation projects such as the Metropolitan Green Belt are transiting to adaptation projects for climate change. The conclusion for this case study is that while most urban projects retain their traditional role, a new generation of projects with mitigation and adaptation features is emerging in the context of climate change. This article contributes to expanding the empirical analysis of the literature on the theory of sustainable transitions specifically related to cities and urban projects. The theoretical framework of urban projects and their linkages with climate change are enriched. The conceptual framework of the analysis is replicable and useful for practitioners in the field of urban design and researchers interested in comparisons to identify patterns or typologies. In addition, the article contributes to sensitize actors involved in public urban design policies in their roles as managers of transitions.

Urban planning, regeneration and design is an essentially cultural practice with the outcomes often depending upon an understanding of and engagement with the past. As cities in China strive to be competitive and attractive on the world stage, their decaying historical urban fabrics are being transformed into vibrant places through historical-cultural led urban regeneration, however, the impact of their rapid development has escaped serious scrutiny. Heritage-led Urban Regeneration in China presents the detailed evolution of three well-known historic streets in China: the Southern Song Imperial Street in Hangzhou; the residential Pingjiang Street in Suzhou; and the commercial Tunxi Old Street in Huangshan. From their original formation to their more recent regeneration, this book offers a critical evaluation of historical-cultural led urban regeneration projects in China and provides theoretical guidelines for contemporary practice in relation to its tangible and intangible urban heritage. Using interdisciplinary research in architecture, urban design, history and cultural studies, Jing Xie and Tim Heath provide a detailed analysis of the conservation and regeneration efforts of China as an emerging and pivotal world power. An invaluable resource for urban designers, urban planners and architects interested in and working in China, Heritage-led Urban Regeneration in China helps its readers to engage with the essential and invisible factors that produce these revitalised places while forming a critical view towards these projects.

Energy security has become increasingly important because of its impact on all sectors of the economy, and even more because of the scarcity of primary energy resources and price fluctuations caused by geopolitical tensions. This has prompted all countries to assess their energy situation and take strategic measures to mitigate energy risks. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to identify the dimensions of energy security with the greatest impact on Morocco's energy security, as well as the priority strategic measures for mitigating energy risk. To this end, we consider the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP) method, which is a multiple criteria decision analysis method, which has been used to obtain results based on a structured evaluation process. The obtained results, following the considered comparison matrix, underscore that availability and resilience dimensions have the greatest impact on the Moroccan energy security, with respective weights of 48% and 28%. Besides, mitigating energy risk in Morocco primarily involves the development of renewable energies compared with seven other proposed measures, along with their degree of priority.

Bipolar is one of the multiple criteria decision analysis methods, proposed by Konarzewska-Gubała (in Archiwum Automatyki i Telemechaniki 32(4):289–300, 1987). The main feature of the method is that alternatives are not compared directly with each other, but they are confronted to the two reference sets of objects: desirable and non-acceptable. Practical application of the method revealed its shortcomings, therefore improvements of the method were desirable. The aim of the paper is to formulate some modifications of the classical Bipolar approach and consider a case where reference sets are numerous. Unified Bipolar procedure which contains classical Bipolar method as well as the modifications described in the paper is given. Numerical illustrations of the modifications and unified approach are also presented.