Urban sustainability in the Latin American intermediate city. The case of Loja - Ecuador

The UN 2030 Agenda pursues sustainable development, inclusion, and in coherence with the environment. To achieve this, it is necessary to evaluate and improve the sustainability of the cities. This study evaluated urban sustainability in a pilot sector of the intermediate city of Loja (Ecuador). The used methodology was based on the System of Sustainable Urban Evaluation through urban densification indicators. To obtain occupancy indicators of use and occupancy, pedestrian accessibility, green spaces, and social interaction, data sources were gathered. The results revealed low index values when compared to the index values proposed: five indexes show optimum values in portions of the area of study while three indexes did not reach acceptable values. The Urban Densification Index value is lower compared to the referent index. The study indicates low sustainable index-values of urban development in the pilot sector analyzed. These results make evident the need to quantify sustainability indexes within the city as a base to define objectives that guide the city planning towards sustainability and urban equality.