How to aggregate indicators? An overview of aggregation methods
Abstract
Assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems requires multi-criteria approaches based on sets of indicators. Presenting this information in the form of a dashboard, which allows the data provided by individual indicators to be visualised, is useful for situation assessments (analysing strengths and weaknesses) and for monitoring changes over time (evaluating the effectiveness of changes). However, it has limitations when it comes to drawing conclusions (e.g. on the sustainability of the system) or comparing options and prototypes of innovative systems using indicators with conflicting results. Aggregation provides a summary view of the information provided by the indicators and aids the decision-making process. The aim of this article is to present an overview of the main aggregation methods applied to agriculture, beginning with a general overview, followed by a brief presentation of the main categories, and concluding with an attempt to formalise a guide to selecting the appropriate types of methods.
Related
- Soil aggregate stability: Comparison of two methods to evaluate the effect of agroecological cropping systems
- Organic amendments enhance aggregate stability of yellow soils in southwest China: roles of SOC characteristics and Fe oxides
- On CO2 sequestration in concrete aggregate via carbonation: simulation and experimental verification
- Glomalin-related soil protein and aggregate stability across a century-scale quercus liaotungensis restoration chronosequence on the loess plateau
- Principal Surface Fault Rupture Hazard: Moving Beyond Aggregate Displacement Metrics
BibTeX
@article{bockstaller2026aggregate,
title = {{How to aggregate indicators? An overview of aggregation methods}},
author = {Christian Bockstaller and Frédérique Angevin},
journal = {Innovations Agronomiques},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.17180/ciag-2026-vol115-art08},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05808043v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - How to aggregate indicators? An overview of aggregation methods
AU - Christian Bockstaller
AU - Frédérique Angevin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Innovations Agronomiques
DO - 10.17180/ciag-2026-vol115-art08
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05808043v1
AB - Assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems requires multi-criteria approaches based on sets of indicators. Presenting this information in the form of a dashboard, which allows the data provided by individual indicators to be visualised, is useful for situation assessments (analysing strengths and weaknesses) and for monitoring changes over time (evaluating the effectiveness of changes). However, it has limitations when it comes to drawing conclusions (e.g. on the sustainability of the system) or comparing options and prototypes of innovative systems using indicators with conflicting results. Aggregation provides a summary view of the information provided by the indicators and aids the decision-making process. The aim of this article is to present an overview of the main aggregation methods applied to agriculture, beginning with a general overview, followed by a brief presentation of the main categories, and concluding with an attempt to formalise a guide to selecting the appropriate types of methods.
SN - 1958-5853
SN - 1958-5853
ER -