Quality of Urban Environment: A Critical Review of Approaches and Methodologies

Mohammad Firoz Khan,Subia Aftab,Fakhruddin Fakhruddin

doi:10.4236/cus.2015.34029

Abstract

It is a well-known fact that quality of environment in urban habitats has deteriorated throughout the world over time and the down-slide still continues. It is a matter of great concern as it affects human well-being and health. This problem under the general umbrella of quality of life studies has been examined from different angles. At the centre stage in this paper it is the quality of environment from a human perspective to inform the policy makers about the hiatus between objective (empirical) and perceived quality of environment [QOE]. Indeed, some qualitative studies are successful in finding out deeper issues in respect of environmental degradation of urban habitats which should be brought to the notice of urban planners and designers. However, studies carried out in environmental psychology, in many cases, have failed to philosophical underpinnings and appropriateness of methodology. They are unable in theorising the quality of the urban environment to the satisfaction of critical evaluation. The present paper is a humble attempt to critically evaluate the objective and perceptual approaches and methodologies to understand and evaluate quality of the urban environment. In the process, their philosophical foundations are also subjected to critical evaluation to conclude which one of the two approaches better informs policy makers concerned with urban development and renewal programmes.

Highlights

There are several studies available in the developing world, which show concern with the socioeconomic and technological changes taking place in the urban centres
These studies largely have shown concern with vanishing green, open spaces, urban agriculture, water bodies, shrinking flood plains and at best micro-climatic changes in the urban environment and not quality of urban environment. They generally fail to associate these changes with the liveability of urban habitat or its environmental quality except for impacts on micro-climates or bio-climates which affect human comfort outdoors and indoors in few instances
The present paper is a humble attempt to critically evaluate so-called objective and perceptual approaches and respective methodologies to understand and evaluate quality of urban environment in order to bring out the fact which one of the two approaches better informs policy makers concerned with urban development and renewal programmes

Summary

Introduction

There are several studies available in the developing world, which show concern with the socioeconomic and technological changes taking place in the urban centres. In this context, a new research tradition has emerged in the western world under the rubric of quality of environment, out of older traditions of quality of life, social indicators, level of living, etc. Since urban settlements in the developing countries are increasingly becoming industrial powerhouses, liveability of these places is deteriorating, often beyond permissible limits These economic measures as the indicators of development and qualitative change in the human environmental conditions are being increasingly questioned. As experience of the western countries reveals that, despite generating investment and production, industrialisation is directly responsible for exacerbation of problems of health, environmental pollution and recreational opportunity It is, agreed that, the development and qualitative change in human environmental conditions go beyond some aggregate measures of level of consumption and production of goods and services. Perceptual approach based on personal and community preferences and reactions to the existing environmental quality out of their experience cannot be ignored altogether in emerging economies

Objective

Perceptual Approach

Conclusion