Assessment

Assessment aims to provide a sustainability evaluation of the different options tested within the wider SOLUTIONS programme. This work package contains three main elements. First, criteria relevant to urban sustainable development and which are sensitive to the urban land use-transport options under investigation are to be identified and organised within a logical structure, the assessment framework. It is envisaged that the main assessment domains will address economic, social, environmental impact and resource use criteria. After evaluation criteria have been agreed within the consortium, a technical feasibility assessment will be conducted to determine the practicality of quantitative assessment. Assessment of individual criteria will be conducted using a range of extant mapping and modelling tools (eg, for energy use, emissions), whilst in the case of some criteria, new techniques may need to be developed. Using these tools, and inputs describing land use and transport characteristics drawn from the preceding work packages, the assessment criteria will be quantified for each option and case study city. Finally, assessments of individual criteria will be integrated to permit identification of the more sustainable land-use transport design. An appropriate integrative technique has not yet been selected, but a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) technique, such as the analytical hierarchy process or sustainability threshold analysis, may be chosen. In order to aid transparency, and support preparation of the best practice guidance, results will also be reported for individual criteria.

Example of air quality modelling (Scenario: £3 inner cordon charge, Leeds)