The GDSE allows the creation of integrated, place-based eco-innovative spatial development strategies aiming at a quantitative reduction of waste flows in the strategic interface of peri-urban areas. These strategies promote the use of waste as a resource, which supported the ongoing initiatives of the European Commission towards establishing a strong circular economy. The identification of such eco-innovative strategies are based on the integration of life cycle thinking and geodesign to operationalise urban metabolism.
 

The approach differs from previous urban metabolism as it introduces a reversed material flow accounting to collect data accurate and detailed enough for the design of a variety of solutions to place-based challenges. The developed impact and decision models allow quantification and validation of alternative solution paths and therefore promote sustainable urban development built on near-field synergies between the built and natural environments. This is achieved by quantifying and tracking essential resource flows, mapping and quantification of negative and positive effects of present and future resource flows, and the determination of a set of indicators to inform decision makers concerning the optimisation of (re-)use of resources.
 

The GDSE is open source. With a budget of € 5 million, REPAiR funded a consortium rich in experience in waste and resource management, spatial decision support, territorial governance, spatial planning and urban design, and has deep knowledge of the six case study areas: Amsterdam (NL), Ghent (BE), Hamburg (DE), Łódź (PL), Naples (IT) and Pécs (HU).
 

REPAiR was supported by a user board, consisting of key stakeholders for the development of circular economy as well as local authorities, who were heavily involved in the GDSE testing.

REPAiR developed the first geodesign software that includes flows other than traffic and water. To do so, it had to develop modules for data entry and visualisation that include waste and resource flows. To further extend the concept of urban metabolism and make it applicable to support the development of place-based eco-innovative solutions, REPAiR developed an activity-based material flow analysis, which follows the ‘network model of urban metabolism’ and includes activities and value change.
 

REPAiR explored, through interviews, questionnaires and the co-exploration phase, the roles of governance settings and territorial and socio-cultural characteristics of different peri-urban areas. Next, these were taken as factors that constrain or support the capacity to devise place-tailored solutions to promote the use of waste as a resource.
 

The REPAiR software tool can be useful for cities and regions to monitor waste flows in peri-urban areas and support the design of their Circular Systemic Solutions. It can be used by regional and local governments, national EU policy makers interested in enhancing waste management within their territories yet struggling with the complexity of this public task. Private partners are also expected to take advantage of the GDSE.

The project has a number of relevant and useful outputs.
 

REPAiR generated a wide range of scientific results – diffused through academic papers, reports, conference presentations and other means – which can be taken up by the interdisciplinary research and education community working on urban metabolism and waste management spanning a range of disciplines, from urban and regional studies, spatial planning to geography and environmental sciences. REPAiR also generated new data made available on an open access basis for the purpose of further research drawing on REPAiR’s findings.
 

The GDSE offers businesses in waste-related industries an attractive and adjustable tool for improving their own practices (reducing waste generation, enhancing waste treatment, promoting recycling of materials, re-using of waste to produce energy, etc.) as well as a basis for developing a new decision support software tailor-made to their activities and markets. Thus, the GDSE can be of use to waste management companies, energy companies, waste producers, urban planning and the design industry. 

Programme:
 

• H2020-EU.3.5. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

Topic:
 

• WASTE-6b-2015 - Eco-innovative strategies

Technische Universiteit Delft

Contact the project.

• Universiteit Gent
• Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico Ii
• Hafencity Universitat Hamburg
• Kozgazdasag- es Regionalis Tudomanyi Kutatokozpont
• Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im Stanislawa Leszczyckiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk
• JRC (Joint Research Centre) ‒ European Commission
• Arciniegas Lopez Gustavo
• Delta Projectontwikkeling Bv
• Biokom Pecsi Varosuzemeltetesi es Kornyezetgazdalkodasi Nonprofit Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
• Gertz Gutsche Rümenapp - Stadtentwicklung und Mobilität GbR
• Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij
• Gemeente Haarlemmermeer
• Regione Campania
• Olp Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzilnoscia
• Bauer Resources GmbH
• Intergemeentelijke Vereniging Voorafvalbeheer in Gent en Omstreken
• Stadtreinigung Hamburg AOR