Site effects: assessing the fiscal, social and ecological costs of planned developments

• Published in: Regional studies, regional science Vol. 2; no. 1; pp. 392 - 407
• Main Authors: Dittrich-Wesbuer, Andrea, Krön, Annette, Mayr, Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 01.01.2015
• Subjects: costs of sprawl; decision support system; geographical information system (GIS); impact analysis; impact assessment tool; sustainable urban development
• ISSN: 2168-1376; 2168-1376
• DOI: 10.1080/21681376.2015.1063448

To achieve a more sustainable urban development it is necessary that decision-makers and others are able to understand the impacts of planned projects. To support this understanding a significant number of 'impact assessment tools' have been developed to facilitate decision-making for urban development. However, many of these tools have a rather narrow scope when looking at assessment areas or spatial scope. On that background, the research project RegioProjektCheck set out to develop an impact analysis tool with a broadened scope. Although the ambitious objectives had to be modified for some subject areas, the toolbox created can be seen as a starting point for a new generation of impact assessment tools that enable an integrated assessment. A new approach has also been attempted with wide distribution of the toolbox, providing free use and further technical development to anyone.