ABSTRACT
Quality of Life, while an intuitive concept, can be difficult to define or measure because its meaning and standards change from country to country, culture to culture, and across disciplines. Within healthcare, quality of life often focuses more specifically on a patient’s ability to perform daily activities, whereas studies on the quality of life for cities include broader social and economic issues. In general, quality of life is used to gauge the well-being of individuals, communities, and societies, and it is a key tool in evaluating the third pillar of sustainability; social sustainability. Improving quality of life is the core and fundamental purpose of infrastructure. Infrastructure provides everything from the basic needs of human life to the most extravagant comforts of the modern world. Pipes, mains, and treatment facilities distribute clean water, energy grids light and heat homes, and transportation networks bring food and goods to local markets. Yet the same infrastructure makes possible water parks, indoor skiing in the desert, and first-class leisure travel. How then should quality of life be evaluated in regards to sustainable infrastructure?
