A unique approach to visualising sustainability in the built environment

Developing sustainable urban environments is complex as it requires consideration of interacting social, economic and environmental sustainability factors. The task is made even more difficult by the wide variety of stakeholders (e.g. planners, architects, businesses and the public) that may be involved in the process and the lack of a common language for all to understand This paper describes a prototype visualisation tool (S-City VT) that will allow stakeholders to understand and influence decisions regarding the sustainability of an urban development. S-City VT models the interactions between the sustainability indicators, using the analytical network process (ANP) methodology. The results of the ANP model are shown to the user in a novel way using a 3D visualisation tool. The user will be presented with a 3D visualization of the 'virtual' development that encapsulates the results of the ANP model and thus the sustainability of the virtual development. By taking this approach S-City VT provides a common language for the theory of sustainability which will be understood by all stakeholders. Further, the tool will allow evaluation of the consequences of decisions relating to the short and long term implications of alternative courses of action.