A sustainability assessment framework for population density in central Indian cities
ISSN: 2631-6862
Article publication date: 5 October 2021
Issue publication date: 14 February 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The urban population in Indian cities is increasing at an alarming speed. Accommodating such a huge population while sustaining the environment is a challenge in urban areas. Compact urban forms with high-density planning is claimed to be a sustainable solution in such situations. Thus, this approach needs to be tested for Indian urban areas.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper formulates a neighbourhood sustainability assessment (NSA) framework for monitoring, assessing and managing the population density of urban neighbourhoods. The paper identifies context-specific built density indicators at the neighbourhood scale. It assesses the indicators in neighbourhoods with varying population density by physical and perceived measures. This helps in verifying the feasibility of density by physical density assessment and verifies the acceptability of density by perceived density assessment.
Findings
When tested in the Indian context, the framework shows that although high-density neighbourhoods are sustainable, certain indicators may endorse differing densities. The result displays that high-density planning is sustainable compared to low- and medium-density neighbourhoods in the selected cities.
Practical implications
The study demonstrates the application of formulated assessment system in three central Indian cities with useful results. Similar studies can be conducted to identify the gaps for improving sustainability and achieve a livable density pattern.
Originality/value
Although sustainable development goals are part of new planning policies, there exist very few assessment systems to determine the sustainability of neighbourhoods, especially for density. The methodology will assist in developing sustainability assessment frameworks and encourage the practice of sustainability assessment in developing countries like India.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the experts and to the neighbourhood residents for participating in the surveys and providing their useful opinions.
Funding: No funding was received for conducting this study.
Availability of data and material: The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Statement of research ethics: In order to conduct a meaningful research, a perception survey was made in neighbourhoods. The surveys were carried out with the residents having their full consent.
Author contribution: The first author took the initiative, conducted the literature review and surveys, and prepared the original draft of the paper. The second author provided framework and revisions for the study.
Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.
Citation
Kamble, T. and Bahadure, S.P. (2022), "A sustainability assessment framework for population density in central Indian cities", Archnet-IJAR, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 134-153. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-05-2021-0142
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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