Indicators of the urban sprawl and urban land policy

Abstract

The key aim of this contribution is to present the indicandum (the indicated issues, that is, urban sprawl and urban land) which are usually measured by a number of indicators, the criteria for selection variables, the identification and classification of the key indicators (quantitative) and their description. Also, a concomitant aim is to derive some quantitative indicators critical for urban sprawl and urban land policy. As for the methodology used here for the preliminary identification of the indicators in question, the criteria are derived from standard evaluation of limit values and goals of, while the indicators are derived from measurements. Both concepts define the means or tools which have been used for the collection, analysis, evaluation and comparison of information about different issues, as well as tools for the integrated impact analysis of urban processes on urban land-use and policy. We have defined a preliminary set of indicators for urban sprawl, urban land-use and concomitant policy, grouped into five categories: 1) Key indicators of urban sprawl and urban land; 2) Anticipatory indicators of urban sprawl; 3) Basic market indicators of urban land and real estate; 4) Indicators of multi-functional urban land-use; and 5) Composite indicators (indices).