A Sustainability Matrix Framework for Translating Earth Observation and NDT Data into SDG-aligned Resilience and Decision-Making

This study explores the capabilities of non-destructive testing (NDT) and Earth Observation (EO) not only as measurement technologies but as an evidence translation layer between technical data and sustainability governance. While remote sensing and NDT generate increasingly rich data on urban and coastal environments, a persistent gap remains between these data and the formats, categories, and narratives required for policy, regulation, and organisational reporting [1]. The main aim of this study is to address that gap by developing a sustainability matrix framework that structures, interprets, and reformulates NDT and EO outputs to enable meaningful use in decision-making and sustainability [2]. The matrix also provides accountability processes aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [3].

The framework is illustrated through three exemplary case studies strategically spanning the built, natural and heritage environments. These are: analysing land surface temperature patterns across parks and built-up areas (SDG 13); monitoring urban green infrastructure using LiDAR and satellite imagery (SDG 15); and detecting coastal landform change with implications for heritage assets (SDG 11). The applications demonstrate how non-invasive, data-intensive methods provide spatially and temporally resolved evidence on environmental and infrastructural change (SDG 9). The core contribution, however, lies in how these results are translated into decision-relevant indicators and interpretive narratives that align with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [3, 4].

This research shows how technical findings become intelligible and usable for organisations, policymakers, and stakeholders concerned with risk, performance, and long-term resilience. The proposed translation layer provides a replicable approach to embedding environmental factors across planning, asset management, and regulatory contexts. It will provide an evidence base in situations where existing assessment practices are fragmented, inconsistent, or insufficient to meet emerging transparency and disclosure expectations [5, 6].

 

Keywords: Sustainability Matrix Framework; SDG Mapping; Earth Observation & NDT Integration; Resilience Decision-Making; Multi-Domain Monitoring

References

[1] Tosti, F. (2025) ‘Year III: The NDT—Journal of Non-Destructive Testing 2025 End-of-Year Editorial’, NDT, 4(1), p. 3. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ndt4010003.

[2] Elliott, B. and Elliott, J. (2022) ‘Integrated reporting: sustainability, environmental and social’, in Financial Accounting and Reporting. 20th ed. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Limited.

[3] Tsalis, T.A. et al. (2020) ‘New challenges for corporate sustainability reporting: United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the sustainable development goals’, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(4), pp. 1617–1629. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1910.

[4] United Nations (2015) Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

[5] Lai, A. and Stacchezzini, R. (2021) ‘Organisational and professional challenges amid the evolution of sustainability reporting: a theoretical framework and an agenda for future research’, Meditari Accountancy Research, 29(3), pp. 405–429. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-02-2021-1199.

[6] Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (2022) Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) and investment labels. London. Available at: www.fca.org.uk/cp22-20-response-form.