Skip to main content
Log in

Construction and application of an assessment index system for evaluating the eco-community’s sustainability

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Forestry Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An assessment index system including environment, socio-culture, economy and technology was established for evaluating environmental construction level of community (objective construction), and questionnaire was designed according to paper review for evaluating residential satisfaction (subjective satisfaction). The index system was divided into four layers: system (A), subsystems (B), categories (C), and indicators (D), and in total of 38 indicators was established. The Xihe community, affiliated to Nanfen district, Benxi City, Liaoning Province, China was selected as a case study. Results indicated that the community sustainability index related to objective environmental construction was 0.4355 and was classified as class III (moderate); the community sustainability index related to the residential satisfaction was 0.4255, belonging to class III. In conclusion, the sustainability of Xihe community was moderate and needed to be improved. Residential satisfaction was lower than objective environmental construction. The assessment index system established in this study is able to reflect the comprehensive sustainability of community and can be used to evaluate other similar communities’ sustainability

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Deakin M. 2003. Developing sustainable communities: the settlement model, design solution and matter of environmental assessment. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, 5(4): 551–573.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deakin M. 2003. Developing sustainable communities in Edinburgh’s South East Wedge: The settlement model and design solution. Journal of Urban Design, 8(2): 137–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deakin M, Allwinkle S. 2007. Urban regeneration and sustainable communities: The role of networks, innovation, and creativity in building successful partnerships. Journal of Urban Technology, 14(1): 77–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HwanSuk CC, Ercan S. 2006. Sustainability indicators for managing community tourism. Tourism Management, 27(6): 1274–1289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Junnila S, Horvath A. 2003. Life-Cycle environmental effects of an office building. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 9(4): 157–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lachman BE. 1997. Linking Sustainable Community Activities to Pollution Prevention: A Sourcebook [M]. Santa Monica, California: The Rand Corporation, p8–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Huasheng, Xu Ruixiang, Gao Zhonggui, Peng Buzhuo. 2005. Quality evaluation of human settlements in a city scale-a case study on Nanjing city. Human Geography, 20(1): 1–5. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicollier TC, Ferrari Y, Jemelin C, Jolliet O. 2003. Assessing sustainability: An assessment framework to evaluate agenda 21 actions at the local level. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 10: 225–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin Youguo. 2006. Green buildings under China’s actual conditions. China Housing Facilities, 7: 30–33. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roseland M. 2000. Sustainable community development: Integrating environmental, economic, and social objectives. Progress in Planning, 54(2): 73–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saaty TL. 1990. How to make a decision: The analytic hierarchy process. European Journal of Operational Research, 1(48): 9–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen Jing. 2000. Advisory theory and practice. Beijing: China Electrical Press, p1–180. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sustainable Seattle. 1998. The Sustainable Seattle 1998 Indictors of Sustainable Community. Seattle, WA: Sustainable Seattle.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian Meirong, Gao Jixi, Zhang Biao, Qiao Qing. 2007. Study on assessment index system of ecological community. Research of Environmental Sciences, 20(3): 87–92. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentin A, Spangenberg JH. 2000. A guild to community sustainability indicators. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 20: 381–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Rusong, Xu Hongxi. 2005. A Comprehensive Approach for Yangzhou Eco-city Development. Beijing: China Science and Technology Press, p232. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Liangyong. 2001. Guide of Human Settlements. Beijing: China Architecture and Industry Press, p 1–120. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan Wen, James P, Yang Kai. 2003. Community sustainable development indicator systems in China: A case study of Chongming County, Shanghai. Geographical Research, 22(4): 484–494. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Yan, Yang Zhifeng, Yu Xiangyi. 2006. Measurement and evaluation of interactions in complex urban ecosystem. Ecological Modelling, 196(1/2): 77–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li-min Dai.

Additional information

Foundation items: This study was supported by the National Key Technologies R & D Program of China (2006BAD03A09), Agrifund of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (2006GB24910472).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Han, Y., Dai, Lm., Zhao, Xf. et al. Construction and application of an assessment index system for evaluating the eco-community’s sustainability. Journal of Forestry Research 19, 154–158 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-008-0027-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-008-0027-2

Keywords

Navigation