Prioritization of the key underlying sustainability indicators of urban green drainage infrastructure systems

Abstract

ABSTRACT Assessments of urban green drainage infrastructure (UGDI) have always been a headache in contemporary times which is a roadblock to enticing investors. This study prioritized the underlying sustainability indicators of UGDI systems in Ghana. After an exhaustive literature review, some identified sustainability indicators were compounded into semi-structured questionnaires. Sixty-two built environment professionals were asked to rate the significance of each indicator. A parametric test was used to prioritize the indicators. The results indicated that the most significant underlying sustainability indicators were; ‘Flood control’, ‘Compliance with sustainable development goals’, ‘multi-functionality’, ‘energy efficiency and GHG emissions’ and ‘Initial Construction Cost’. To understand how UGDI performs with regards to flood and pollution mitigation, specific geographical performance indicators are required. This is an under-explored area in the Ghanaian context. Hence, the indicators espoused in this study serve as a starting point for the development of appropriate frameworks to aid the implementation of UGDI.