Open AccessHalstar: systems engineering for sustainable development
Author(s) -
Oliver Pearce,
Nicholas J A Murry,
T.W. Broyd
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
proceedings of ice. engineering sustainability/proceedings of the institution of civil engineers. engineering sustainability
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.348
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1751-7680
pISSN - 1478-4629
DOI - 10.1680/ensu.9.00064
Subject(s) - sustainability , sustainable development , process (computing) , process management , context (archaeology) , computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , management science , business , engineering , political science , ecology , operating system , paleontology , law , biology
Sustainable development is subjective and value laden, and achieving it involves balancing a complex system of issues. Most existing approaches to assessing and managing sustainability fail to address sustainability in the particular context of a project and its stakeholders. A more holistic, ‘systems approach’ is required to address sustainability effectively. The Halcrow sustainability toolkit and rating (Halstar) system has been designed to provide a truly holistic methodology, incorporating many of the features of existing approaches, while attempting to mitigate their disadvantages. Halstar provides a common framework to support decision-making, enabling the comprehensive assessment and management of sustainable development issues. The technique works to improve sustainability on projects and programmes by guiding decision-making and appraisal within unique contexts and priorities. It ensures that sustainability, rather than being an add-on to the development process, becomes a source of added value. This paper outlines the rationale behind the development of Halstar and includes a case study demonstrating one of the ways it can be applied.