Community Indicators Measuring Systems

The contributors of these eight articles describe research in gathering and analyzing data about past and current trends in environmental, social and economic issues in a community or region. The process involves a significant number of tools, methods, and theories, and the results can be an ongoing mechanism to assess overall well-being of a particular locale. Topics on the theories and basis for community indicator research include a review of the indicators and an historical background of their use. Those on relating community indicators to planning and development include a case study of Calgary and core planning applications in Canada's midsize cities, and research on integrating community indicators with economic development planning. Contributors then address the technology of the process, including GIS-based studies and statistical systems. The final article examines integrating sustainability studies into community indicator development. Annotation c2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Rhonda Phillips is Director at the Center for Building Better Communities, Urban and Regional Planning Department, University of Florida, USA.