Abstract
Urban areas play a pivotal role in driving multi-dimensional transitions, yet local administrations often lack the appropriate knowledge and tools to assess the impacts of projects and plans, including those related to energy investments or associated sectors.
The impact of digital decision-support tools on urban transitions can be understood as the process leading to the reorganisation of Public Administration (PAs) work at tactical and operational levels through the use of technology [1]. Digital assessment tools, such as Decision Support Systems (DSS) or Group Support Systems (GSS), enable local administrations to manage socio-technical transitions in urban settings due to their capabilities in real-time data visualisation and processing, scenario simulation, and performance-based decision-making [2].
Addressing this knowledge gap, among various objectives, the GLOSSA research project (GLOcal Knowledge-System for the Sustainable Assessment of Urban Projects), funded as a Project of Relevant National Interest (PRIN), has developed the Indicators-Based Tool (IBTool), an innovative DSS designed to assist public PAs in the impact evaluation and monitoring of urban regeneration projects. This is aligned with the 2030 Agenda guidelines, with a particular focus on SDG 11 targets and indicators [3].
IBTool functions as an open-source, modular software platform that integrates qualitative and quantitative methods to generate composite indices of territorial performance and project impacts. By combining multi-group and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques with locally adapted indicators, the tool enables context-sensitive project appraisal, long-term monitoring, and the integration of sustainability, equity, and resilience goals into planning and decision-making processes [4].
As part of the GLOSSA project, training activities have been designed to test the tool’s functionality, explore its potential and limitations, and engage users from diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise. These activities serve a dual purpose: improving the tool’s usability and fostering dialogue on the role of indicators as key instruments for advancing urban transition processes aligned with SDG 11 [5].
Preliminary findings from beta tests conducted in multi-stakeholder settings reveal the tool’s effectiveness in aligning policy design with shared priorities, enhancing transparency in project evaluation, and supporting sustainability principles linked to equity, democracy, and participation. This contribution presents the theoretical foundations, methodological framework, and initial results from GLOSSA’s training programme, offering insights into the indicator selection process and its relevance for financing, governance, and evaluation strategies in the context of resilient and low-carbon urban systems.

Abstract
Il progetto GLOSSA è stato presentato al DEMo4PPL Final Multiplier Event – Teaching Participatory Planning. Evidence from across Europe. L’intervento ha illustrato il progetto sia sotto il profilo metodologico sia in termini applicativi. È stato descritto come la metodologia GLOSSA sia risultata efficace nei processi di progettazione partecipata di un’area urbana a Torino, coinvolgendo studenti e studentesse della Laurea Magistrale in Architettura, Costruzione e Città del Politecnico di Torino. Il workshop di applicazione ha previsto la seguente struttura: due giornate di attività, 60 partecipanti suddivisi in quattro macro-gruppi incaricati di definire e valutare quattro possibili scenari futuri per l’area delle Molinette. A supporto del processo sono stati utilizzati il set di indicatori GLOSSA e lo strumento IBTool.

Abstract
The European Commission emphasizes the critical role of evaluation and decision-making tools in shaping sustainability-oriented policies, highlighting the need for systematic monitoring. While national statistical institutes provide essential data, their limitations require integration with external sources to support more adaptive and context-sensitive governance. Sustainability assessment relies on multidimensional methodologies and indicator sets to address the complexity of environmental, economic, and social factors. However, their application at the local level—especially in urban contexts—is often constrained by data scarcity, fragmentation, and territorial diversity. Despite these challenges, tools such as Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Sustainability Assessment Tools (SATs) have proven effective in translating global indicators into local frameworks, supporting urban regeneration, and enhancing stakeholder engagement. They offer strategic value to planners, designers, and public administrations working toward sustainable urban development. This study brings together insights from two complementary research initiatives: the Italian national project GLOcal knowledge-System for the Sustainable Assessment of urban projects (GLOSSA) and the Erasmus+ project Digital Education Modules for Participatory Planning (DEMo4PPL). It pursues two main goals: (1) to validate the effectiveness of the Indicators’ Based Tool (IBTool)—a multi-criteria evaluation system developed within GLOSSA to select, weight, and monitor sustainability indicators across different project phases and territorial contexts; and (2) to foster digital and participatory planning skills within architecture and urban design education. The IBTool was tested in a Master’s-level course at Politecnico di Torino (Italy), using a problem-based learning approach that combined theoretical modules, design exercises, tool application, and collaborative reflection. This methodology encouraged students to critically assess urban transformation strategies through both analytical and design-oriented lenses. The case study focused on a major redevelopment site in the Metropolitan City of Turin, providing a real-world testing ground for sustainable urban regeneration practices. The IBTool supported the iterative selection and refinement of key performance indicators (KPIs) and helped evaluate alternative design scenarios. The process delivered actionable insights to enhance project sustainability and inform future development strategies. This experience demonstrates the potential of the GLOSSA framework as a replicable model for integrating sustainability assessment and participatory planning into both academic training and real-world urban design processes.

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Abstract
Sustainable transportation plays a crucial role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, impacting various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as outlined in the SDG Transportation Report. Specifically, SDG 11, which aims to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable,” highlights the significance of sustainable transportation in shaping urban environments. However, in the context of urban project design, most metrics used to assess mobility interventions are adapted from national or regional scales, which may not align well with the neighbourhood scale. Within this context, the GLOSSA project (GLOcal knowledge-System for the Sustainable Assessment of Urban Projects), financed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR) in 2023, was developed.

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Abstract
In today’s context, effective systems for monitoring, reporting, and evaluation are increasingly vital for governments to enhance decision-making at the urban level. Monitoring urban areas, plans, and projects, as well as evaluating proposed initiatives before their implementation, are essential practices for informed decision-making and fostering sustainable transitions in cities. In this framework, the research project GLOSSA (“GLOcal knowledge-System for the Sustainable Assessment of urban projects”), funded as part of the Relevant National Interest (PRIN) initiative, introduces an Indicators-Based Tool (IBTool) to support decision-making in urban transformation projects. This tool aligns with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), with the overarching aim of promoting sustainable development in Italian cities.
The research specifically delivers: i) a comprehensive set of indicators to facilitate both the monitoring and evaluation of sustainability in urban projects, applicable at the district and building scales; ii) amulticriteria evaluation tool designed to manage these indicators, prioritize their importance, and adapt to varying territorial contexts and the different phases of project development (selection, design, and monitoring).
The GLOSSA project’s outcomes aim to: i) assist Public Administrations (PAs) and urban planners/designers in identifying areas for transformation and designing urban projects; ii) support PAs during the evaluation phase of urban transformation projects submitted for approval; iii) monitor the performance and sustainability outcomes of funded projects.
Through the analysis of Italian case studies, the research demonstrates how this methodology can address urban sustainability challenges, particularly by enhancing decision-making processes.

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Abstract
The implementation of sustainability assessment tools for Public Administrations (PAs) requires strong alignment with local contexts to ensure effectiveness. The localisation of indicators is particularly relevant in the context of Neighbourhood Sustainability Assessment Tools (NSATs), which play a key role in measuring and advancing urban sustainability with a particular emphasis on SDG 11’s targets. Nevertheless, global experiences highlight the need to select indicators that reflect local priorities and features.
This article is a contribution to a Research Project of National Relevance (PRIN) – referred to as GLOSSA (A “GLOcal” knowledge System for Sustainability Assessment of urban projects) – which, among its several objectives, aims to provide PAs with an impact monitoring framework for quantifying and certifying the performances of funded projects at urban scale. The proposed approach focuses on local data scalability for sustainability assessment and facilitates the application of meaningful spatial methods to derive suitable proxy-indicators through GIS. This study first attempts to conceptualise a quali-quantitative evaluation methodology that highlights different strategies for indicator selection and implementation within the scope of Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS). The research methodology includes a proposal of a spatial impact evaluation framework to: (i) set criteria for Key Performance Indicators (KPI) classification (ii) highlight the relationships among SDG11 indicators and local plan strategy portfolios; (iii) define spatial modeling rules to derive values of context-based indicators. Preliminary findings have shown that the integration of NSATs with SDSS contributes to more effective sustainability assessment addressing specific challenges in the urban setting of Bacoli, Campania Region (Italy). Indeed, these hybrid tools have proven useful in assessing policy impacts on different areas of concern, such as land use, sustainable mobility, social inclusion, and cultural heritage preservation. Concurrently, contextualised indicators enhance the relevance of evolutionary evaluation processes, making them more applicable to real-world policy-making by strengthening cooperation among specialists, academics, and PAs.

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Abstract
The current study analyzes the spatial distribution of SDG 11 targets across neighborhoods in Cagliari, Italy. Using aggregated indicators at the different SDG 11 targets and spatial autocorrelation techniques, the research identifies clusters and outliers across key dimensions such as housing, transport, disaster resilience, and green space access. Results reveal strong spatial structuring for targets like SDG 11.1 and SDG 11.4, while others show weaker patterns. Correlation analysis uncovers both synergies and trade-offs, notably between SDG 11.4, SDG 11.5 and SDG 11.6. The proposed methodology emphasizes the importance of neighborhood-scale analysis for targeted interventions and offers a replicable methodology for localizing SDG monitoring in urban contexts and identifying spatial correlations.

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Abstract
In sustainable urban planning, monitoring and evaluation systems are crucial for guiding Public Administrations in making informed, responsible decisions. Despite the rise of sustainability guidelines, local implementation remains challenging. The GLOSSA research project (a GLOcal Knowledge-System for the Sustainable Assessment of Urban Projects) addresses this issue by introducing a multi-methodological framework based on operational indicators for urban project assessment. The framework is implemented in a multi-criteria evaluation software called Indicators’ Based Tool (IBTool) structured into 4 modules: i) Data Storage to manage a database of indicators; ii) Validation to assess indicators’ relevance through the Fuzzy Delphi Method; iii) Weighting to assign weights to the indicators’ and identify KPIs via the Best-Worst Method; iv) Performance/Impact Assessment to evaluate urban design alternatives using TOPSIS. This research innovatively integrates qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods into IBTool, bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications. The IBTool was tested in a case study in Italy to assess sustainable development levels.

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Abstract
Negli ultimi decenni, le crescenti pressioni antropiche legate al binomio produzione-consumo hanno reso evidente l’urgenza di adottare approcci sostenibili e olistici nella pianificazione e nella gestione del territorio, facendo emergere l’importanza legata all’individuazione delle priorità di azione dalla scala globale a quella locale.
Il Progetto GLOSSA – “GLOcal knowledge-System for the Sustainable Assessment of urban projects” finanziato nell’ambito dei Progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN-2022) coordinato dal Politecnico di Torino insieme all’Università Federico II di Napoli e l’Università di Cagliari, si inserisce nel dibattito sulle valutazioni della resilienza urbana proponendo un sistema innovativo di supporto alle Pubbliche Amministrazioni (PAs) nei processi di valutazione dei progetti di rigenerazione urbana ed il monitoraggio dei territori sulla base dei target previsti dall’Agenda 2030, con particolare attenzione all’Obiettivo 11 (SDG11) – Rendere le città e gli insediamenti umani inclusivi, sicuri, duraturi e sostenibili.
Il progetto GLOSSA si propone quindi di supportare l’identificazione delle aree urbane da rigenerare, la progettazione di interventi finanziabili e il monitoraggio delle loro performance a lungo termine, contribuendo a migliorare la qualità delle politiche pubbliche e delle decisioni amministrative.
In questo contesto di ricerca, è stato sviluppato un software denominato Indicators-Based Tool
(IBTool) che integra metodi di valutazione qualitativi e quantitativi per: (i) validare diversi set di
indicatori; (ii) valutare le priorità locali degli indicatori con tecniche multi-criteriali e partecipative; (iii) ottenere indici compositi delle performance territoriali e degli impatti dei progetti sui territori a scala urbana e di quartiere.
L’IBTool di GLOSSA si configura come un toolbox open-source che combina indicatori
multidimensionali adattati al contesto locale per offrire un supporto integrato alle PAs e ai progettisti, agevolando la definizione e il monitoraggio di interventi sostenibili. Gli indicatori selezionati e validati nelle fasi iniziali del progetto di ricerca integrano rilevanti aspetti ambientali, socio-economici e culturali, garantendo una valutazione multidimensionale dei progetti urbani alla scala di quartiere e dell’edificio, e favorendo soluzioni progettuali in grado di rispondere alle sfide della decarbonizzazione, dell’economia circolare e della resilienza.
La flessibilità del sistema consente di adattarsi alle specificità locali, mentre la sua natura modulare permette l’integrazione di nuovi indicatori e funzionalità aggiuntive sulla base delle esigenze emergenti. L’architettura dell’IBTool è pensata per rispondere a diverse esigenze di pianificazione e progettazione urbana in modo scalabile e multidimensionale, con un duplice focus sulla valutazione e il monitoraggio delle trasformazioni urbane e sulla comunicazione e formazione per coinvolgere attori diversi e promuovere una maggiore consapevolezza delle sfide legate alle transizioni ecologiche, economiche e sociali in contesti nazionali ed internazionali.
L’innovazione del tool risiede nella capacità di integrare all’interno di un’interfaccia user-friendly
metodologie avanzate di valutazione (quali questionari e analisi multicriteriali) con indicatori locali, favorendo un approccio in grado di combinare sostenibilità ambientale, inclusione sociale e valorizzazione economica delle risorse locali. L’IBTool è inoltre concepito come uno strumento. replicabile e strategico atto a ridurre il divario tra obiettivi accademici e applicazioni concrete,
promuovendo un cambiamento culturale e operativo nel modo di concepire e gestire le trasformazioni urbane.
Il presente contributo intende mostrare i fondamenti teorici, l’approccio metodologico, e i risultati preliminari ottenuti da una sperimentazione (beta-test) dell’IBTool in un contesto multi-stakeholder per testare i limiti e le potenzialità e avanzare nello sviluppo della metodologia proposta nell’ambito del progetto di ricerca GLOSSA.

Abstract
In the context of sustainable urban planning, monitoring and evaluation systems are essential for supporting decision-making processes and guiding Public Administrations (PAs) toward informed, responsible, and sustainable choices. Despite the proliferation of sustainability guidelines and indicators, the transition from strategic frameworks to local operational implementation remains a significant challenge.
The GLOSSA research project (a GLOcal Knowledge-System for the Sustainable Assessment of Urban Projects), funded as a Project of Relevant National Interest (PRIN), addresses this issue by proposing a qualitative and quantitative multi-methodological framework comprising: i) A set of operational indicators designed as theoretical models to guide the implementation of urban transformation projects while quantifying and certifying their performance (Abastante and Mecca, 2025; Hiremath et al., 2013); ii) the Indicators’ Based Tool (IBTool), a multi-criteria evaluation software capable of prioritizing indicators and assessing the performance of alternative urban settings or projects (Cerreta et al., 2020); iii) training activities for PAs, designers, and students, aimed at fostering the sustainable transition of urban areas.
This research here presented primarily focuses on the IBTool, which is structured into four main modules:
1. Data Storage, which hosts – and allows users to manage – the database of operational indicators identified through inductive and deductive methodologies;
2. Validation, compounded by questionnaire-based assessment of indicators, enabling their classification in terms of relevance and calculability using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM, Kuo and Chen, 2008) ;
3. Weighting, which provides DMs with an application of the Best-Worst Method (BWM, Rezaei 2015, 2020) to assign weights to the identified indicators and select Key Performance Indicators (KPIs);
4. Performance/Impact Assessment, which implements the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS, Hwang and Yoon, 1981) to derive a synthetic index representing the overall sustainability of the proposed design alternatives.

The innovative contribution of this research lies in its ability to integrate multiple qualitative and quantitative evaluation methodologies (as indicators, questionnaires, and multi-criteria analyses) within the comprehensible software IBTool. This integration aims to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications, fostering a cultural and operational shift in the conception and management of urban transformation processes.To demonstrate the validity of the IBTool, we tested it in assessing the current level of sustainable development in three neighborhoods in the city of Cagliari (Italy).

Abstract
Monitoring SDG 11 targets is crucial for making informed decisions and supporting multidimensional transitions in European cities. Among all the goals, SDG 11 emerges as a cornerstone for cities, offering a comprehensive framework to tackle their multifaceted challenges. Composite indicators and indices, as suited evaluation tools to monitor city progress or decline, allow sustainability problems to be included in local agendas by aggregating multidimensional variables at different time spans through data-driven approaches. The primary concerns about using indicators as evaluation tools to compare performances are inherent to inconsistencies related to different assessment frameworks and methods, data downscaling from global to local levels, choice of aggregation rules to obtain synthetic results, and data gaps. This contribution, in particular, focuses on data gaps by elaborating on a testing case, while critically discussing related issues. The research was addressed to identify normative, assessment, and methodological gaps in monitoring progress towards SDG 11 at global, European, and Italian levels. Application of Machine Learning algorithms to predict null values within an SDG 11 regional dataset was implemented to compare three Italian regions according to 18 common indicators. The contribution is part of the Research Project of National Relevance “GLOSSA – GLOcal knowledge System for Sustainability Assessment of urban projects”, coordinated by Polytechnic of Turin (Italy), and it supports its first-step knowledge phase aimed at identifying gaps in SDG 11 indicators downscaling and monitoring.

Abstract
In line with the 2030 Agenda, measurement through indicators is recognised as a means to overcome economic, social and environmental challenges in favour of sustainable development. In this context, the Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) with its indicators, proposed at international, European and national level, constitutes the starting point for monitoring and implementing urban sustainable development. However, there is a need for measurements that go beyond conventional statistics, including data generated, collected and stored by governments as well as those provided by external data sources. In this context, the paper presents a literature review of indicators useful for measuring and evaluating urban sustainability. More specifically, the research aims to: i) build a framework of the official SDG11 indicators at a global, European and Italian national level; ii) identify possible “new” indicators related to SDG11 proposed in the scientific literature, in the Sustainable Development Strategies produced at the Italian level and in the Sustainability Protocols; iii) provide a set of indicators relevant and useful both for monitoring urban areas and for constructing and evaluating projects. The research result constitutes the first theoretical preliminary step of a research project of Relevant National Interest (PRIN), however it may constitute a repeatable methodological framework for the collection of indicators for other national urban contexts.

Abstract
In line with the 2030 Agenda, measurement through indicators is recognised as a means to overcome economic, social and environmental challenges in favour of sustainable development. In this context, the Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) with its indicators, proposed at international, European and national level, constitutes the starting point for monitoring and implementing urban sustainable development. However, there is a need for measurements that go beyond conventional statistics, including data generated, collected and stored by governments as well as those provided by external data sources. In this context, the paper presents a literature review of indicators useful for measuring and evaluating urban sustainability. More specifically, the research aims to: i) build a framework of the official SDG11 indicators at a global, European and Italian national level; ii) identify possible “new” indicators related to SDG11 proposed in the scientific literature, in the Sustainable Development Strategies produced at the Italian level and in the Sustainability Protocols; iii) provide a set of indicators relevant and useful both for monitoring urban areas and for constructing and evaluating projects. The research result constitutes the first theoretical preliminary step of a research project of Relevant National Interest (PRIN), however it may constitute a repeatable methodological framework for the collection of indicators for other national urban contexts.

Descrizione
Gli strumenti decisionali sono riconosciuti come fondamentali per lo sviluppo sostenibile di politiche/strategie efficaci nel contesto della trasformazione urbana. Il riferimento è rappresentato dall’Agenda 2030 e dall’SDG11, che mirano a monitorare lo sviluppo sostenibile, inclusivo, sicuro e resiliente delle città attraverso obiettivi e indicatori globali, che vengono poi adattati alle strategie nazionali e regionali per cogliere le caratteristiche specifiche di ciascun territorio. In questo contesto, la scala urbana viene spesso ignorata, rendendo gli indicatori definiti non del tutto rilevanti per lo sviluppo/monitoraggio dei progetti urbani, sia per le amministrazioni pubbliche che per i pianificatori/progettisti. Allo stesso tempo, sono disponibili diversi indicatori e strumenti multicriteriali per rappresentare lo stato generale dello sviluppo urbano e per supportare politiche/strategie che tengano conto delle specificità locali, del ruolo di più soggetti interessati e della disponibilità di dati.
GLOSSA è un progetto di ricerca di rilevante interesse nazionale (PRIN) che si inserisce in questo contesto, proponendo un sistema di conoscenze a supporto dei processi decisionali urbani attraverso l’uso di metodologie e indicatori esistenti e nuovi.
Date le premesse, la presente sessione intende fornire un impulso trasversale alla definizione operativa di progetti urbani sostenibili, con riferimento (ma non solo) a: Supporto ai processi decisionali;
Supporto alle Pubbliche Amministrazioni,
Supporto ai pianificatori/progettisti;
Coinvolgimento degli stakeholder;
Indicatori SDG11;
Analisi decisionali multicriteriali;
Strumenti di valutazione sostenibile;
Sistemi di supporto alle decisioni;
Approcci didattici innovativi.