ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the definitions, diagnostics and implementation of economic sustainability metrics within an urban real estate context. From a historical perspective it can be argued that private investment was always paramount for creating the great cities where ingenuity flourished in both civic and business arenas. The sustainability of new housing development varies across local housing market areas and also within cities. According to the proponents of the Smart City, hi-tech solutions that utilise electronic data collected through sensors and card readers would help planning for people's movements and making life more comfortable as well as improving the security concerns. Bryson and Lombardi purport that maximising short-term profits in residential development projects in cities leads to unsustainable development in the long run.
