title: Proposal for an integral quality index for urban and urbanized beaches.
abstract: A composite index, based on function analysis and including thirteen sub-indices, was developed to assess the overall quality of urban and urbanized beaches in the Mediterranean area. The aggregation of components and sub-indices was based on two questionnaires completed by beach users and experts. Applying the new Beach Quality Index (BQI) demonstrated that the quality of beaches could be improved. In general, the strongest aspects of the beaches assessed were those related to short-term user demand, and the weakest were those related to the consequences of human pressure on the area, in particular, erosion problems. The composite index is intended to be used together with Environmental Management Beach Systems (EMBs) as a hierarchical management scorecard and in monitoring programs. This new tool could also make planning more proactive by synthesizing the state of the most important beach processes.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, C Accés Cala Sant Francesc 14, Blanes, Spain. edariz@fiu.edu
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarda
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villares
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fraguell
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.forename: Herminia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valdemoro
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: Modest
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fluvia
mesh_terms: D001493:Bathing Beaches / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D033161:Government Regulation; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D013030:Spain; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014507:Urbanization
references.citation: Waste Manag. 2008 Dec;28(12):2604-13
references.pmid: 18243682