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How to Measure Sustainability? An Open-Data Approach

Author

Listed:
  • David Ziegler

    (Institute of Automotive Technology, Department of Mobility Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Sebastian Wolff

    (Institute of Sustainable Mobile Drivetrains, Department of Mobility Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Schragenhofstr. 31, 80992 München, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ana-Beatrice Agu

    (Data Analytics and IoT, E.ON Digital Technology GmbH, Georg-Brauchle Ring 52-54, 80992 München, Germany)

  • Giorgio Cortiana

    (Data Analytics and IoT, E.ON Digital Technology GmbH, Georg-Brauchle Ring 52-54, 80992 München, Germany)

  • Muhammad Umair

    (Data Analytics and IoT, E.ON Digital Technology GmbH, Georg-Brauchle Ring 52-54, 80992 München, Germany)

  • Flore de Durfort

    (Data Analytics and IoT, E.ON Digital Technology GmbH, Georg-Brauchle Ring 52-54, 80992 München, Germany)

  • Esther Neumann

    (Data Analytics and IoT, E.ON Digital Technology GmbH, Georg-Brauchle Ring 52-54, 80992 München, Germany)

  • Georg Walther

    (Data Analytics and IoT, E.ON Digital Technology GmbH, Georg-Brauchle Ring 52-54, 80992 München, Germany)

  • Jakob Kristiansen

    (Institute of Automotive Technology, Department of Mobility Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany)

  • Markus Lienkamp

    (Institute of Automotive Technology, Department of Mobility Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany)

Abstract

Determining quantitative sustainable development metrics can be difficult and requires a high effort in manual data acquisition on an institutional level, like the Word Bank or the United Nations, without adequately reflecting reality. To overcome the lack of a transparent and scalable method, which links local actions to global sustainability metrics, the Sustainability Mirror connects the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with publicly and locally available data to proxy SDG metrics. By applying the approach to Germany, we calculated eight SDG metrics on a regional level. Comparing our results to two German cities, we show that the Sustainability Mirror reflects economic and ecological sustainability measures. Furthermore, we demonstrate the mirror’s scalability and spatial resolution by applying the method to each German county. Presenting a proof-of-concept, we show that proxy data can link local and global sustainability metrics. However, further research should include more social sustainability topics. Finally, we are sure our approach and its implementations can contribute to a continuous assessment of spatial and temporal spreads and changes in SDG metrics.

Suggested Citation

  • David Ziegler & Sebastian Wolff & Ana-Beatrice Agu & Giorgio Cortiana & Muhammad Umair & Flore de Durfort & Esther Neumann & Georg Walther & Jakob Kristiansen & Markus Lienkamp, 2023. "How to Measure Sustainability? An Open-Data Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3203-:d:1063481
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    References listed on IDEAS

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