Introduction

Volume 1 of this book series began by outlining the principles, underlying concepts, model, vision and methodology of an integrated sustainable urban development (SUD) (Curwell et al., 2005). This drew attention to the framework BEQUEST has developed for such an understanding of SUD and went on to set out the protocol(s) the network argues should be followed for carrying out an environmental assessment. In this regard, Volume 1 argued:

• SUD’s goal is to improve the quality of life for an increasingly urban population; • actions aiming to improve the quality of life need a simple, clear framework

for analysing the sustainability of urban development; • this framework for analysis requires to provide a vision and methodology

capable of bringing such concerns into the scope of actions targeting improvements in the quality of life;

• within this vision and methodology, protocol(s) provide a middle ground between the environmental assessment methods available to evaluate SUD and bring about improvements in the quality of life;

• such evaluations of SUD must transcend purely environmental factors and embed themselves securely in more comprehensive and integrated environmental, social and economic assessments;

• a community of academic and professional advisers is emerging, willing and able to use new information technology as a means of supporting such assessments and making the evaluations they produce available to local, regional, national and international agencies.