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Fuzzy AHP modelling of urbanization and environmental stress to rank selected Indian cities for liveability

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Abstract

This research introduces two index systems, i.e. urban development growth (UDG) and urban environment stresses (UES) to analyse the magnitude of urban growth and environmental stress scenarios. The UDG index defines an area of impervious cover present in the study area. The UES index estimates environmental disturbances in the form of (water, air, and solid waste) pollutions caused naturally or resulting from human activities. With multiple sub-indices in both the index systems, a multi-criteria decision support tool called fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is used to choose the best alternative by ranking multiple parameters. Pearson’s correlation analysis (r = 0.872) provided a linear relationship between the two systems. The strength and quality of that interconnection were measured by implementing an urban coupling degree model, i.e. a practical feedback framework to examine natural resources’ status followed by infrastructural advancement. A reasonable and realistic “Living Index (LI)” approach was implemented for assigning a rank to Indian cities. FAHP identified land urbanization ratio and chemical oxygen demand discharge per unit area as high weightage sub-indices representing UDG and UES, respectively. The model values concluded that almost all Indian cities were approaching extremes by 2017. The study found Guwahati in the first position and Mumbai in the last based on the liveability index. This ranking approach is more reliable and scientific as it uses reliable models and is not related to human opinions on these parameters. This ranking would be beneficial for urban planners for policymaking.

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Adapted from Rostamy et al. (2012)

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Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India, for providing the financial support for this research program vide Project No. ECR/2016/000057.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Rourkela, Rourkela, 769008, India

    Sovan Sankalp & Sanat Nalini Sahoo

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  1. Sovan Sankalp
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  2. Sanat Nalini Sahoo
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Correspondence to Sanat Nalini Sahoo.

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Sankalp, S., Sahoo, S.N. Fuzzy AHP modelling of urbanization and environmental stress to rank selected Indian cities for liveability. Environ Dev Sustain 25, 6727–6750 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02327-1

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