Methodology for Indicator-Based Assessments of Environmental Hazards in Urbanised Areas: A Case Study of Ukrainian Regions

Abstract

This study analyses the city and its surroundings as an integrated natural-anthropogenic system, emphasising ecological urbanisation within the global urbanisation framework. This component is represented as a cycle of interlinked adverse processes, delineating the resilience limits of natural systems under urban anthropogenic impacts. Utilising indicator-based methods, we assessed multifactorial urban impacts on the environment, proposing a practical approach to calculate the ecological urbanisation indicator. Using the indicator, we have investigated the regional aspect of the atmospheric environment’s condition and identified the impact of urban sources of pollution. Additionally, we identified the main patterns of natural and human-induced hazards correlating with different levels of ecological urbanisation in different territories on the example of Ukrainian regions. Our approach addresses the uneven urban load across areas, which is essential for creating regional sustainable development strategies. It integrates environmental factors into regional safety management, requiring principles that regulate environmental impacts and promote safe land use.