Summary and Perspectives

Abstract

In Part One of this work, the concept of sustainable development was elaborated, and a set of basic concepts developed, together with a methodology for scientific and applied research. On that basis, a procedure was inferred for a scientifically sound search for sustainable development. In particular, attention has been paid to methodologically appropriate gathering of the information needed for steering developments, resulting in a procedure for information-gathering. In Part Two, the proposed procedure was analyzed in order to improve it by applying it in four separate cases. These cases were projects in which the authors participated as a research team. In the first two projects, the methodology and the conclusions of the projects were re-analyzed by applying the newly proposed procedure, so that the strength and weakness of the latter could be established. In the second two projects, the application of the proposed procedure was simulated in order to analyze its efficiency. This analysis showed that modifications to the procedure were necessary. In Part Three, the application of the information-gathering procedure was presented as part of an overall decision making process. The theoretical and methodological framework, the proposed procedure, and the modifications needed formed the basis of our work on this decision making process.