An Approach to Identify Resource Patterns on a Neighborhood Level

Abstract

Resource stock and flow accounting has been increasingly applied on a country and city level. This paper elaborates on the possibilities to conduct a resource flow analysis even on a neighborhood/district level to identify, e.g., resource use related characteristics. Such resource patterns can be used to identify areas in different parts of a country or even larger geographical regions that are characterized by comparable types and amounts of resources entering the system boundaries. This identification might lead to archetypes that will help in deriving and applying policies, resource optimization strategies, etc. The approach presented in this paper stems from experiences made in the field of building stock modelling where archetypes are frequently used to characterize building stocks of a city or even a portfolio within a city. Furthermore, this approach is applied to develop energy and climate strategies for cities, renovation and maintenance strategies for real estate owners including investment planning. This paper reveals the shortcomings as well as the possibilities of resource pattern identification on a neighborhood/district level and closes with an outlook of necessary next steps to improve the quality of such an approach and increase the potential to use this approach as a strategic instrument.