Methodology based on the development of Synthesized Indicators

Territorial development is an integrated and proactive approach to shaping the future of cities, regions, and larger geographies – to some degree it can also be referred to as Spatial Planning. It goes beyond traditional regional policy as it brings together economic, social and environment opportunities and concerns as well as other factors which influence where activities take place, how different places function and are connected, and what conditions are offered for living and doing business. Territorial development strategies can help exploring potentials for economic growth and jobs and at the same time support an enhanced quality of life by helping to meet the challenge of sustainable development. Territorial development policies include all the policies undertaken by public authorities (central, regional, and local authorities) with the explicit aim of enhancing the growth of specific geographical areas. All territorial and regional policy needs to consider the specific potentials of a territory in order to be successful. The correct planning and management of any territory requires an accurate knowledge and understanding of its current situation and the dynamics governing it. This however, raises a number of questions: How can we acquire an accurate knowledge of the territory? What are the key factors that describe a territory? How can we make this reality more understandable? Starting from the first results of the RePlaN Project, that identified six principal strategic axes of territorial development (polycentricity, accessibility, sustainability, social cohesion, conservation of the nature and competitiveness) the aim of this chapter is firstly to develop a system of synthesized indicators, which will be used as a tool to monitor and evaluate territorial development strategies; and secondly, to provide a concrete methodology for a) evaluating the level of territorial development strategies, and b) for assessing the impact level of the territorial development strategies on the six strategic axes of territorial development.