index (EI) based on the aggregation of environmental-related indicators and a
socioeconomic index (SEI) based on the aggregation of socioeconomic-related
indicators. These indices were calculated as follows. As a first step, they are
transformed in order to be expressed in a common unit. This transformation yields
standardized indicators and is based on the following equation:
Z ij ¼
x ij À x j
σ x j
ð10:1Þ
Table 10.1 The 20 sustainability indicators developed in Tanguay et al. (2010)
Indicators
Description
Environmental
Indicators
Air quality
Number of days of bad air quality
Water consumption
Average annual water consumption (liters/
capita/year)
Water quality
Water quality index (bacteriological and
physicochemical quality index)
Protected natural spaces
% of natural protected areas
Density of urban population
Population density (inhabitants/km
2
)
Waste composting rate
% of domestic waste composted
Waste recycling rate
% of domestic waste recycled
Generated waste
Weight of domestic waste generated
(kg/capita)
Public transit
Public transit ridership (% of transit
commuters)
Greenhouse gas emissions
Car ownership (car/capita)
Socioeconomic
Indicators
Education level
Active population rate with at least a high
school degree (%)
Activity rate
Active population rate among 15–64 years
old (%)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate of active individuals
(%)
Participation in local election Municipal election participation rate in 2009
(%)
Housing-related expenditure
% of households spending over 30% of their
income on housing
Median household income
Median household income ($)
Income gap between the
richest and poorest
Ratio of households earning $80,000+ and
those earning $20,000 and less
Health status
Active population rate claiming to be in
good health (%)
Crime rate
Number of crime per 1000 inhabitants
Participation in cultural and
leisure activities
Municipal spending on leisure and culture
($/capita)
10 The Urban Sustainability Indicators in Québec
191
socioeconomic index (SEI) based on the aggregation of socioeconomic-related
indicators. These indices were calculated as follows. As a first step, they are
transformed in order to be expressed in a common unit. This transformation yields
standardized indicators and is based on the following equation:
Z ij ¼
x ij À x j
σ x j
ð10:1Þ
Table 10.1 The 20 sustainability indicators developed in Tanguay et al. (2010)
Indicators
Description
Environmental
Indicators
Air quality
Number of days of bad air quality
Water consumption
Average annual water consumption (liters/
capita/year)
Water quality
Water quality index (bacteriological and
physicochemical quality index)
Protected natural spaces
% of natural protected areas
Density of urban population
Population density (inhabitants/km
2
)
Waste composting rate
% of domestic waste composted
Waste recycling rate
% of domestic waste recycled
Generated waste
Weight of domestic waste generated
(kg/capita)
Public transit
Public transit ridership (% of transit
commuters)
Greenhouse gas emissions
Car ownership (car/capita)
Socioeconomic
Indicators
Education level
Active population rate with at least a high
school degree (%)
Activity rate
Active population rate among 15–64 years
old (%)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate of active individuals
(%)
Participation in local election Municipal election participation rate in 2009
(%)
Housing-related expenditure
% of households spending over 30% of their
income on housing
Median household income
Median household income ($)
Income gap between the
richest and poorest
Ratio of households earning $80,000+ and
those earning $20,000 and less
Health status
Active population rate claiming to be in
good health (%)
Crime rate
Number of crime per 1000 inhabitants
Participation in cultural and
leisure activities
Municipal spending on leisure and culture
($/capita)
10 The Urban Sustainability Indicators in Québec
191