Towards Sustainable Urban Planning: Analyzing Socio-Economic Impacts On Ecological Footprints In Lahore

Abstract

Resource consumption in the urban environment has risen from lack of planning to the extent that environmental degradation and ecological footprints are problematic. To deal with ecological sustainability, we need to understand the fallouts of consumption patterns, consumption of energy, transportation and the level of waste generation. The aim of this study is the analysis of ecological footprint of urban areas through data driven approach based on the surveyed data and computational modeling in MATLAB. The research considers the differences in ecological impact based on socio-economic factors in a low-income urban area (Begampura, Lahore). Primary data on household consumption behaviors which include meat consumption, electricity usage, waste production, and transportation behaviors were collected through a structured survey. Statistical methods were used to analyze the collected data and a multiple regression model was created in SPSS & MATLAB to predict levels of ecological footprint. The results show electricity consumption as the major factor affecting ecological footprint, with meat consumption and waste generation next. The ecological footprint was found to be relatively higher for households with a higher income because they used more energy and relied more on private transportation. The solution is then found to be to promote energy efficient appliances, reduce meat consumption, improve waste management, and enhance public transportation infrastructure to minimize environment impact. The sustainable housing models and integrated land use policies should be the focal point of urban planning so that resources may be conserved. The ecological footprints implied by the study are such that targeted interventions, policy changes and community engagement are necessary to achieve urban sustainability. These efforts will reduce environmental problems and promote more environmentally sustainable urban development.

Keywords: Ecological footprint, urban sustainability, energy consumption, waste management, MATLAB modeling, sustainable urban planning.