Ecological network analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities

Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Yang; Fath, Brian D.; Li, Shengsheng

doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.05.006

Cited by 123 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…New research has shown that some of the problems from the process of urbanization have increased the vulnerability of ecosystems and threatened the health of nature and human well-being (Bennett et al, 2015;Walker et al, 2002), forcing us to focus on the value of ecosystem services and their positive impact on sustainable urbanization in future urbanization development and planning (Cumming et al, 2014;Zhang Y et al, 2010). For developing countries, the rapid urbanization accompanying economic globalization has forced many cities to wantonly exploit and develop already vulnerable natural resources and ecosystems through land reclamation, resource extraction, overgrazing, disorderly land use and urban expansion, in order to obtain comparative advantages and economic benefits, which is affecting and changing the natural environment we depend on for survival, dwindling natural resources and threatening biodiversity (Aronson et al, 2014;Adamo, 2010).…”

Section: 26mentioning

confidence: 99%

International progress and evaluation on interactive coupling effects between urbanization and the eco-environment

2016

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Global urbanization is exerting severe stress and having far-reaching impacts on the eco-environment, and yet there exists a complex non-linear coupling relationship between the two. Research on the interactive coupling effect between urbanization and the eco-environment will be a popular area of study and frontier in international earth system science and sustainability science in the next 10 years, while also being a high-priority research topic of particular interest to international organizations. This paper systematically collates and summarizes the international progress made in research on interactive coupling theory, coupling relationships, coupling mechanisms, coupling laws, coupling thresholds, coupling models and coupling optimization decision support systems. The research shows that urbanization and eco-environment interactive coupling theories include the Kuznets curve theory, telecoupling theory, planetary boundaries theory, footprint family theory and urban metabolism theory; most research on interactive coupling relationships is concerned with single-element coupling relationships, such as those between urbanization and water, land, atmosphere, climate change, ecosystems and biodiversity; the majority of research on interactive coupling mechanisms and laws focuses on five research paradigms, including coupled human and nature systems, complex social-ecological systems, urban ecosystems, social-economic-natural complex ecosystems, and urbanization development and eco-environment constraint ring; the majority of interactive coupling simulations use STIRPAT models, coupling degree models, multi-agent system models and big data urban computer models; and research has been carried out on urbanization and eco-environment coupling thresholds, coercing risk and optimal decision support systems. An objective evaluation of progress in international research on interactive coupling between urbanization and the eco-environment suggests that there are six main research focal points and six areas lacking research: a lot of research exists on macroscopic coupling effects, with little research on urban agglomeration and scale coupling effects; considerable research exists on sin-

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Section: 26mentioning

confidence: 99%

International progress and evaluation on interactive coupling effects between urbanization and the eco-environment

2016

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“…It allows analysis of the structural and functional properties of the interaction webs within the system, and can potentially include all ecological components and interactions (Fath et al 2004). As a result, the approach has been widely applied to study natural ecosystems (Andras et al 2007;Baird et al 2009;Christian et al 2009;Heymans et al 2002), but has seldom been used to study socioeconomic systems (Bailey et al 2004a(Bailey et al , b, 2008Chen 2003;Li et al 2009;Zhang et al 2009), especially for urban energy metabolic systems (Zhang et al 2010;Zhao 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Ecological network analysis of an urban energy metabolic system

Zhang

2011

Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess

Self Cite

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Analysis of the structure and function of urban energy metabolic systems is an important tool to facilitate compliance with China's current energy-conservation policy. In this study, we used network throughflow analysis and network utility analysis to analyze the structure of an urban energy metabolic system and the complex relationships among its components. Using weight distributions in the network flow matrix, we determined the system structure; using the sign distribution in the network utility matrix, we determined the relationships between pairs of components. We then developed an ecological network model using Beijing in 1995Beijing in , 2000Beijing in , 2005Beijing in , and 2007 as an example of how the model can be used to understand the system's structure and function. The model's components were the energy exploitation, transformation, consumption, and recovery sectors. Network throughflow analysis revealed that the energy transformation and consumption sectors had high weights (34-45%) in all 4 years, whereas the energy recovery sector had small weights (\5%) and the energy exploitation had low to intermediate weights (which decreased from 23% in 1995 to 11% in 2007). Network utility analysis revealed that the ecological relationships between the energy transformation and exploitation sectors, the energy consumption and transformation sectors, and the energy consumption and exploitation sectors did not change, but that the ecological relationships between the energy recovery sector and other sectors changed greatly. Our analysis of Beijing's urban energy metabolic system provided guidance for optimizing the system's structure and adjusting the relationships among the sectors.

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“…The resources from its surroundings require processing to meet consumption conditions [31]. Part of the inputs processed in goods or services are then disposed like waste to the environment [32]. Additionally, large amounts of wastewater, solid waste, construction waste or other wastes are disposed outside urban areas while others remain inside [9].…”

Section: Urban Metabolismmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Renewable Energy in the Promotion of Circular Urban Metabolism

2017

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Cities are human creations requiring large amounts of materials and energy. Constant consumption of resources exerts pressure on the environment not only due to its exploitation, but also because once processed, the resources produce waste, emissions or effluents. Cities are responsible for more than three quarters of the emissions of greenhouse gases. It is anticipated that the urban population will increase by up to 80% by the mid-21st century, which will make the current energy model unsustainable, as it is based on the intensive use of fossil resources. A change in urban planning is required to meet the energy requirements of cities. Several studies mention that renewable energy must be used in cities, but they do not identify the resources and technologies that can be used to promote circular urban metabolism. A review of the literature establishes that there are eleven renewable technologies with different degrees of maturity that could reduce the import of energy resources, which would contribute to changing the metabolic linear model into a circular model. However, the applicability of the different possibilities is conditional upon the availability of resources, costs, policies and community acceptance.

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Ecological network analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities

Cited by 123 publications

References 34 publications

International progress and evaluation on interactive coupling effects between urbanization and the eco-environment

International progress and evaluation on interactive coupling effects between urbanization and the eco-environment

Ecological network analysis of an urban energy metabolic system

The Role of Renewable Energy in the Promotion of Circular Urban Metabolism

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