TITLE:
Quality of Urban Environment: A Critical Review of Approaches and Methodologies
AUTHORS:
Mohammad Firoz Khan, Subia Aftab, Fakhruddin
KEYWORDS:
Quality of Urban Environment, Liveability, Objective Approach, Perceptual Approach, Empirical Science, Phenomenology, Hermeneutics
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
11,
2015
ABSTRACT: It is a well-known fact that quality of environment in urban habitats has deteriorated throughout
the world over time and the down-slide still continues. It is a matter of great concern as it affects
human well-being and health. This problem under the general umbrella of quality of life studies
has been examined from different angles. At the centre stage in this paper it is the quality of environment
from a human perspective to inform the policy makers about the hiatus between objective
(empirical) and perceived quality of environment [QOE]. Indeed, some qualitative studies are
successful in finding out deeper issues in respect of environmental degradation of urban habitats
which should be brought to the notice of urban planners and designers. However, studies carried
out in environmental psychology, in many cases, have failed to philosophical underpinnings and
appropriateness of methodology. They are unable in theorising the quality of the urban environment
to the satisfaction of critical evaluation. The present paper is a humble attempt to critically
evaluate the objective and perceptual approaches and methodologies to understand and evaluate
quality of the urban environment. In the process, their philosophical foundations are also subjected
to critical evaluation to conclude which one of the two approaches better informs policy
makers concerned with urban development and renewal programmes.