Advancing urban metabolism studies through GIS data: resource flows, open space networks, and vulnerable communities in Mexico City.
Short Project description
Urban metabolism studies provide valuable insights that can improve resource efficiency at the city scale. However, only a limited number of such studies include spatially explicit data to inform planning practitioners. In this research, we argue that integrating spatially explicit urban metabolism data in urban planning can leverage resource-efficient development and management of open space networks. Based on this premise, our research presents a methodological strategy to investigate how the use of GIS data can improve the applicability of metabolic studies in urban planning and the management of open space networks in particular. A GIS-based urban metabolism assessment of Mexico City was performed at the city scale, including data on vulnerable communities, communal lands, and indigenous areas. After mapping selected GIS layers, a detailed resource-efficiency analysis was performed through the compilation of a Borough Pattern Scan, based on quantification of resource use, total areas of resource infrastructure and public open spaces. The results of our multi-scale spatially explicit analysis provide an improved understanding of borough metabolic profiles which can leverage a more resource-efficient development of open space networks in Mexico City.
Keywords, main expertise
Urban metabolism, landscape infrastructure, urban ecology.
Funding bodies
LAB UCLouvain
UCLouvain promotor
Daniela Perrotti
Urban Metabolism Lab
UCLouvain researcher
Daniel Otero Peña
External partners
Dr. Eugene Mohareb (University of Reading)