Developing an indicator framework for sustainability assessment in urban community regeneration: A case of Shanghai

Sustainability assessment is essential in urban community regeneration process. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on quantifying sustainable urban regeneration at the community scale, while the selecting and weighting of relevant indicators are subjective and one-sided. Meanwhile, given the inadequacy of international sustainability assessment tools in addressing local urban challenges, this study aims to develop a community-scale indicator framework for sustainability assessment in urban regeneration in Shanghai, China. The study initially establishes a four-level hierarchical structure and an alternative indicator database. Appropriate indicators are then selected using the Delphi method, while weights are derived via the Bayesian best-worst method. The proposed indicator framework comprises 38 indicators from 7 elements with weights across various levels. Notably, resource utilization, ecological environment, and green building elements exhibit higher weights, indicating their priority in urban community regeneration. This framework covers environmental, social, and economic aspects, employing a comparatively objective selection of indicators, along with localized weights that incorporate local knowledge. It can aid in identifying communities requiring urgent regeneration and pinpointing significant issues, thereby guiding the regeneration process and suggesting appropriate response strategies for urban planners and designers.