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Urban metabolism assessment tools for resource efficient urban infrastructure

Title

Urban metabolism assessment tools for resource efficient urban infrastructure

Author(s)

Blake Robinson

Josephine Kaviti Musango

Mark Swilling

Simon Joss

Sasha Mentz Lagrange

Year

2013

Type

Journal Article

Source

UNEP

Abstract

Report prepared by UNEP as part of the 2013 Comprehensive Review of the Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities

In cooperation with researchers at the Sustainability Institute and University of Westminster

Blake Robinson, Josephine Musango, Mark Swilling, Simon Joss and Sasha Mentz Lagrange

Our comments

This document contains a very thorough and up-to-date review of urban metabolism assessment tools. These are the main sections in the report:

Section 1: Review of urban metabolic flow analysis methodologies
Section 2: Review of resource efficiency indicators
Section 3: Proposed process and tools for urban resource efficiency

The methodologies discussed include:

- Material Flow Analysis
- Input-output analysis
- Ecological Footprint Analysis
- Life Cycle Assessment
- System dynamics
- Agent-based modelling
- Hybrid MFA methodologies

Included as well is an Urban metabolism gap analysis and a Rapid Assessment Toolkit.

Even the annexes provide useful information including an extensive list of MFA studies that have been undertaken on city and city-region level.

Please note that this document has not been published online, but the authors have made a copy available on request. To request a copy, please write info@metabolismofcities.org or contact us through the Contact page.

Tags

• Review Paper
• Ecological Footprint Analysis
• Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW MFA)
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Physical input-output tables (PIOT) / Input-Output Assessment (IOA)
• Substance Flow Analysis (SFA)
• Urban
• Indicators - general

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