Development of an urban neighbourhood environmental quality assessment method (UNEQAM) for developing countries

Abstract

Despite various efforts for its improvement, the urban environment in developing countries is degrading at an alarming rate. Some of the most significant urban environmental issues in developing countries are, in fact, the aggregate effect of household and neighbourhood­based issues such as poor water supply and sanitation, overcrowding and substandard housing, inadequate garbage collection, indoor air pollution etc. However, most city authorities and other urban managers are unaware of the extent, nature and gravity of these issues at the micro level. Consequently, environmental strategies employed at the macro (city) level tend to be ineffective as they fail to comprehend the nature and extent of these issues at the micro (neighbourhood) level. The environmental quality within a city varies significantly from one area to another. Therefore, the capacity to analyse the variations of environmental quality in different neighbourhoods within city, becomes a prime requisite for urban environmental management. However, none of the existing environmental assessment tools and methods directly focus on the assessment and monitoring of environmental quality at neighbourhood level. This study develops a method that could effectively be used for the assessment and monitoring of environmental quality in urban neighbourhoods. The method, termed the Urban Neighbourhood Environmental Quality Assessment Method (UNEQAM), is composed of a set of individual indicators and a composite index: UNEQI. The individual indicators, and the composite index, can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from identifying and ranking urban neighbourhoods in order of priority for environmental improvement, to evaluating the environmental quality in each neighbourhood against an 'ideal, or some set of objectives. The thesis analyses the results of an application of the UNEQAM to neighbourhoods in Colombo (Sri Lanka) as a means of refining the method, and testing its relevance and applicability. It finds that individual indicators and the UNEQI are effective in assessing the environmental quality of urban neighbourhoods. The testing of UNEQAM also revealed its flexibility in meeting specific local conditions. The analysis shows that UNEQAM is a suitable and reliable method for the assessment of environmental quality in urban neighbourhoods in developing countries. The method is flexible enough to be adjusted to suit differing circumstances, and therefore, can be employed for assessing and monitoring the urban neighbourhood environmental quality in any developing country. The study proposes recommendations for the implementation of UNEQAM in Colombo specifically and also, more generally, for any developing country.