Weighting and Aggregation of Indicators for Sustainability Impact Assessment in the IP SENSOR Context

Abstract

In reply to the need of developing methods for evaluating multi-dimensional problems in sustainability assessment, the scientific literature provides many examples related to the theory and implementation of com-posite indicators. In the context of the SENSOR project, dealing with the ex-ante assessment of environmental, social and economic impacts of European policies on multifunctional land use, new constraints and dimen-sions are added to the exercise. Examples are the need for consistency across European regions and across different scales of analysis; the use of qualitative and quantitative information; the possibility of aggregation to different administrative levels (sensitive areas, Member States, cluster re-gions, EU); and the correct balancing of the sustainability dimensions. In order to build an appropriate system of composite indicators in such a complex scenario and in order to evaluate the possibilities for satisfying the SENSOR requirements, this paper presents a critical review of existing methods for weighting and aggregation of indicators, and verifies the char-acteristics of selected approaches against the needs of impact assessment in general and the SENSOR requirements in particular.