Abstract

Sustainable urbanization requires streamlining of resource management in urban systems which in turn requires understanding of urban metabolism (UM). Even though various methods have been applied for UM analysis, to date there is no standardized method for comprehensive accounting of material flows in urban systems. Moreover, the accounting of material flows is rarely implemented with a bottom-up approach that can provide a thorough analysis of UM. This article presents the Urban Accounting Model (UAM) which aims to allow comprehensive accounting of urban material flows based on a bottom-up approach. The model comprises two interlinked sub-models. The first was developed by integrating a new physical input output table (PIOT) framework for urban systems into a three-dimensional structure. The second comprises a set of physical accounts for systematic accounting of material flows of each economic sector in the system in order to support the compilation of the PIOTs. The functions of the UAM were explored through its application to two urban neighborhoods in the Stockholm Royal Seaport district. The application highlighted that the UAM can describe the physical interactions between the urban system and the environment or other socioeconomic systems, and capture the intersectoral flows within the system. Moreover, its accounts provide information that allow an in-depth analysis of the metabolism of specific sectors. Overall, the UAM can function as a useful tool for UM analysis as it systematizes data collection and at the same time depicts the physical reality of the urban system.

Keywords

bottom-up; industrial ecology; material flow analysis; physical input output table; Stockholm Royal Seaport; urban metabolism

Published in

Journal of Industrial Ecology
2020, Volume: 24, number: 3, pages: 459-472
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Sundberg, Cecilia

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Sustainable Development Goals

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Environmental Management


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12963

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/102917