Sustainable spatial management: an integrated approach

An integrated methodology has been designed to assist sustainable decision-making processes managed by spatial planners and developers in public authorities and the private sector. It emphasises public participation at early stages of spatial planning for the integration of sustainability criteria. It also acts as an integrated decision-support system for use at the plans and programmes approval stages to validate and complement strategic environmental assessment. A toolbox using state-of-the-art planning and geographic information system-based methods is complemented by five modules – conceptual models, system indicators, multi-criteria analysis, database management and geographic information system framework – which may be integrated in stakeholder participation tools throughout the implementation process. The approach therefore facilitates coherent responses to the following questions: What is the best way to design an integrated sustainable planning system? What is the best method to integrate sustainability criteria at early stages of planning? How can sustainability yardsticks successfully integrate environmental, social and economical aspects? Finally, how can stakeholder interest and participation in the planning process be stimulated? A scenario-based case-study of spatial planning in urban and peri-urban areas of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque autonomous region in Spain, is chosen to report on the system validation.