Method for estimating the social sustainability of infrastructure projects
- School of Civil Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia (Spain)
- ICITECH, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia (Spain)
Nowadays, sustainability assessments tend to focus on the biophysical and economic considerations of the built environment. Social facets are generally underestimated when investment in infrastructure projects is appraised. This paper proposes a method to estimate the contribution of infrastructure projects to social sustainability. This method takes into account the interactions of an infrastructure with its environment in terms of the potential for short and long-term social improvement. The method is structured in five stages: (1) social improvement criteria and goals to be taken into account are identified and weighed; (2) an exploratory study is conducted to determine transfer functions; (3) each criterion is homogenized through value functions; (4) the short and long-term social improvement indices are established; and finally, (5) social improvement indices are contrasted to identify the socially selected alternatives and to assign an order of priority. The method was implemented in six alternatives for road infrastructure improvement. The results of the analysis show that the method can distinguish the contribution to social sustainability of different infrastructure projects and location contexts, according to early benefits and potential long-term equitable improvement. This method can be applied prior to the implementation of a project and can complement environmental and economic sustainability assessments. - Highlights: •Method to select suitable infrastructure projects from the social sustainability point of view •Emphasizes social interactions of the infrastructure in the short and long term •Distinguishes the social sustainability of infrastructure projects in different locations •Efficiency of a social contribution in terms of early social benefits and a long-term distribution •Supports early decision-making of public agencies regarding infrastructure projects.
- OSTI ID:
- 22701652
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol. 65; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0195-9255
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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