Outdoor environment assessment tool for existing neighbourhoods based on the multi-criteria decision-making method. (1st February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Kang; Jiang, Ziling; Li, Danyang; Ge, Jian
• Is Part Of: Building and environment. Volume 209(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02-01
• Subjects: Outdoor physical environment -- Environment evaluation -- Multi-criteria decision-making -- Existing neighbourhood; Buildings -- Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Building -- Research -- Periodicals; Constructions -- Technique de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 696
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108687
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Numerous existing neighbourhoods, such as many of those built-in 1980–2000 in China, have poor physical environmental conditions. Supplemented by field investigations, this paper puts forward an outdoor environment evaluation tool designed for existing neighbourhoods based on the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. Evaluation indicators of the acoustic, luminous, and thermal environments and air quality were chosen and classified according to the characteristics of existing neighbourhoods. The weight of each indicator was determined through opinions from both residents and experts. To achieve a comprehensive score, the calculation was carried out based on a multi-level system for neighbourhoods with different conditions/requirements. The proposed methodology was then applied to measure the outdoor environment performance of four existing neighbourhoods in Hangzhou, China. Results showed that, for all neighbourhoods, the outdoor environments were shown to be inadequate regarding acoustic and luminous environments, with improvement potential for the thermal environment and air quality. Corresponding suggestions for renovation and upgrading were put forward. The proposed tool can inform renovation potential of existing neighbourhoods from both residents' and experts' opinions, diagnosis of outdoor physical environments in four aspects, and development of renovation strategies under different environmental conditions/requirements. Highlights: Outdoor physical environment assessment tool proposed for existing neighbourhoods. The tool was based on the multi-criteria decision-making method. Evaluation indicators were classified into three levels based on different conditions. Both residents and experts' opinions contributed to the weight of indicators. The tool analysed renovation measures in 4 typical Chinese neighbourhoods.