Suggesting Elements And Relative Weights For The Comprehensive Assessment Model For Neighborhood Sustainability (CAMNS) Compared To Eight Global Assessment Systems

Abstract

The rapid and ongoing urban expansion of residential areas worldwide and in Saudi Arabia has led to various adverse impacts on the natural environment, including heightened consumption of natural resources, elevated energy usage, increased environmental pollution, climate change, and detrimental effects on human health. In response, numerous measurement systems are made to assess residential neighborhood's sustainability, which serve as the fundamental building blocks of urban areas. These systems exhibit disparities in their essential components, sub-components, relative weights, and methodologies for assigning evaluation points and accreditation levels. This paper analyzes eight global assessment tools for neighborhood sustainability to find these systems' strengths, weaknesses, and shortcomings.

This research aims to find an assessment model that comprehensively covers the aspects of neighborhood sustainability, which this paper proposes as the Comprehensive Assessment Model for Neighborhood Sustainability (CAMNS). This research analyzes eight global assessment tools for neighborhood sustainability to find these systems' strengths, weaknesses, and shortcomings. A three-level structure is proposed for the new CAMNS model. This paper covers the first and second levels of the proposed structure. The first level represents the four pillars of sustainability. Under these four pillars, 16 sub-elements are ideal for assessing neighborhood sustainability. The research also suggested the appropriate relative weighting of the primary and sub-items in line with the instruments under study, taking into account the coverage of all components of the assessment model.