Evaluation of sustainable development alternatives: relevant concepts,resource assessment approaches and comparative spatial indicators

Environmental, social and cultural factors are increasingly recognized as affecting the long‐term viability of development initiatives. The application of selected ecological concepts and a “systems approach” to resource assessment is suggested to improve understanding of environmental constraints and impacts, while providing a more realistic framework for comprehensive land evaluation. This approach includes the analysis of socio‐economic, technological, and cultural indicators in a spatial and temporal framework supported by geographic information systems and relevant performance or risk/impact assessment models. To provide a spatial comparative perspective, the use of a single, composite indicator is suggested, reflecting economic development opportunities, realistic constraints and impacts. The derived comparative index may be used to provide a long‐term, spatial and comparative perspective of economic development opportunities by improving project appraisals and the selection of viable and sustainable development strategies.