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The Social Sustainability of the Infrastructures: A Case Study in the Liguria Region

Author

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  • Paolo Rosasco

    (Architecture and Design Department, University of Genoa, Stradone S. Agostino 37, 16123 Genoa, Italy)

  • Leopoldo Sdino

    (Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering Department (ABC Department), Polytechnic of Milan, 20156 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

One of the indicators that measures the economic development of a territory is its infrastructural endowment (road, rail, etc.). The presence of roads, railways, and airports are essential elements in creating the optimal conditions for the establishment or development of productive activities and economic growth; and also to generate benefits. However, the presence of infrastructure can have strong impacts on the environment and the living conditions of the population and infrastructure can be subject to actions related to contrast and opposition. Therefore, in parallel with the economic and environmental sustainability assessment, it is essential to decide whether or not to build new infrastructure. In addition, social sustainability is also pursued on the basis of an assessment that takes into account various aspects that relate the work to the population, also in order to identify the most satisfactory design solution. Alongside the adopted methodology, the assessment must be identified suitable criteria which are capable of taking into account the various impacts generated by the infrastructure, not only of an economic and environmental type, but also social and attributed relative importance (or weight) that is congruous with the correct balance of the three aspects of sustainability. This contribution deals with the identification of criteria for assessing the social sustainability of infrastructure projects, by taking as reference the 24 infrastructure projects in the planning and construction phase in the Liguria Region that make use of the Regional Law n. 39/2007 on the “Regional Strategic Intervention Programs—P.R.I.S.” (Regional Strategic Intervention Programs); which guarantees citizens affected by the infrastructure. In this research work, the selection is performed through the involvement of local stakeholders as well as the subjects and institutions that operate within the decision-making process of a work (designers, technicians from public administrations). The selected criteria are then weighted through the pairwise comparison method used in the multi-criteria technique of ThomasSaaty—Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The goal is to identify the useful criteria for assessing social sustainability and the weights attributed by the various parties involved in the decision-making process by citizens directly or indirectly affected by the infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Rosasco & Leopoldo Sdino, 2023. "The Social Sustainability of the Infrastructures: A Case Study in the Liguria Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:375-:d:1051397
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hrvoje Grofelnik & Nataša Kovačić, 2023. "Factors Influencing the Carbon Footprint of Major Road Infrastructure—A Case Study of the Učka Tunnel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-14, March.
    2. George da Mota Passos Neto & Luciana Hazin Alencar & Rodolfo Valdes-Vasquez, 2023. "Multiple-Criteria Methods for Assessing Social Sustainability in the Built Environment: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-24, November.

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