Indicators for evaluating sustainability in Bogota's informal settlements: Definition and validation

In recent years, informal settlements at the peripheries of Latin American cities have experienced increased population growth. Based on the premise that sustainability is the capacity of a system to last over time, this article presents a methodology that was developed to define and validate a set of indicators to evaluate sustainability in informal settlements. These indicators became inputs in the development of neighbourhood improvement plans that are sustainable and that address the needs of the neighbourhoods' inhabitants. The research was conducted using a blended methodology that includes a bibliographic review, a definition of indicators, the selection of two informal communities as case studies, and the validation of the indicators by a panel of experts. The result was a set of 13 specific indicators applicable to the neighbourhoods studied. This methodology can be used in other informal settlements in Bogota and other Latin American cities.