In a nutshell: Sustainability assessment with TRAFIS.NB

TRAFIS.NB is an informal tool for the sustainability assessment of innovative infrastructure solutions. The tool activates locally available knowledge and identifies possible strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions in the dimensions of security of supply, resource conservation, economic efficiency and user orientation. TRAFIS.NB can be used for the selection of the most appropriate alternative solution and the goal-oriented further development of variants. It makes conflicts and uncertainties visible and identifies needs for more in-depth investigations. The application of TRAFIS.NB structures the evaluation and discussion process, elaborates discussion needs, provides justifications for decisions and strengthens transparency and legitimacy of decisions.

Users of TRAFIS.NB are primarily operators and planners of infrastructure or public administrations, for example in the context of a feasibility study. The evaluation process is organized by a competent and locally accepted "process moderation". An "evaluation group" of local experts, which combines different professional perspectives, assesses potential impacts of a solution with the help of sustainability criteria that are specifically tailored to innovative infrastructure solutions.

The Excel-based TRAFIS.NB tool supports the evaluation process. It provides a recommended set of criteria and allows them to be adapted or supplemented on a case-by-case basis. The members of the evaluation group then assess the expected sustainability impacts. After the individual assessments have been transferred to the tool, the results are automatically displayed in form of tables, graphs and as a summary report - e.g. as input for coordination processes or for passing on to decision-makers.