Methodology

International exemplary urban regeneration projects are selected based on three key criteria:

• Social value generation
  We prioritize projects that positively impact the community and surrounding areas by generating social value. Social value includes both tangible and intangible benefits created through the development or upgrading of buildings, infrastructure, public spaces, and services. These enhancements aim to improve the overall quality of life and well-being for the community. For example, exemplary projects selected bring economic growth, environmental improvements, cultural enrichment, better healthcare access, social care, justice, and enhanced security. These benefits are essential to fostering a more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant urban environment.
• International recognition 
  Projects that have been acknowledged globally as good practices hold significant weight in our selection process. This recognition comes in the form of prestigious international awards and certifications from trusted institutions and widely recognized protocols. These recognitions validate the project's effectiveness and impact, showcasing their leadership in driving urban regeneration that is both sustainable and innovative.
• Data availability 
  For a project to be considered, it must provide sufficient data that allows for an in-depth evaluation of its success in generating social value. This data enables us to understand the project impacts, ensuring that its contributions to social, economic, and environmental well-being can be validated. Robust data availability helps us not only in the selection process but also in sharing these successful models with a wider audience, encouraging replication and scaling of these best practices.

The project selection process involves several steps to ensure we identify the most exemplary urban regeneration initiatives from around the world. First, we conducted multiple rounds of online screenings by combining specific keywords such as "urban regeneration projects," "social value," and "best practices". These terms help us filter through vast amounts of information to pinpoint projects that stand out for their innovation and positive impact. Through this screening process, we are able to find projects that are not only mentioned frequently but also recognized in academic literature, policy reports, and other sources as exemplary cases of urban regeneration.

In addition, we also screen projects that have received prestigious international awards or certifications. This includes well-established certification systems such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), WELL (which focuses on the health and well-being of building occupants), BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency), and other recognized protocols. Projects that have achieved certifications from these trusted institutions are often benchmarks of sustainability, innovation, and design excellence, making them strong candidates for our selection.

Once we have identified potential projects through our search and screening processes, they are further reviewed and validated by a committee of experts. This committee is composed of senior researchers from the SUR Lab and UN-Habitat, who bring a wealth of knowledge in the fields of urban regeneration and impact assessment. Their expertise ensures that the projects selected truly demonstrate the ability to improve urban environments and generate social, economic, and environmental benefits.

By following this approach, we ensure that the projects featured in the SUR Atlas are exemplary projects serving as models of sustainable urban regeneration that can inspire and inform future developments.

When the information available online or through literature, reports, and other sources is insufficient to gather all the necessary data, we take an additional step to ensure we capture all project details. To do this, we designed an easy-to-complete questionnaire sent directly to the selected urban regeneration projects. 

Specifically, we ask for basic information such as the project’s location, its size, and the phase of implementation. We also request details on the overall investments and the solutions that have been implemented or are planned for the future. Additionally, the questionnaire explores the key stakeholders, their roles in the project, and the policy and financing instruments used to bring the regeneration initiative to life.

Through the questionnaire we ensure transparency and ethical data use, asking for permission to use and publish the information they supply in the SUR Atlas and assuring privacy and data protection. Indeed, the questionnaire is designed to avoid the collection of any sensitive or personal data. As a result, there are no privacy concerns for respondents. 

Exemplary cases of sustainable urban regeneration are described through a set of features: 

• Project overview: A summary of the urban regeneration project, including its goals, history and evolution, solutions implemented and stakeholders involved.
• Land use zoning: Information on the types and percentages of land use classifications after the regeneration project, such as residential, commercial, or industrial areas.
• Benefits (economic, social, and environmental benefits): This section outlines the project's effects on the economy, society, and environment, such as job creation, social equity improvements, and ecological benefits.
• Certificates: Information about any certifications or standards the project achieved, such as LEED, BREEAM, etc. or other sustainability protocols.
• Funding source: Details of where the financial support for the project comes from, whether it's public funding, private investment, or other sources.
• Financing and economic Instruments: Description of the financial and economic mechanisms used to fund and manage the project.