A Study of finding Sites for Ecological Villages, Using Multi Criteria Evaluation
Md. Tauhid-Ur-Rahman
32, Brinnelvagen, Land and Water Resources Engg.,
Royal Institute of Technology,
KTH, Stockholm, Se-100 44, Sweden
Email : taurah98@kth.se
N. Bernard
32, Brinnelvagen, Land and Water Resources Engg.,
Royal Institute of Technology,
KTH, Stockholm, Se-100 44, Sweden
Abstract
Environmental risks and uncertainties of a high-energy future have become a great concern in the light of the need to develop sustainable community. Thus the search for an alternative to life in the city has led to the development of ecological villages, small societies with 50 to 100 households which are largely self reliant through the creation of integrated and ecological food and energy production systems. This study seeks to use decision support system embedded in Geographical Information Systems to find five sites for ecological villages in Stockholm. In order to ensure that the ecological villages function in a holistic, beneficial mutualism with the surrounding rural and natural environment, Multi Criteria Evaluation (MCE) technique was adopted for analysing the complex trade-offs between choice alternatives with different environmental and social-economic impacts. The findings indicate that most of these suitable sites are located in the agricultural land and pasture with small areas in other parts of the land use.
Introduction
Today, the use of natural resources is very high. Modern city life is highly dependent on energy and matter whose cost is high in terms of transportation, water and wastewater treatment, distribution of food and other commodities, heating and lightning of houses and offices among others. Life in the city thus causes both environmental problems as well as alienation to nature and ecological principles (Lorenz, 1973). The environmental risks and uncertainties of a high energy future are now disturbing. Thus according to the Brundtland Commission (WCED, 1987) and Agenda 21 a new land use planning strategy for sustainable housing and living is needed. And low energy path is thus seen as the best way towards a sustainable future. The search for an alternative to life in the city has led to the development of ecological villages, small societies with 50 to 100 households.
An ecological village is described as a community that is largely self reliant through the creation of integrated and ecological food and energy production systems. Ecological villages are situated near nature, and built up around local supply of energy, water and food (Eronn, 1991; Malbert, 1993; Berg, 1993; Kullinger and Stromberg, 1992; Wiberg, 1998). As a result, the use of natural resources in ecological villages decreases because the people take care of sewage and waste products with a circulation of nutrients and heat their houses with environmentally friendly sources. Thus over time the capacity of local communities to manage their resource base in a sustainable manner will increase. In addition it will provide families with food security, improved health, and increased income and reduce their dependence on outside assistance.
The idea of ecological village has been evolving over the years. For instance in Sweden during the 1970s, ecological villages (referred to as first generation ecological villages) were located on sites with favourable soil and moisture conditions for building and construction purposes as well as with beneficial microclimate. Those villages focused more on internal social and ecological patterns; environmentally accepted materials; low energy demand by sharing common space and structures among others. The second generation of ecological village, now being planned for, aim at finding local supply for primary food, but also for energy and water (Gunther, 1993). They also aim to minimize the need for transportation (cf. Harmaajärvi, 2000). And a pattern of villages comprising a rural center will be able to support social services, job places among others. A third generation of ecological villages will hence aim at functioning in a holistic, beneficial mutualism with the surrounding rural and natural environment. Now the question is how to select sites for ecological villages.
Currently, a variety of analytical techniques have been developed to help decision makers solve location problems with Multi Criteria. GIS software such as IDRISI has incorporated Multi Criteria Evaluation (MCE) and multi objective land evaluation in a decision support module (Eastman et al., 1993; Eastman, 1997). MCE and some others provide tools for analyzing the complex trade-offs between choice alternatives with different environmental and socio-economic impacts. MCE technique with GIS provides the user with means for evaluating various alternatives on the basis of multiple and conflicting criteria and objectives. The criteria can be either constraints or factors. This study therefore seeks to find spots for ecological villages in Stockholm using criteria such as nature reserve, energy, food, water waste and sewage, service and job places radon-gas risk and technical accessibility.