Challenge for Planning by Using Cluster Methodology: The Case Study of the Algarve Region

David Bienvenido-Huertas, Fátima Farinha, Miguel José Oliveira, Elisa M. J. Silva and Rui Lança
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David Bienvenido-Huertas: Department of Building Construction II, University of Seville, Av. Reina Mercedes 4A, 41012 Seville, Spain
Fátima Farinha: University of Algarve, Institute of Engineering, Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Miguel José Oliveira: University of Algarve, Institute of Engineering, Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Elisa M. J. Silva: University of Algarve, Institute of Engineering, Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Rui Lança: University of Algarve, Institute of Engineering, Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: This study analyses the most appropriate methodology to make similarity classifications among the cities of the Algarve (Portugal) according to 105 sustainability indicators monitored with the Observatory of Sustainability of the Algarve Region for Tourism (OBSERVE). The methodology used to establish the similarities was the cluster analysis with 4 different approaches which reduced the dimensions of the data set: total approach, pillar approach, subject area approach, and indicator approach. By combining the approaches, a total of 620 different cluster analyses were performed. The results reflected that the data analysis approaches with less dimensions were those that performed the best groups among cities. In this sense, the approaches with a high number of indicators (e.g., the total or the pillar approach) were characterised by misclassifying cities in more than 30% of the indicators. Thus, the most acceptable cluster analysis approach was that with a low number of indicators. Through this approach, it was possible to make correct groups of the sustainability level of the cities of the Algarve. These results provided an appropriate methodology for the decision-making regarding the sustainability of a region and could be extrapolated to other regions to assess sustainability or environmental indicators.

Keywords: cluster analysis; sustainability indicators; the Algarve region; OBSERVE platform; sustainable tourism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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