The context for this research is that while there has been a growing awareness of the potential problems associated with rapid urban growth, research and responses have tended to focus on single aspects of the urban environment such as transport or air quality. This research has explored urban environment impacts in an integrated manner, recognising the interplay of environmental factors but underpinned by discrete analyses on a thematic basis to inform both environmental policy relating to urban areas and strategic spatial planning policy. In supporting the formulation and implementation of environmental policy, the key challenge was to understand the linkage between development and environmental performance. As environmental impacts often depend on location, where the development and associated impacts take place is also an important consideration. This project has developed the analytical capacity to link development space environment dimensions of this important policy debate. Under the aegis of the European Commission (EC) (Joint Research Centre (JRC) at Ispra, Italy), the MOLAND1 urban land analysis model was developed by RIKS b.v.2 (and formerly the University of Maastricht), which, for a given area, generates predictions as to future land uses under various economic and demographic scenarios. This was been pilot-tested in 2009 in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) using 1990, 2000 and 2006 data, and is also being applied in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties by colleagues at the University of Ulster. In addition, this model has been updated and extended by incorporating additional environmental variables, and sample environmental indicators have been produced. Each of the relevant sub-projects in the study cluster air quality, biodiversity, climate change, transport and urban sprawl was structured to both provide data for the MOLAND model and also to answer theme-specific questions (the selection of these themes was informed by the priorities of the project sponsors). This ensured consistent integration of the various strands of the research. Integration was also facilitated by the fact that the research and a number of the key seminars and workshops were carried out in University College Dublin?s Urban Institute Ireland (UII), which was the home (state-of-the-art labs and office space) for much of the research, with key actors engaged in both formal and informal interactions.

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Williams, B.   "Urban Environment Project". Associated datasets and digitial information objects connected to this resource are available at: Secure Archive For Environmental Research Data (SAFER) managed by Environmental Protection Agency Ireland https://eparesearch.epa.ie/safer/resource?id=fe056ada-0192-11e2-add7-005056ae0019 (Last Accessed: 2025-01-20)

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SAFER-Data Display URL	https://eparesearch.epa.ie/safer/iso19115/display?isoID=285
Resource Keywords	Urban Environment Project MOLAND
EPA/ERTDI/STRIVE Project Code	2005-CD-U1-M1
EPA/ERTDI/STRIVE Project Theme	Socio-Economics
Resource Availability:	Public-Open
Limitations on the use of this Resource	Any attached datasets, data files, or information objects can be downloaded for further use in scientific applications under the condition that the source is properly quoted and cited in published papers, journals, websites, presentations, books, etc. Before downloading, users must agree to the "Conditions of Download and Access" from SAFER-Data. These appear before download. Users of the data should also communicate with the original authors/owners of this resource if they are uncertain about any aspect of the data or information provided before further usage.
Number of Attached Files (Publicly and Openly Available for Download):	2
Project Start Date	Saturday 1st January 2005 (01-01-2005)
Earliest Recorded Date within any attached datasets or digital objects	Saturday 1st January 2005 (01-01-2005)
Most Recent Recorded Date within any attached datasets or digital objects	Friday 1st January 2010 (01-01-2010)
Published on SAFER	Tuesday 18th September 2012 (18-09-2012)
Date of Last Edit	Tuesday 18th September 2012 at 14:18:16 (18-09-2012)
Datasets or Files Updated On	Tuesday 18th September 2012 at 14:18:16 (18-09-2012)

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Description of Geographical Characteristics of This Project or Dataset
The Greater Dublin Region (GDR) was one of the fastest growing urban regions in Europe during the period 1990-2006. Therefore, it offers a good example of the complex interactions at play in fast-growing city regions and provides a suitable test bed for developing innovative decision-support systems. It is also home to over 50% of Ireland?s population and, therefore, environmental improvements that can be brought about for residents of this region will have a significant impact in terms of both quality of life and national economic performance. The recession from 2007 to 2012 has highlighted the major impacts on the environment and society of a contraction in economic activities and legacy issues of inappropriate development decisions. Decision processes incorporating an evidence-based assessment of alternative approaches can therefore be seen as necessary in both periods of growth and in the current period when resources are severely reduced. The interactions between urban development, spatial configuration and the natural environment are complex and, therefore, difficult to manage effectively. An integrated and evidence-based approach is needed to ensure that decision makers can adequately assess the effect of different policy options in a robust and objective way. Also, the approach needs to be able to take account of a range of interactions that are difficult to capture and have different and interconnected environmental impacts. An integrated framework, such as MOLAND, which is spatially explicit, utilises the considerable power of geographical information systems and includes the capability to simulate future land-use change based on socio-economic activity as well as environmental themes, is one means to analyse these interactions and the associated implications.

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The following is a list of similiar projects and resources on SAFER. Usually these resources share a similiar thematic area to the resource Urban Environment Project you are currently viewing. You can view the full description for these projects and resources by using the links supplied.

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