Sustainable development indicators for major infrastructure projects

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Municipal engineer Vol. 164; no. 1; pp. 15 - 24
• Main Authors: Gilmour, Daniel, Blackwood, David, Banks, Les, Wilson, Fergus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Institution of Civil Engineers 01.03.2011; ICE Publishing
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Decision making; Development projects; Exact sciences and technology; Green infrastructure; Indicators; Information technology; Infrastructure; Project management. Process of design; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Urban development; Waterfronts; United Kingdom; Europe; British Isles, Scotland, Tayside, Dundee; British Isles; Project evaluation; Urban renewal; Methodology; Urban planning; Infrastructure; Sustainable development; Information technology; Indicator
• ISSN: 0965-0903; 1751-7699
• DOI: 10.1680/muen.800020

The paper presents ongoing research to develop a sustainability enhancement framework for the major Dundee Central Waterfront urban re-development project. The enhancement concept recognises a need to ensure that sustainability is considered in decision-making at all stages of major projects to ensure a more sustainable outcome overall. The paper describes a set of procedures, developed by the authors and drawn from IT and knowledge management fields, to identify appropriate indicators and ensure the effective incorporation of sustainability issues throughout the Central Waterfront project decision-making processes. The procedures include the production of information flow diagrams to identify the wide range of stakeholders involved in the project and their means of interaction, and decision flow maps to identify and categorise use of the information by the stakeholders. The paper reviews current sustainability indicators related to infrastructure provision in the UK and Europe, emerging indicators from Scottish government, EU commission and research groups, and presents a set of strategic ‘sustainable development benchmark indicators’ suitable for enhancing the sustainability of the Central Waterfront project. Conclusions are drawn on the appropriateness of the indicators for assessing sustainable infrastructure provision.