URBAN MENUS analysis input The URBAN MENUS impact-analysis supports the holistic understanding of problematic situations in developing areas, e.g., city quarters or similar municipal settlements. Above all, it shows the potential which can be reached through change. We distinguish between three different visions that constitute the basis of the balance. Only one of them can, in a holistic sense, become the main interest of a future scenario: Ecology: The buildings are strongly oriented towards environmental conservation, pedestrian and cycle paths are emphasized, public transport is supported, sustainable economic forms are taken into account, and space is devoted to nature in various ways, for example, through green and water elements. The use of renewable energies and climate protection also plays a major role.Urbanity: The focus is strongly associated with the social exchange, giving more emphasis to community gathering spaces, intergenerational relationships, co-working spaces, culture, and leisure – embedded into modern urban living and working.Density: The orientation in this scenario is expressed by a high degree of innovation in all aspects – innovative buildings, futuristic technologies, and development of new sectors – as well as by a focus on economic efficiency and use of space and buildings. URBAN MENUS qualitative analysis The URBAN MENUS impact analysis shows clearly, how far the vision development for e.g., a city quarter in the different, often far apart, interests of stakeholders from politics and economy from all generations can be balanced. The different indicators taken into account by the tool are classified regarding their relevance to our scopes of development: eco-system for ecology, social-context for urbanity, revenue-resource for density. The fulfillment of various indicators contributes to the parameters that are relevant to the total value of one, two, or all scopes. The graphic illustrates the overall values of the three scopes of development. What is relevant is not only the outcome of a specific field but the relationship to each other, since finding a certain balance between them is a goal. Equally high values for each sphere result in a high balance degree. When single values outweigh, this means that the active elements on the scene contribute mainly to one of the three scopes. URBAN MENUS quantitative analysis The URBAN MENUS impact analysis is holistically put together to measure the current or future life quality in e.g., a city quarter. How happy, safe, innovative, economic, and sustainable can you live and work here? On the output side, we classify today’s prevailing collective objectives into five main topics: Happiness varies widely. Happiness is closely related to wellbeing in everyday life or in a specific place. It is characterized by social interaction and opportunities for leisure activities, education, and work. Safety or the sense of security in one place depends on how well-lit it is, how easily one can orient oneself, and how varied is the range of activities in which one can engage. Innovation has to do with the novelty, with the discovery and tapping potentials, with the alternative forms of adapting to the future. Profitability considers the costs over the entire life cycle, including the construction, the use, and the disposal, the local and global impact, and the marketability. Circularity, as an umbrella term, describes the conservation of the planet’s natural resources. It is feasible if there are cycles without irreversible damage, for example, water, energy, and material flows that have no “toxic byproducts” and no impact on climate change. URBAN MENUS SDG assessment The Urban Menus impact analysis rates e.g., city quarter visions even after the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations, as an in-depth integral reference for the characterization of the current state of sustainable development. The tool uses a multi-criteria approach that includes more than 100 parameters for its impact assessment. As each parameter is classified according to its relevance to the SDGs, the algorithms allow for the assessment of a scenario’s contribution to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is done by evaluating each object in the space and all its attributes that configure the indicators (e.g. accessibility for vulnerable target groups) and combining them to obtain a total contribution of the space. By integrating the SDG analysis, URBAN MENUS provide substantive support for the inclusive decision-making process the planet needs.
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