Développement d'un cadre pour l'évaluation de la durabilité urbaine intégrée

Thesis Abstract

Urban areas are increasingly challenged by rapid population growth, environmental degradation, and socio-economic disparities, necessitating comprehensive frameworks for sustainable development. This study addresses the critical need for an integrated evaluation model capable of assessing the multifaceted dimensions of urban sustainability, thereby facilitating informed decision-making for urban planners and policymakers. The primary aim is to develop and empirically validate a robust framework for the comprehensive assessment of urban sustainability that integrates environmental, social, and economic indicators within a unified evaluative structure. Specific objectives include reviewing existing sustainability assessment models, identifying key indicators relevant to urban contexts, formulating an integrative conceptual model, and testing its applicability through empirical case studies. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. The research design is primarily exploratory and developmental, aligning with the constructive paradigm to facilitate theory building. The population comprises urban planning professionals, sustainability experts, and local government officials involved in urban development in the city of Lyon, France. A total sample of 150 participants was selected using stratified random sampling to ensure representation across relevant stakeholder categories. Data collection instruments include semi-structured interviews with 20 key informants to gather expert insights, complemented by a structured questionnaire administered to the remaining 130 participants. The questionnaire encompasses 50 items measuring perceptions of existing evaluation frameworks, key sustainability indicators, and contextual challenges. Validity and reliability of the instruments are established through content validation by a panel of sustainability scholars and pilot testing with a subset of 30 respondents, achieving a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88. Data analysis involves thematic analysis for qualitative interview data, using NVivo software to identify core themes and patterns. Quantitative data are analyzed through descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis to identify underlying indicator structures, and multiple regression analysis to validate the relationships between sustainability dimensions and overall urban sustainability performance. The framework's developmental validity is tested by applying the model to a case study of Lyon’s urban districts, where GIS-based spatial analysis integrates quantitative indicators into a composite sustainability score. Expected findings include a validated set of core indicators tailored to urban sustainability assessment, a comprehensive model that captures the interdependencies among environmental, social, and economic factors, and empirical evidence of the framework’s applicability in real urban contexts. The proposed framework is anticipated to enhance existing assessment practices by providing a coherent, scalable, and adaptable structure that reflects the complex nature of urban sustainability. By integrating diverse data sources with participatory approaches, the study aims to bridge theoretical gaps identified in the literature, notably the lack of comprehensive models that accommodate stakeholder perspectives and spatial heterogeneity. The study contributes to knowledge by offering an original, integrative framework that synthesizes theoretical insights from sustainable development theories such as the Triple Bottom Line and Smart Growth theory, incorporating principles of systems thinking and multi-criteria decision analysis. The main conclusion emphasizes the importance of a holistic, context-sensitive evaluation approach that can guide sustainable urban planning and policy formulation. Recommendations include adopting the developed framework across other urban settings to enhance comparability and accountability in sustainability assessments, and integrating it into digital decision-support tools for real-time urban management. The study also suggests avenues for further research, including longitudinal studies to evaluate the framework’s dynamic applicability over time, and its adaptation to different socio-economic and geographical contexts.