Keywords
model-based decision support, multi criteria assessment, sustainable settlement growth, urban region
Start Date
1-7-2012 12:00 AM
Abstract
Multi-criteria decision support systems (MCA-DSS) have been gaining enormous importance for land use planning and policy making. The number of MCA-DSS is large and their purposes, actors to be involved and spatial context for application are highly diverse. In Germany, the national research programme “REFINA” (Research for the Reduction of Land Consumption and for Sustainable Land Management) funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) produced a number of different DSS for different actors and purposes. But also at the cross-national level, large research initiatives such as European Union’s Sixth Framework programme for research, priority »Global change and ecosystems « supported the development of land use related DSS. In our paper, we present two MCA-DSS from both research initiatives and compare them in terms of i) spatial setting and stage of planning, ii) actors, iii) indicators, iv) type of programming, v) type of modelling and vi) effectiveness. Additionally, we introduce a quality check of both tools against the five “guidelines for involving users in development” formulated by McIntosh et al. [2009:41ff.] in order to assess their “usefulness and usability” [McIntosh et al. 2009: 34] within spatial planning. The first tool was developed at the University of Bonn within the project FIN.30 (“Intelligent land use”, 2006-2009) focussing on reduced land consumption within settlement development of cities. This multi-criteria assessment tool evaluates greenfield and infill sites concerning their sustainability and resource efficiency. The MCA development (multi-criteria assessment) and its incorporation into a Decision Support System (DSS) were accomplished by utilising a stakeholder-driven approach. The resulting tool can be applied in preparing and revising land-use plans. The second tool, the integrated Impact Analysis Tool (iIAT), was developed within the project PLUREL [2007-2010; www.plurel.net]. The iIAT is an internet-accessible land use impact assessment tool that displays statistical and modelling results in form of spidergrams. They allow for a visualisation of changes in sustainability indicators, as positive or negative trends according to different scenarios. The iIAT so far represents a novel interface between science and policy-making contributing to further knowledge on impacts of future urbanisation in Europe.
Sustainable settlement growth by modelbased decision support: Comparison of two MCA-tools for urban regions
Multi-criteria decision support systems (MCA-DSS) have been gaining enormous importance for land use planning and policy making. The number of MCA-DSS is large and their purposes, actors to be involved and spatial context for application are highly diverse. In Germany, the national research programme “REFINA” (Research for the Reduction of Land Consumption and for Sustainable Land Management) funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) produced a number of different DSS for different actors and purposes. But also at the cross-national level, large research initiatives such as European Union’s Sixth Framework programme for research, priority »Global change and ecosystems « supported the development of land use related DSS. In our paper, we present two MCA-DSS from both research initiatives and compare them in terms of i) spatial setting and stage of planning, ii) actors, iii) indicators, iv) type of programming, v) type of modelling and vi) effectiveness. Additionally, we introduce a quality check of both tools against the five “guidelines for involving users in development” formulated by McIntosh et al. [2009:41ff.] in order to assess their “usefulness and usability” [McIntosh et al. 2009: 34] within spatial planning. The first tool was developed at the University of Bonn within the project FIN.30 (“Intelligent land use”, 2006-2009) focussing on reduced land consumption within settlement development of cities. This multi-criteria assessment tool evaluates greenfield and infill sites concerning their sustainability and resource efficiency. The MCA development (multi-criteria assessment) and its incorporation into a Decision Support System (DSS) were accomplished by utilising a stakeholder-driven approach. The resulting tool can be applied in preparing and revising land-use plans. The second tool, the integrated Impact Analysis Tool (iIAT), was developed within the project PLUREL [2007-2010; www.plurel.net]. The iIAT is an internet-accessible land use impact assessment tool that displays statistical and modelling results in form of spidergrams. They allow for a visualisation of changes in sustainability indicators, as positive or negative trends according to different scenarios. The iIAT so far represents a novel interface between science and policy-making contributing to further knowledge on impacts of future urbanisation in Europe.
