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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/34003
- Title
- Environmental indicators for human settlements
- Author(s)
- Newton, Peter W.
- Abstract
- In this paper we explore the underpinning concepts, frameworks and models that are being employed in developing environmental indicators for human settlements in contemporary Australia. An over-arching concern is that indicators should reflect a thorough understanding of the systems they are to monitor. In this regard, the extended-metabolism model acts as a highly useful conceptual representation of human settlements, in that it is both descriptive---identifying the primary domain areas of urban systems such as energy, transport, housing etc. and their associated key indicators---and normative specifying desired directions for future urban development. We also explore the value of developing indicators that derive from computational models and relate to an urban future 10-15 years hence. Here, integrated land-use-transport-environment (LUTE) models operationalise key features of the extended-urban-metabolism model to evaluate alternative environmental futures for Melbourne in 2011. The value of interactive LUTE modelling lies in its ability to evaluate, at least in relative terms, the role of urban design (i.e. how a city is structured in relation to its housing, industry and transport) on environmental performance. We draw upon findings from the Inquiry into Urban Air Quality in Australia (Newton 1997) to demonstrate conclusively that urban form does matter to the level of energy input as well as greenhouse-gas emissions and air-quality outputs of human settlements. [Introduction]
- Publication type
- Book chapter
- Source
- Measuring progress : is life getting better? / Richard Eckersley (ed.), p. 319-327
- Publication year
- 1998
- Keyword(s)
- Australia; Energy; Environmental futures; Environmental indicators; Greenhouse gas emissions; Human settlements; Melbourne; Urban air quality; Urban design; Urban development; Urban futures
- Publisher
- CSIRO Australia
- ISBN
- 0643062963
- Copyright
- Copyright © CSIRO Australia 1998.
- Peer reviewed
