Your Guide to a Greener Future! A tool allowing you to quickly and effortlessly assess and measure how sustainable your destination is.
Using a framework of 4 pillars, this index analyses internal data and external sources to paint a complete picture of your destination's sustainability performance.
Comprehensively evaluate your sustainability efforts, compare with other destinations and make informed decisions towards a greener future.
Ensure your destination meets visitor needs while protecting the environment and supporting local communities.
FAQs
DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY INDEX
The Destination Sustainability Index is a vital tool for assessing and measuring the sustainability of a tourist destination. This index is built upon four fundamental pillars: the social and cultural pillar, the overtourism pillar, the destination management pillar, and the environmental pillar.
Social-Cultural Pillar: This pillar focuses on the impact of tourism on the local community and the destination's culture. It assesses how tourism affects the daily lives of people, the preservation of cultural traditions, and the community's social well-being.
Overtourism Pillar: This pillar evaluates how well a destination can sustainably manage tourist flows, avoiding overcrowding and associated damages.
Destination Management Pillar: This pillar concentrates on the effectiveness of tourism management strategies and policies the destination adopts.
Environmental Pillar: This pillar assesses the environmental impact of tourism on the destination. It examines the management of natural resources, pollution reduction, and other sustainable practices related to the environment.
The index combines the analysis of data from proprietary and external sources to evaluate every aspect of a destination's sustainability. The index value scale ranges from 0 to 100 and is divided into five categories:
0-20: Poor Rating - Indicates that the destination performs poorly in sustainability and requires significant improvement.
21-40: Below Average Rating - The destination is below average in sustainability and needs to progress to become more sustainable.
41-60: Average Rating - The destination has a moderate performance in terms of sustainability but could still improve.
61-80: Good Rating - The destination has achieved good results in terms of sustainability and is on the right track toward sustainability.
81-100: Excellent Rating - Indicates that the destination has reached a high level of sustainability and is considered an excellent example of sustainable practices.
In summary, the Destination Sustainability Index provides a comprehensive and objective assessment of the sustainability performance of a tourist destination, enabling various stakeholders, from local authorities to tourism operators, to better understand the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability and make informed decisions to promote more sustainable practices in the tourism sector.
- Environmental Pillar: the environment pillar prioritises the sustainability of your destination's environment, allowing you to assess factors like greenery, natural surroundings, pollution levels, and air quality to meet the needs of your visitors while nurturing a better life environment for your citizens.
- Overtourism Pillar: understand and manage overtourism effectively. Assess the impact of overtourism on your destination considering various indicators, such as tourism flows, pressures on tourism supply, population density and the satisfaction of the local community. With these insights, you can thoroughly analyse and measure the profound impact of tourism on your community and local economy and make informed strategic decisions to ensure a thriving and balanced environment. Make a positive change!
- Destination Management Pillar: this key pillar focuses on your destination's perception, confidence, and overall success. Discover visitors' satisfaction with every stay aspect, including accommodations and attractions. Plan specific actions, design target marketing campaigns based on these actionable data and help local stakeholders grow.
- Social-Cultural Pillar: the Social-Cultural Pillar focuses on the effects of tourism on a destination's social and cultural aspects, such as the presence and quality of urban green, the destination’s cultural vitality and reputation, and general accessibility in terms of public transportation. Through the proprietary data analysis, the index aims to provide valuable insights for promoting inclusive communities and sustainable development.
SOCIAL-CULTURAL PILLAR INDEX
The Social-Cultural Pillar Index is an assessment tool aimed at measuring the impact of tourism on the social and cultural aspects of a destination. This index is divided into four distinct sub-indices, each providing a specific analysis of some parts of the tourist destination. Below, we will explain the four sub-indices and the index values:
- Cultural Index: This sub-index assesses the cultural vitality of a destination. It takes into account the diversity of cultural POIs. Possible values range from 0 to 100 and reflect the quality and variety of the cultural offerings of the destination.
- Urban Green Index: This sub-index measures the presence and quality of green areas within an urban destination. It includes factors such as the number of parks, public gardens, and open spaces accessible to the public, as well as the efficiency in managing and maintaining these areas. Once again, values can range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater availability and quality of green areas.
- Public Transportation Index: This sub-index examines the overall accessibility of a destination through public transportation. It includes elements such as the efficiency of transportation networks, the coverage of areas served by public transport, and the ease of use of public transportation services. Here, too, values range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better accessibility through public transportation.
- LGBTQ+ Index: This sub-index assesses the hospitality and inclusivity of the destination towards the LGBTQ+ community. Like the other sub-indices, this one also has values ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a more inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community.
The index value scale provides a precise classification of the performance of each sub-index and the destination as a whole:
- 0-20: Poor
- 21-40: Below average
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: Good
- 81-100: Excellent
In this way, the index provides an overall assessment of the tourist destination, helping to identify strengths and areas for improvement related to social and cultural aspects that can influence the visitor experience and the sustainability of the local community.
The Cultural Index is an evaluation tool that assesses the presence and quality of points of interest (POI) associated with cultural aspects of sustainability in a given geographic area. These cultural aspects include places of worship representing various religious affiliations, cultural institutions such as museums, theatres, libraries, art galleries, historical monuments, and archaeological areas of national and local interest.
The index is based on a scale of values ranging from 0 to 100, divided into five categories:
- Poor (0-20): This range indicates very limited or poor presence of cultural points of interest in the area. It could signal a lack of investment in culture and cultural resources.
- Below Average (21-40): In this range, cultural points of interest are slightly better than the previous category but still below average. There may be some cultural institutions, but they may not be well-maintained or accessible.
- Average (41-60): This category indicates that the area has cultural points of interest considered average. Several cultural institutions are likely available to the public but may not be exceptional in quality or accessibility.
- Good (61-80): In this range, the area is positively evaluated for its presence of cultural points of interest. There are probably numerous high-quality and well-maintained cultural institutions significantly contributing to the local culture.
- Excellent (81-100): This is the highest index level, indicating the area has outstanding cultural points of interest. There are many high-quality, well-maintained, and easily accessible cultural institutions. This can signify a strong local culture and commitment to promoting culture and the arts.
In summary, the Cultural Index is a valuable tool for assessing how much a particular area promotes and preserves cultural aspects of sustainability, allowing for the identification of strengths and areas for improvement regarding local culture."
The Urban Green Index is an indicator used to assess the quantity and quality of green areas and natural spaces in urban areas. This index considers various Points of Interest (POI) related to urban parks, including urban public parks, attractions associated with parks, forests, national parks, rivers, lakes near urban areas, nature trails, bike paths, and bike rental services in urban areas.
The scale of Urban Green Index values is divided into five categories:
Poor (0-20): This category indicates that the urban area has a limited quantity of green spaces or that the quality of these spaces is deficient. There may be few parks or related attractions, or they may be in a state of neglect.
Below Average (21-40): In this category, the urban area has a slightly higher quantity of green spaces than the "poor" category. However, the quality or diversity of parks and green attractions is still insufficient.
Average (41-60): This range indicates that the urban area has moderate green spaces and related attractions. The quality of parks and natural spaces is acceptable but could be improved.
Good (61-80): The urban area provides many green spaces and nature-related attractions in this category. The quality of these spaces is generally high, and people can enjoy a variety of options for outdoor activities.
Excellent (81-100): This is the highest category of the index, indicating that the urban area has an exceptional quantity of green spaces and high-quality natural attractions. These areas are ideal for outdoor recreation and promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
In summary, the Urban Green Index evaluates the availability and quality of green spaces and natural attractions in an urban area, helping to measure the degree of sustainability and quality of life in the urban environment. The index values indicate how much a metropolitan area prioritises providing opportunities to connect with nature and engage in outdoor activities.
The Public Transportation Index is a tool used to assess the quality and accessibility of public transportation systems in a specific geographical area. This index considers various points of interest (POI) related to public transportation to determine the efficiency and convenience of the transportation system in the area under consideration.
The POIs considered in the index include:
- Bus stops: These are places where passengers can wait for and board public buses. The presence of well-distributed and accessible bus stops is an important indicator to evaluate bus service coverage.
- Subway and tram stations: Subway and tram stations are critical points in the public transportation network. Their quality and accessibility significantly influence passengers' experiences.
- National and local railway stations are essential for long-distance and regional travel. Their presence and quality are important indicators for railway services.
- Ports and airports: Airports and ports are hubs for international transportation. Their efficiency and ease of access are relevant for international travellers.
- Stations and sharing mobility services include bike-sharing, scooter-sharing, and other shared mobility services that can integrate with public transportation. Their availability contributes to improving the accessibility of the transportation system.
The index values are divided into five categories:
- 0-20: Poor level. This indicates that the public transportation system in the area is lacking and inefficient, with few POIs and poor accessibility.
- 21-40: Below average. In this range, the system is better than poor but still requires improvements to make it more efficient and convenient.
- 41-60: Average. This balanced assessment indicates a decent public transportation system with room for further improvements.
- 61-80: Good. In this category, the public transportation system is of higher quality, with good coverage and accessibility to related POIs.
- 81-100: Excellent. This is the highest rating, indicating an exceptional public transportation system with a vast network of well-distributed and accessible POIs, providing a high-quality public transportation experience.
In general, the Public Transportation Index is a valuable tool for assessing the efficiency and quality of public transportation in a specific area. It can guide policy decisions and improvements in public transportation services.
The LGBTQ+ index is an index that provides a numerical evaluation of the tourist destination based on its reception and inclusion towards LGBTQ+ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other different sexual and gender identities). This index is essential for measuring a location's openness and hospitality to the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ+ index uses a scale from 1 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater inclusion and acceptance. To better understand how the LGBTQ+ index can be used to evaluate a tourist destination, here are four examples of correct use:
- The LGBTQ+ index score is 95, indicating that the destination offers a highly inclusive environment. LGBTQ+ tourists can feel free to explore the city without worries about discrimination. The destination can promote itself as a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people, thus attracting more tourists.
- Another destination has an LGBTQ+ index score of 60, indicating a good reception but with room for improvement. By promoting equality policies and implementing stronger anti-discrimination laws, the destination can seek to increase its score, becoming increasingly attractive to LGBTQ+ tourists.
- A destination with an LGBTQ+ index score of 20 suggests low acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. Through initiatives such as awareness campaigns and educational programs, the destination can work to improve its reputation and become more welcoming to LGBTQ+ visitors.
- A country has an LGBTQ+ index score of 10, indicating a hostile and unsafe environment for LGBTQ+ people. In this case, the destination should address discrimination seriously and take concrete steps to promote equality and LGBTQ+ rights. Only through a significant change will it be possible to improve the score and image of the country in the eyes of LGBTQ+ tourists.
The LGBTQ+ index is a fundamental tool for measuring the reception and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in tourist destinations. Thanks to this index, localities can evaluate their progress in promoting equality and take concrete steps to become more welcoming tourist destinations for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
OVERTOURISM PILLAR INDEX
The Overtourism Pillar Index is an evaluation tool to measure the impact of excessive or poorly managed tourist flows in a tourist destination. To do so, it divides its assessment into three main sub-indices:
- Tourism Pressure Index: This sub-index analyses tourist flows directed towards a destination. It considers the volume of visitors crowding the area and how this affects local resources. This may include data such as the number of tourist arrivals, hotel occupancy rates, and congestion at tourist attractions.
- Tourism Supply Index: This sub-index considers the aspect of tourism supply. It evaluates the availability of accommodations, accessibility to tourist services, and the variety of activities offered to visitors. This index reflects the destination's capacity to manage and meet tourism demand.
- OTA Intermediary Index: This sub-index examines the percentage of accommodations booked through online travel agencies (OTAs, Online Travel Agencies). OTA bookings can increase tourism pressure as they often concentrate visitor flows on specific properties or areas. This index reflects the influence of OTAs on the destination.
The indicators used to calculate these sub-indices are based on various data, including the sentiment of local communities, analysis of digital visitor traces, points of interest (POI) in the area, and the local population density. These data are combined and weighted to provide a comprehensive picture of the impact of tourism on the destination.
The index values are divided into five ranges:
- 0-20 = Poor: Indicates a situation where tourism has a significant negative impact on the destination and local communities.
- 21-40 = Below Average: Suggests that there are issues related to overtourism, but the situation could be managed more effectively.
- 41-60 = Average: Indicates a balance between tourist flows and local management capacity.
- 61-80 = Good: Suggests that the destination is managing tourist flows well and can maximise the benefits of tourism.
- 81-100 = Excellent: Indicates a situation where tourism is well-managed, positively impacts the destination and local communities, and offers a high-quality tourism experience.
In summary, the Overtourism Pillar Index provides a comprehensive tool for assessing the impact of tourism on a destination, considering various critical aspects related to tourist flows and tourism supply to help monitor and improve tourism management in a given area.
The Tourism Pressure Index is an indicator designed to assess the impact of tourism on a host community based on the relationship between tourist flow and population density in the destination. In other words, it measures how the number of tourists in a specific area affects the daily life and environment of the residents.
The scale of the index values ranges from 0 to 100 and provides a clear indication of the level of tourism pressure on a destination:
- 0-20: High Tourism Pressure - This range indicates a situation where the tourist flow is very high compared to the local population size. In this scenario, the host community may experience significant challenges related to tourism hospitality, such as congestion, overcrowding, increased costs, and environmental impact.
- 21-40: Above-Average Tourism Pressure - Tourism pressure is still significant in this range but not as extreme as in the previous field. This means the destination is still trendy among tourists but may handle the situation more effectively than with high tourism pressure.
- 41-60: Average Tourism Pressure - This range indicates that the tourist flow is in line with the population density in the destination. The host community may experience a moderate amount of tourism with a manageable impact on daily life.
- 61-80: Low Tourism Pressure - In this range, tourism pressure is relatively low compared to the local population size. The destination may be less frequented by tourists, offering a quieter experience for residents and visitors.
- 81-100: Very Low Tourism Pressure - This range indicates that the tourist flow is extremely low compared to the local population. The host community may have minimal or almost no tourist presence, providing a very tranquil environment with minimal influence from tourism.
In summary, the Tourism Pressure Index offers a helpful way to evaluate the impact of tourism on a destination. It helps identify destinations that may need measures to manage tourism pressure better and protect the quality of life for residents.
The Tourism Supply Pressure Index, or Tourism Supply Pressure Index, is a tool used to assess how the tourism supply in a particular destination affects the local community. This index considers the ratio between two main factors: points of interest (POI) related to short-term rentals and the destination's accommodation capacity relative to the area's population density.
To be clearer, here is a more detailed explanation:
- Points of Interest (POI) Related to Short-Term Rentals: This value represents the number of structures or accommodations intended for short-term rentals, such as vacation homes or apartments on online platforms like Airbnb. Many such POIs can indicate a significant presence of short-term rentals in the destination.
- Accommodation Capacity: This value indicates the destination's ability to accommodate tourists, including the availability of traditional accommodations such as hotels, motels, campgrounds, hostels, etc. In essence, it represents the number of available beds for visitors.
- Population Density in the Destination: This parameter reflects how many residents live in the tourist destination. A higher population density might suggest that there are more residents compared to the available spaces for tourists.
Now, in terms of the scale of index values:
- 0-20: Indicates very high tourism supply pressure on the host community. This means there are many short-term rentals compared to the accommodation capacity and the size of the local population, which could lead to issues like congestion and gentrification.
- 21-40: Represents above-average tourism supply pressure. The destination still has significant short-term rentals, but the situation may be more manageable than the previous category.
- 41-60: Indicates tourism supply pressure at an average level. The number of short-term rentals and accommodation capacity are balanced relative to the size of the local population.
- 61-80: Highlights low tourism supply pressure. The destination has a low presence of short-term rentals compared to accommodation capacity and the resident population.
- 81-100: Represents very low tourism supply pressure. In this case, there are few short-term rentals compared to accommodation capacity and the size of the local population, which could be advantageous for the host community.
In summary, the Tourism Supply Pressure Index is a valuable tool for evaluating the impacts of the tourism industry on a destination and its community, helping to make informed decisions regarding tourism management and the well-being of the people living in the area.
The OTA Intermediary Index is an evaluation tool used to measure the degree of intermediation by online travel agencies (OTAs) within the hospitality sector of a tourist destination. This index provides an overview of the number of bookings for tourist accommodations (such as hotels, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts) made through online travel agencies compared to the total bookings in the entire destination.
The index values range from 0 to 100 and are divided into five categories:
- 0-20 = High OTA Tourism Intermediation: Most hotel bookings are made through online travel agencies in this category. This may indicate a firm reliance on these platforms in the destination's hotel sector.
- 21-40 = OTA Intermediation Above Average: In this category, OTA intermediation is still significant but not as dominant as in the previous category. It might indicate a substantial presence of OTAs but with a greater diversification of booking sources.
- 41-60 = OTA Intermediation at Average: OTA intermediation is in line with the market average. Bookings made through online travel agencies represent a reasonable but not dominant share of the market.
- 61-80 = Low OTA Intermediation: In this category, intermediation by OTAs is relatively low. Most bookings occur through other sources or distribution channels.
- 81-100 = Very Low OTA Intermediation: This category represents the situation where online travel agencies have a very limited or almost non-existent presence in the hotel booking market. The tourist destination heavily relies on other forms of distribution.
In summary, the OTA Intermediary Index indicates the intermediation carried out by online travel agencies in a tourist destination. Lower values indicate less dependence on OTAs, while higher values indicate a more significant presence and influence of these agencies in the destination. This information can be helpful in better understanding the dynamics of hotel bookings and distribution strategy in the tourism sector of a specific geographical area.
DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PILLAR INDEX
The Destination Management Pillar is an evaluation framework that focuses on the management and perception of a tourist destination by its visitors. It consists of three sub-indices: the Sentiment Index, the Travel Barometer Index, and the Seasonal Balance Index. The primary goal of this pillar is to assess the overall satisfaction of visitors based on their experience at various points of interest within the tourist destination.
- Sentiment Index: This index measures the emotional perception of visitors towards the tourist destination. It considers how visitors feel during their visit, whether positive or negative. The index values range from 0 to 100, with 0 representing extremely negative perception and 100 representing extremely positive perception. Intermediate values reflect a range of emotions, from negative to positive.
- Travel Barometer Index: This index serves as an indicator of visitors' trust in the tourist destination. It evaluates how much visitors trust the destination and its ability to provide a satisfying experience. Index values are categorised from 0 to 100, with 0 indicating extremely low trust and 100 indicating extremely high trust. Intermediate values indicate the degree of trust visitors have in the destination.
- Seasonal Balance Index: This index focuses on the balance of visitor influx in different seasons. It assesses whether the tourist destination can distribute tourist flows evenly throughout the year. Index values range from 0 to 100, where 0 represents extreme seasonal imbalance, and 100 represents perfect seasonal balance. Intermediate values indicate the degree of seasonal balance achieved by the destination.
The scale of index values provides a precise classification of the tourist destination's performance:
- 0-20: Poor
- 21-40: Below average
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: Good
- 81-100: Excellent
In summary, the Destination Management Pillar assesses visitor perception, their trust in the destination, and seasonal balance, providing a comprehensive picture of visitor management and satisfaction in a tourist destination.
Sentiment analysis on travellers’ online content examines and evaluates users' opinions, emotions, and ratings about points of interest and experiences related to them through digital channels. This type of analysis is based on extracting and processing large amounts of data from reviews, comments, social media posts, blogs, and other online sources.
The main goal of sentiment analysis is to understand the general sentiment of users toward a particular product, service or tourist destination. Using natural language processing algorithms and machine learning techniques, positive, negative or neutral opinions expressed by users are identified.
This analysis provides essential information to tourism companies, tour operators, and travel agencies. The information obtained can be used to assess customer satisfaction, identify the strengths and weaknesses of services offered, identify emerging trends, adjust marketing strategies, and improve the traveller experience.
The index has a value between 1 and 100 that can be read as follows:
1-20: Very Negative 21-40: Somewhat Negative 41-60: Neutral 61-80: Somewhat Positive 81-100: Very Positive
This scale represents the general sentiment of users toward sentiment analysis on travellers’ online content. A low score (1-20) indicates a very negative perception, while a high score (81-100) indicates a very positive perception. A neutral score (41-60) indicates no predominant positive or negative sentiment but an unbiased evaluation of the destination. Intermediate ranges reflect gradual sentiment changes from negative to positive.
The Travel Barometer algorithm analyses various data to determine the performance of a destination. It looks at digital traces, user sentiment, and the digital presence of tourist operators. By comparing the current period to the same period from the past two years, the Travel Barometer can provide insights into performance and identify reasons for changes. It can answer questions like why a destination’s performance is lower than last year and how it compares to the rest of the country. The Travel Barometer offers a valuable tool for understanding and improving tourism outcomes.
The capabilities of the Travel Barometer include:
- Identifying areas for improvement: through the analysis of the index data, it is possible to identify the areas where the tourist destination shows lower performance compared to the past or other destinations. This allows tourism operators to focus on improving specific aspects of the offer.
- Trend tracking: the Travel Barometer allows you to track trends in the tourism industry, offering in-depth analysis of destination performance compared to competing targets or the national average. This will enable you to adapt marketing and positioning strategies to remain competitive.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of the actions undertaken: through regular measurement of the index over time, it is possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures adopted to improve the tourist destination. For example, in the case of implementing a specific marketing campaign, the Travel Barometer can reveal whether the latter had a positive impact on the overall performance of the destination.
- Comparison with other destinations: using the Travel Barometer, it is possible to compare the performance of the destination with that of other similar tourist destinations, providing a valuable assessment of the competitive position and identifying opportunities for improvement.
The index has a value between 1 and 100 that can be read as follows:
1-20: Very Negative 21-40: Somewhat Negative 41-60: Neutral 61-80: Somewhat Positive 81-100: Very Positive
These scores reflect an overall assessment of tourism destination performance based on data analysed by the Travel Barometer Index. A higher score indicates a more attractive and successful tourism destination, while a lower score indicates a need for improvement and corrective action.
The Seasonal Balance Index is a numerical indicator ranging from 1 to 100 and is used to evaluate the balance of tourist demand throughout the year in a given destination. It considers the distribution of tourist visits during the different seasons, making it possible to understand whether the destination has an excessive concentration or a lack of tourists at certain times of the year.
The value 1 represents a solid seasonal imbalance, indicating a destination that attracts most tourists only in specific seasons, while periods of low turnout are significant. Conversely, a value of 100 indicates a perfect seasonal balance, with a uniform tourist flow throughout the year.
Here are four examples that illustrate the correct use of the Seasonal Balance Index for a tourist destination:
- Investment planning: Through the analysis of the Seasonal Balance Index, tourism managers can assess whether the destination depends on specific periods of the year regarding tourist influx. This allows you to make informed decisions about the investments needed to promote your destination during off-season periods to improve seasonal balance and reduce dependency on a single season.
- Development of new tourism products: The Seasonal Balance Index can guide the development of new products or services that aim to distribute the tourism flow more evenly throughout the year. For example, if the destination shows a strong bias towards summer, winter tourism activities, such as skiing or hiking in the snow, could be developed to attract visitors even during the colder months.
- Management of accommodation capacities: Knowing the Seasonal Balance Index helps better manage the destination's accommodation capacities. Suppose a high tourist influx is expected at certain times of the year. In that case, steps can be taken to ensure sufficient accommodation facilities and services are available to accommodate visitors. At the same time, targeted marketing strategies can be implemented during the low season to attract more tourists and take full advantage of the accommodation capacities.
- Planning of events and activities: The seasonal balance index can be used to plan events or activities that help balance the tourist flow during the year. For example, if the destination shows a concentration of tourists in the spring and summer, festivals or cultural events could be organised during the off-season to stimulate visitor interest.
In conclusion, the Seasonal Balance Index provides crucial information on the seasonal distribution of tourism in a destination.
ENVIRONMENTAL PILLAR INDEX
The Environmental Pillar is one of the fundamental cornerstones for assessing the sustainability of a destination or a specific geographic area. This pillar comprises three key sub-indices: the Nature Coverage Index, the Air Quality Index, and the Overall Environmental Index. Each sub-index reflects specific aspects of the environment and contributes to providing a comprehensive overview of the impact of human activities on the ecosystem.
- Nature Coverage Index: This index evaluates how much nature is preserved and protected in an area. It is based on data from the European Union's Copernicus Earth Observation program, which offers detailed information on forest cover, protected areas, wetlands, and other natural elements. The scale of values ranges from 0 to 100, where a higher score indicates better conservation of nature.
- Air Quality Index: This index measures the air quality in the area under consideration. It is based on data related to the concentration of air pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and other air pollutants. The scale of values also ranges from 0 to 100, where a higher score indicates better air quality, with lower pollutant levels and, consequently, a healthier environment for both people and nature.
The Overall Environmental Index synthesises the two previous sub-indices, considering natural coverage and air quality. This index reflects the combined effect of human activities on the environment and is evaluated on a scale of values ranging from 0 to 100. Below are descriptions of the levels on the scale:
- 0-20: Poor - The area significantly impacts the ecosystem and poor air quality.
- 21-40: Below Average - The environment is improving, but further efforts are needed to ensure sustainability.
- 41-60: Average - The area balances nature conservation and air quality well.
- 61-80: Good - The environment is well-preserved, and air quality is satisfactory.
- 81-100: Excellent - The area exhibits excellent nature conservation and exceptional air quality, representing a model of environmental sustainability.
In summary, the Environmental Pillar assesses the impact of human activities on the environment, including nature conservation and air quality, through a scale of values that clearly indicates the sustainability of the area under consideration. A higher score indicates greater environmental sustainability.
The Natural Coverage Index is a metric used to assess the presence and extent of natural elements such as forests, meadows, beaches, and snow-covered surfaces in the surrounding environment. This index measures the conservation of natural habitats and the ecosystem in a specific geographical area.
Natural environments, such as forests, meadows, and coastal areas, are essential for biodiversity and contribute to the quality of the environment. The Natural Coverage Index helps quantify how much of these natural habitats is present in a region, thus providing crucial information about the ecosystem's health.
The index uses a scale of values to classify natural coverage:
- 0-20: Poor - Indicates minimal presence of natural elements, with a significant lack of natural habitats.
- 21-40: Below Average - Suggests that some areas have natural habitats, but their extent is limited, and overall conservation is inadequate.
- 41-60: Average - Indicates that the area has a moderate amount of natural habitats but could still benefit from further conservation measures.
- 61-80: Good - Suggests that the surrounding environment contains many natural elements, and habitat conservation is in good condition.
- 81-100: Excellent - Indicates that the area has exceptional natural coverage, with a wide presence of natural habitats and high ecosystem conservation.
In summary, the Natural Coverage Index is a valuable tool for assessing the health of natural habitats and the ecosystem in a specific area, clearly indicating the quantity and quality of natural coverage. This index is crucial for guiding conservation policies and land management to protect biodiversity and promote environmental sustainability.
The Air Quality Index is a crucial parameter used to assess the air quality in a specific area. This index takes into account various atmospheric pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Its primary purpose is to provide the public with an immediate understanding of the air's healthiness and potential health risks associated with air pollution.
The Air Quality Index is a numerical value that reflects the overall level of air pollution in a specific area. This index is designed to be easily interpretable: the higher its value, the worse the air quality in the area.
Here's a more detailed explanation of the index values:
- 0-20 (Poor): This range indicates excellent air quality with low levels of atmospheric pollutants. People can breathe freely without any health risks.
- 21-40 (Below average): In this range, air quality is still acceptable, but it may begin to be compromised for sensitive individuals such as children, older people, and those with respiratory problems.
- 41-60 (Average): Air quality starts to deteriorate in this range, with an increase in pollution levels. Most people can continue their normal activities, but those sensitive to pollutants may begin to feel their effects.
- 61-80 (Good): This is still a range of acceptable air quality, but there may be a modest increase in health risk for some individuals. Most of the population should not have issues, but those with respiratory problems may experience mild discomfort.
- 81-100 (Excellent): Air quality is considered suitable in this range, but pollution levels are becoming more significant. People with respiratory problems or other health conditions may experience discomfort, while most people should still be able to breathe without problems.
Generally, a lower Air Quality Index value is always preferable, as it indicates better air quality and lower health risks. It's essential to regularly monitor the index, especially in high air pollution, to take necessary precautions and protect personal health.