Energy
Waste
Water and Sewage
Transport
Green Blue
Buildings & land use
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Framework summary

BEQUEST logo

Name of the Framework
BEQUEST

Brief description of the framework and tools within it
The framework, here called toolkit, demonstrates a system to support decision makers concerned with Urban sustainability.

It is divided in 5 modules:
1) Framework: general organisation diagram
2) Protocol deals with the actions that can be taken toward sustainable urban development, the processes behind those actions, and is illustrated by case studies to give a greater insight into the application of assessment methods.
The Protocol includes 3 parts:
• The "Action" part gives checklists for issues to be considered during the various activities of Urban development
• The "Process" part considers how sustainability can be considered during the process of urban development from start to finish. Only Planning is implemented.
• The third part contains "Case Studies" of the application of sustainability principles in particular projects.
3) Assessment Methods (around 25 methods) for evaluating sustainability can be selected using a range of criteria
4) The Advisors section provides a list and guide to organisations or individuals with knowledge and experience in applying sustainable methods to built environment projects
5) Glossary

Specific topic focussed on by framework
The BEQUEST aims to support decision-makers concerned with urban sustainability in the specific field of built environment.

How are the tools organised within the framework?
The framework is divided in 5 modules (as described above). The "Assessment methods" module is particularly interesting for the wide range of evaluation tools it provides and the selection criteria that are defined to search this database.

3 selection´s criteria could be used :
• Development activities (Planning, Design, Construction, etc.)
• Spatial level Global, National, Urban region, City, District,(Component & Material)
• Sustainability issues (Environmental, Economic, Social, Institutional)

Sector/s covered by framework

Waste

Energy

Water

Transport

Green/Blue

Building & land use

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What language/s is the framework available in?
The framework is available in English

What organisation developed the framework and in what country?
The framework was developed during the BEQUEST research project (ENV4-CT97-607) funded by the European Commission the through 4th Framework Programme. Directorate-General XII, Science, Research and Development.
The action consortium consists of ten partners and four associate partners from six countries: Austria, Finland, Italy, Holland, Portugal & the UK.

The Network Director is : Steve Curwell (s.r.curwell@salford.ac.uk)
Tel: +44 (0)161 295 4622, Fax:+44 (0)161 295 5011
The Centre for the Built & Human Environment, Bridgewater Building, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT

Where is the framework available from?
The BEQUEST toolkit is unavailable at present.

What are the strengths of the framework?
To search through the "assessment methods" database a relevant way of searching has been produced, taking various scales into account:
• Development activities (Planning, Design, etc.)
• District,(Component & Material)
• Sustainability issues (Environmental, Economic, Social, Institutional)
This procedure takes well into account the particularities of the building and planning sector in urban agglomeration.

In the "BEQUEST framework" section provide a general organization map of the toolkit and the classification criteria that really helps clarify things.

What are the weaknesses of the framework?
The follow up of the web-site seems to be neglected.

What other interesting information is available about the framework?
The toolkit web-site has not been updated since July 2001!