There is an urgent need to transition to more sustainable cities and to do so we must identify in what ways and where cities are unsustainable. Urban metabolism offers a way to provide insight into how to move from linear to more sustainable, circular flows of energy and material in the urban area. Incorporating circular economy principles into the urban metabolism concept offers a promising way to reduce urban resource flows and increase the sustainability of the urban system. This thesis aims to combine an urban metabolism framework with circular economy indicators to create an urban circular economy framework, to support the transition towards more sustainable cities. This was achieved by identifying urban metabolism frameworks at the urban scale as well as several circular economy indicators, and then developing criteria for assessing them. It was found that several of the urban metabolism frameworks lacked an inclusion of hinterlands and a life cycle perspective, but provided various approaches to the urban metabolism. Assessment of the identified circular economy indicators showed that there is a lack of flow-based indicators that evaluate the social dimension of sustainability. To assess this in an adequate way there is a need to develop flow-based circular economy indicators, or alternatively urban metabolism frameworks which incorporate the social aspects. Furthermore, there is a need to develop more evaluation criteria and a categorisation for assessing the circular economy indicators. This would ensure that all sectors and some scales of delineation are addressed and provide a holistic understanding of the circular economy. Still, a somewhat holistic view can be gained from the combination of several indicators, as shown in the circular economy framework developed in this thesis. The framework was developed by combining a multilevel urban metabolism framework with 17 of the selected circular economy indicators. Out of these, 16 could be applied directly to the multilevel framework and together they cover all assessment criteria for circular economy indicators. This new framework is extensive and can be used to evaluate circular economy from a sustainable point of view. However, it is not fully holistic since it does not cover all sectors and could use a larger set of indicators. Still, by providing an example of an urban circular economy framework, this thesis offers a step towards the development of urban circular economy frameworks. / Det finns ett akut behov att övergå till mer hållbara städer, och för att kunna göra det måste vi identifiera på vilka sätt städer är ohållbara. Urban metabolism är ett koncept som ger insikt i hur det är möjligt att gå från linjära till mer hållbara, cirkulära flöden av energi och material i urbana områden. Integrationen av principer från cirkulär ekonomi i den urbana metabolismen erbjuder ett lovande sätt att minska urbana resursflöden och därmed öka städers hållbarhet. Denna uppsats kombinerar ett ramverk för urban metabolism med indikatorer för cirkulär ekonomi och skapar på så sätt ett ramverk för urban cirkulär ekonomi. Syftet med det nya ramverket är att kunna stödja övergången till mer hållbara städer. Detta uppnåddes genom att identifiera ramverk för urban metabolism på urban skala, samt flera indikatorer för cirkulär ekonomi, samt utveckla kriterier för att utvärdera dessa. Det visade sig att flera av ramverken för urban metabolism inte behandlade påverkan på kringliggande områden och ett livscykelperspektiv, men gav olika tillvägagångssätt för att undersöka den urbana metabolismen. Utvärdering av de identifierade indikatorerna för cirkulär ekonomi visade att det saknas flödesbaserade indikatorer som bedömer den sociala dimensionen av hållbarhet. För att bättre kunna bedöma detta bör det utvecklas flödesbaserade indikatorer för cirkulär ekonomi, alternativt ramverk för urban metabolism som integrerar de sociala aspekterna. Dessutom finns det behov av att utveckla fler utvärderingskriterier för att bedöma indikatorerna, samt en kategorisering av dessa. Detta skulle säkerställa att alla sektorer och vissa detaljnivåer av flöden tas upp och ge en bättre helhetsförståelse för den cirkulära ekonomin. Utan dessa förbättringar kan dock ändå en något holistisk uppfattning erhållas från kombinationen av flera indikatorer, vilket visas i det skapade ramverket för cirkulär ekonomi. Ramverket utvecklades genom att kombinera ett flernivåigt ramverk för urban metabolism med 17 av de valda indikatorerna för cirkulär ekonomi. Av dessa kunde 16 tillämpas direkt på olika nivåer i nivåstrukturen från DPSIR Multilevel Framework. Tillsammans täcker de alla bedömningskriterier för indikatorer för cirkulär ekonomi. Detta nya ramverk är omfattande och kan användas för att utvärdera cirkulär ekonomi ur ett hållbarhetsperpektiv. Det är dock inte helt holistiskt eftersom det inte täcker alla sektorer och skulle kunna använda en större uppsättning indikatorer. Genom att ge ett exempel på ett ramverk för urban cirkulär ekonomi, erbjuder denna avhandling trots detta ett steg mot utvecklingen av ramverk för cirkulär ekonomi.

The motivation for this research is a perceived gap in knowledge regarding the complex relationships between the physical form of the urban environment; its environmental performance as expressed through stocks and flows of materials and energy (urban metabolism); and its experienced physical and psychological qualities (urban ambience). The objective is to develop a practical methodological structure which, through investigating the relationships between these domains, may help inform the evaluation, design and development of more sustainable human settlements. One expression of this apparent knowledge gap is the ambiguity around the classification of urban form and identification of a suitable taxonomic framework to support analysis. Urban morphological research and practice is critically reviewed to derive a rigorous definition of the 'urban structural unit' (USU) to facilitate the subdivision and description of urban form across spatial scales. Application of this construct to a study site in Sydney, Australia provides the basis for subsequent exploration. Investigation of theoretical and applied perspectives on urban ecology, metabolism and design enables distillation of a utilitarian set of structural, functional and ambience properties of the USU. A variety of quantitative methods pertinent to evaluation of these properties is systematically examined to derive a streamlined analytical methodology, integrating hemispherical image analysis, space syntax, isovist and material accounting methods within the USU framework. The efficacy of this methodological 'toolkit' is tested in the final, empirical stage of the research, focussing mainly on the campus of the University of New South Wales. Determination of a range of material, microclimatic, ecosystemic, fractal, syntactic and isovist metrics provides a preliminary quantitative description of the campus USU in terms of its interrelated metabolic and ambience properties. This is further explained and interpreted through multivariate statistical analysis. The results suggest that the USU represents a robust framework for urban evaluation, and application of a relatively parsimonious suite of analytical methods enables a useful initial examination of the relations between significant aspects of urban form, metabolism and ambience. The outcomes of such an evaluation can directly inform built environment practice from a sustainability perspective, and also highlight areas for more detailed investigation.

For half a century, urban metabolism has been used to provide insights to support transitions to sustainable urban development (SUD). Internet and Communication Technology (ICT) has recently been recognized as a potential technology enabler to advance this transition. This thesis explored the potential for an ICT-enabled urban metabolism framework aimed at improving resource efficiency in urban areas by supporting decision-making processes. Three research objectives were identified: i) investigation of how the urban metabolism framework, aided by ICT, could be utilized to support decision-making processes; ii) development of an ICT platform that manages real-time, high spatial and temporal resolution urban metabolism data and evaluation of its implementation; and iii) identification of the potential for efficiency improvements through the use of resulting high spatial and temporal resolution urban metabolism data. The work to achieve these objectives was based on literature reviews, single-case study research in Stockholm, software engineering research, and big data analytics of resulting data. The evolved framework, Smart Urban Metabolism (SUM), enabled by the emerging context of smart cities, operates at higher temporal (up to real-time), and spatial (up to household/individual) data resolution. A key finding was that the new framework overcomes some of the barriers identified for the conventional urban metabolism framework. The results confirm that there are hidden urban patterns that may be uncovered by analyzing structured big urban data. Some of those patterns may lead to the identification of appropriate intervention measures for SUD. / <p>QC 20151120</p> / Smart City SRS

The motivation for this research is a perceived gap in knowledge regarding the complex relationships between the physical form of the urban environment; its environmental performance as expressed through stocks and flows of materials and energy (urban metabolism); and its experienced physical and psychological qualities (urban ambience). The objective is to develop a practical methodological structure which, through investigating the relationships between these domains, may help inform the evaluation, design and development of more sustainable human settlements. One expression of this apparent knowledge gap is the ambiguity around the classification of urban form and identification of a suitable taxonomic framework to support analysis. Urban morphological research and practice is critically reviewed to derive a rigorous definition of the 'urban structural unit' (USU) to facilitate the subdivision and description of urban form across spatial scales. Application of this construct to a study site in Sydney, Australia provides the basis for subsequent exploration. Investigation of theoretical and applied perspectives on urban ecology, metabolism and design enables distillation of a utilitarian set of structural, functional and ambience properties of the USU. A variety of quantitative methods pertinent to evaluation of these properties is systematically examined to derive a streamlined analytical methodology, integrating hemispherical image analysis, space syntax, isovist and material accounting methods within the USU framework. The efficacy of this methodological 'toolkit' is tested in the final, empirical stage of the research, focussing mainly on the campus of the University of New South Wales. Determination of a range of material, microclimatic, ecosystemic, fractal, syntactic and isovist metrics provides a preliminary quantitative description of the campus USU in terms of its interrelated metabolic and ambience properties. This is further explained and interpreted through multivariate statistical analysis. The results suggest that the USU represents a robust framework for urban evaluation, and application of a relatively parsimonious suite of analytical methods enables a useful initial examination of the relations between significant aspects of urban form, metabolism and ambience. The outcomes of such an evaluation can directly inform built environment practice from a sustainability perspective, and also highlight areas for more detailed investigation.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / Global urbanisation trends predict a future in which the already overburdened cities of Africa and Asia will house the bulk of the two billion new people born by 2050. This second wave of urbanisation will increase resource demands in these cities and extend the expanse of slums already surrounding them. Given the global imperative of sustainable development, and the existing imbalance of resource access, effective urban planning is necessary to meet this second urbanisation wave, and build resilient, equitable cities. However, preliminary investigation suggests a lack of data-supported decision-making in cities of the global south, due either to limited collection of, or lack of access to, city-level data. This has led to many urban development programmes being implemented with minimal scientific backing to support the success of proposed policy or infrastructure innovations. This directly impacts a city’s ability to reach service delivery, economic growth, and human development goals, let alone protect ecosystem services upon which it relies. This is particularly true in African cities, in which governments are (necessarily) more focused on delivery of basic services than on a greening or efficiency agenda. This is further compounded by the need for African cities to prepare adequate public services for the increased population expected in the second urbanisation wave. A quantitative assessment of cities’ resource profiles can support policy makers in making informed decisions about infrastructure configurations in order to improve their resource management. To this end, methods to accurately estimate and analyse these data are necessary. The primary objective of this study was to establish a resource consumption typology for African cities. Due to limitations in the availability and form of secondary data, this study shifted focus to explore how best to form a typology from limited data. It made use of data for 53 African nations and scaling theories proffered to estimate city-level economic and resource data for 120 African cities. The resultant resource profiles were then normalised and clustered in a number of ways to produce two national typologies and four city typologies. Insights from these typologies both inform the method for categorising cities by socioeconomic or resource indicators as well as provide insights into the shape and magnitude of resource profile for multiple African cities. They also highlight the key drivers of resource consumption in these spaces. Future work involves validating the scaling method with locally acquired data so as to increase confidence in the city-level data, before settling on the preferred method for clustering cities. / Wêreldwye verstedelikingstendense dui op ‘n toekoms waarin die reeds oorlaaide stede in Afrika en Asië die grootste deel van die sowat twee biljoen nuwe mense teen 2050 sal huisves. Die tweede verstedelikingsgolf sal eise wat in hierdie stede op hulpbronne gestel word verhoog, en die uitgestrektheid van krotbuurtes wat hulle reeds omsingel, nog meer laat uitkring. In die lig van die wêreldwye noodsaaklikheid van volhoubare ontwikkeling en die heersende wanbalans wat toeganklikheid tot hulpbronne betref, is doeltreffende stedelike beplanning nodig om aan hierdie verwagte tweede verstedelikingsgolf te kan voldoen en lewenskragtige, gelyke stede op te rig. Voorlopige ondersoek toon egter ‘n tekort aan data-gesteunde besluitneming in suidelike stede van die wêreld weens óf beperkte inwinning daarvan, óf gebrek aan toegang tot data op stedelike vlak. Dit het daartoe aanleiding gegee dat talle stedelike ontwikkelingsprogramme met minimale wetenskaplike steun, wat die sukses van voorgestelde beleids- of infrastruktuurinnovasies rugsteun, geïmplementeer is. ‘n Stad se vermoë om sy doelwitte ten opsigte van dienslewering, ekonomiese groei en menslike ontwikkeling te bereik, word sodoende gekortwiek om nie eens melding te maak van beskerming van die ekostelsel-dienste waarop hy staatmaak nie. Dit is veral die geval in Afrika-stede waar regeerders (uit noodsaak) meer gefokus is op die lewering van basiese dienste as op ‘n agenda vir vergroening en doelmatigheid. Dit word voorts verhewig deur die behoefte van Afrika-stede om doeltreffende openbare dienste op die been te bring vir die groter bevolking wat met die tweede verstedelikingsgolf in die vooruitsig gestel word. ‘n Kwantitatiewe vasstelling van die omvang van stede se hulpbronne, kan beleidskeppers help om ingeligte besluite te neem oor infrastruktuur-konfigurasie en sodoende die bestuur van hulle hulpbronne verbeter. Met dit as mikpunt, is metodes nodig om hierdie data korrek te bepaal en te analiseer. Die hoofdoel van hierdie verhandeling was om ‘n hulpbronkonsumpsie-tipologie op te stel. Weens beperkinge wat betref die beskikbaarheid en vorm van sekondêre data, is die verhandeling se fokus verskuif om te bepaal hoe daar ten beste ‘n tipologie uit beperkte data gevorm kan word. Daar is van data rakende 53 Afrika-nasies, en skaal-teorieë aangebied deur gebruik gemaak om data oor die ekonomieë en hulpbronne van 120 Afrika-stede te bekom. Die hulpbron-vasstelling wat hieruit voortgevloei het, is vervolgens genormaliseer en saamgevoeg op ‘n verskeidenheid van wyses om twee nasionale tipologieë en vier stadstipologieë te lewer. Insigte wat dié tipologieë voortbring, lig die metode toe waarvolgens stede deur sosio-ekonomiese of hulpbron-aanwysers gekategoriseer word en bied ook insigte rakende die voorkoms en omvang van hulpbron-bepaling vir menige Afrika-stede. Hulle benadruk ook die sleutel-aandrywers van konsumpsie in hierdie opsig. Toekomstige werk sluit die bevestiging van die skaalmetode met plaaslik aangeskafde data in ten einde die vertroue in stadsdata te vermeerder alvorens daar op die voorkeurmetode vir die bondeling van stede besluit word.

The systems analysis of biomass in the Borås municipality is conducted so as to identify the amount of biomass consumed by certain designated systems for this study. Using the principles of urban metabolism and material flow accounting, the system boundary is setup and biomass is categorized into system specific entities which are to be quantified. The symbiosis principle and the cascading approach of resource utilization are used to determine the systems which are working together and the resources they share among each other. Selected flows are established to be calculated for paper and paper products; fuel and construction wood; biogas; and blended transportation fuels. The flows are considered one by one, it is found that the consumption system and the waste management system are main players in the flow of paper and its products. The flow of fuel and construction wood is surveyed across different companies in the municipality for 2013. The fate of the waste construction wood for 2011 is traced across the waste handling systems of Borås Energi och Miljö till the Combined Heat and Power plant at Ryaverket. The quantities of fuel wood consumed by the CHP and residential heat are received from statistical sources. The main players in the biogas production flow are the waste management system and the digesters at Gässlösa and Sobacken. The consumption of enriched biogas is then examined for different transportation sub-systems. The flows for blended fuels is considered for petrol, diesel; separately analysed from them are their blended quantities of ethanol and other renewable additives. The sold quantities of petrol and diesel have been received from the market survey for the year 2013. The flows are then individually validated by common critical parameters to determine how reliable the information sources are. The resulting flows are discussed for the symbiosis of resources and significance of urban metabolism concepts. / Program: Masterutbildning i energi- och materialåtervinning

In this thesis, I propose that bike courier delivery is not merely a convenient service for clients but an important function in the operation of successful economies. By allowing the regions to function at higher speeds, same-day courier networks seem to play an active role in generating positive economic outcomes. The availability of courier networks is found to be as uneven as economic vitality itself. Cities like New York and Toronto have large, dense courier networks, capable of delivering items within an hour while smaller cites, do not support same-day courier service at all. They do this, in part, by allowing for couriers to cope with the precariousness of their work, and in part by providing supportive sub-cultures. These findings point to the role of service workers, and wider eco-systems in fostering regional advantage.

In this thesis, I propose that bike courier delivery is not merely a convenient service for clients but an important function in the operation of successful economies. By allowing the regions to function at higher speeds, same-day courier networks seem to play an active role in generating positive economic outcomes. The availability of courier networks is found to be as uneven as economic vitality itself. Cities like New York and Toronto have large, dense courier networks, capable of delivering items within an hour while smaller cites, do not support same-day courier service at all. They do this, in part, by allowing for couriers to cope with the precariousness of their work, and in part by providing supportive sub-cultures. These findings point to the role of service workers, and wider eco-systems in fostering regional advantage.

Over the course of the last several decades, an increase in the level of concern surrounding the various health and environmental consequences of current, popular waste disposal methods, including landfilling and incineration, have resulted in an increase in municipal recycling efforts. These efforts take place primarily at the residential and commercial levels, while the availability of recycling in public spaces like sidewalks, transit stops, parks and other areas is not something that is often encountered in cities around the United States. This thesis studies the implications and opportunities for public space recycling through the action research process during which I conducted case study research of existing public space recycling programs in Portland, Oregon, and New York, New York, alongside the planning and implementation of a pilot program for transit stop recycling in Austin, Texas. The aim of this thesis is to examine and establish various goals and common strategies for the implementation of public space recycling programs and ultimately make a case for this arguably invaluable, yet often overlooked, recycling initiative. Working under the theoretical framework of the urban metabolism and Karl Marx’s theory of the metabolic rift, the reimagining of waste disposal practices to include widespread materials recycling is one avenue for the restructuring of the relationship between the city and the natural environment. The expansion of recycling practices into public spaces forwards the overall mission to make recycling an integral part of daily life. If implemented properly, the widespread implementation of recycling programs like public space recycling could begin to heal the fragmented urban metabolism and ensure the longevity of the ever-evolving urban and natural environments. The conclusions of this research revolve around the importance of context for public space (and other) recycling practices. This research shows that for public space recycling to succeed as a strategy for the mainstreaming of recycling practices and the reparation of the metabolic rift, the unique characteristics of each individual public space must be taken into consideration upon the implementation of a public space recycling program. / text

With a global population about 7 billion people and their continued growth are pressuring global natural resources, in freshwater matter this pressure is altering both the river flows; timing season of water flows; and spatial patterns in order to meet human demands both in urban as rural areas. However, water stress in urban areas are increasing and expectations by 2050 are grim with a global urban development by 70 percent moreover urbanization rate expected by 2030 in Latin America is 80 percent, thus the water concerns because of high average water consumption 220 lpd, and water leakage by 29 percent in the third largest city of Ecuador Cuenca have motivated to perform this analysis. The analysis is based on a metabolic perspective in order to determine anomalies in the urban water cycle at household level for then apply one of the tools of stormwater management in short term such as harvesting rainwater to find how feasible can be this system both individually as communally in Cuenca urban area based on criteria of rainfall, roof surface, roof material, water average consumption, and costs; in order to generate social, economic, and environmental benefits. Moreover, give recommendations and strategies in mid and long term to get an Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) model that allow ensuring the enough natural resources, environmental health, and economic sustainability for current and future demands. The main problems in the urban water cycle are in a outdated urban water management because of water leakage in the delivery network and unsuitable water pricing as well as bad consumers habits; these are affecting economically the water enterprise; nonetheless these problems are not putting in risk freshwater resources, and infrastructure capacity to meet future demands but the implementation of harvesting rainwater systems both individual as community can allow water savings by 18 percent at household level, and by 11 percent in whole water production process at city level. Moreover, the implementation can generate 750.000 job positions both direct as indirect. Finally, the risk of floods can be mitigated due to, roughly 2.88 million m3 of runoff rainwater a year are not released on rivers. To conclude, economic losses are avoiding that this money can be used to improve and maintain the current infrastructures, and development socio-technical projects in order to get a more suitable water metabolism. In other hand, encourage a harvesting culture at household level is a good strategy in short term but its feasibility is related directly to five drivers of which four can be handled such as roof surface area, roof material, domestic water consumption, and costs; in order to get most efficient systems. Finally, there are more tools and strategies to get sustainable goals in short mid and long term through an Integrated Urban Water Management model, in order to urban dwellers can move from simply consumers to a status of suppliers and managers of resources.