Circular and metabolic perspectives in urban contexts. Integrated flows analysis for an ecological transition

Katia Federico; Gianmarco Di Giustino; Elena Ferraioli; Giulia Lucertini

doi:10.6093/1970-9870/10196

Katia Federico Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9549-1479
Gianmarco Di Giustino Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2728-726X
Elena Ferraioli Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4106-6447
Giulia Lucertini Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5824-6666

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6093/1970-9870/10196

Keywords: Urban flows, Integrated flows analysis, Urban resilience, Ecological transition, Circular resources management

Abstract

Recent European directives, including the “European Circular Economy Package” (2020), the “Farm to Fork” Strategy (2020), and the “Fit for 55” package (2022), focus attention on the issues of circular economy, security and sustainability of food production and reduction of emissions from anthropogenic activities. From this perspective, the study of urban metabolism is a useful approach to make local systems more resilient. In this regard, the intention is to emphasise the embedded commitment of territorial and urban planning to consider the current systemic components related to the flows that cross urban, peri-urban and rural territories, fostering the development of sustainable and circular supply chains capable of supporting an ecological, energetic and climatic transition. Therefore, this paper explores a methodology for the spatial analysis of urban contexts that take into account the main flows (water, energy, agri-food, and waste) that circulate and influence the transformation of the territory. In particular, thanks to the experience of the drafting process of the Territorial Plan of the Metropolitan Area (PTAV) of the Province of Rimini, it was possible to identify some methodological aspects useful for a trend shift towards effective actions aimed at the sustainable and circular management of local resources.

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Author Biographies

Katia Federico, Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice

Katia Federico, Urban and spatial Planner. Research fellow at the Iuav University of Venice. From June 2021 she starts her research and urban planning support activities within the Planning and Climate Change LAB of the Iuav University of Venice, on issues related to climate change and circular economy. In particular, he carries out in-depth studies on the mapping of the vulnerability of rural territories to the impacts of climate change related to the Emilia-Romagna Region; technical support in the drafting of the Metropolitan Plan of the Province of Rimini, through the processing and metadata of spatial data, development of graphic designs and particular support in the drafting of contents and elaborations inherent to urban metabolism and circular economy, studying and planning the territory through the approach of the circularity of metabolic flows. She is currently carrying out research activities with a research grant developed in collaboration between Iuav and ENEA, entitled: "Circular economy and resource governance in the urban-periurban relationship," which aims to study how the circular economy approach can be translated and applied to the territory, to the flows of resources necessary for urban and peri-urban management.

Gianmarco Di Giustino, Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice

Gianmarco Di Giustino, Urban planner and PhD student in urban and territorial planning at the Iuav University of Venice and part of the Iuav Planning Climate Change LAB. Since 2019 he has been collaborating on different national and international research projects on spatial planning with a particular focus on the topics of circular economy, NbS and sustainable development with attention on socioeconomic impacts. In his current research activity, he is involved in projects and working groups, for which he deals with spatial planning and public policy programming about resilience challenges and environmental vulnerability. His PhD research project aims at deepening the knowledge relating to how planning and public policies can facilitate the process of ecological transition, and more generally the conservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity; the reduction of the impacts on the economic chains of climate change and the promotion of sustainable development.

Elena Ferraioli, Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice

Elena Ferraioli, Architect and PhD student in urban and territorial planning at Iuav University of Venice. Since January 2020 she has been collaborating in several Italian and European research projects on spatial planning with a particular focus on the topics of circular economy, urban metabolism and ecological transition. In her current research activity, she is involved in projects and working groups, for which she deals with urban and spatial design and planning in relation to issues of territorial resilience, regeneration and environmental fragility in relation to climate change. Her PhD research project aims at the regeneration of peri-urban and post-industrial areas through the implementation of Nature-based Solutions and the application of circular economy principles.

Giulia Lucertini, Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice

Giulia Lucertini, assistant professor in rural and agricultural appraisal, PhD in valuation and local economics (University of Padua) and in “aide à la decision” (Université Paris Dauphine). From 2021 she became an assistant professor at the Iuav University of Venice, at the Department of Architecture and Arts. In this period she deals mainly with evaluation and analysis of projects and public policies aimed at climate change adaptation, and resilient spatial planning between urban and rural environments. In recent years, she has also worked on the circular economy and urban metabolism linked to land use and rural activities for a more sustainable and regenerative exploitation and consumption of natural resources, with particular attention to local food policies and more generally local agriculture.

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