How to analyse urban resource cycles : a dynamic systems approach to facilitate decision-making

Individual technologies allowing and enabling sustainable resource management in urban areas are available on the market. Modelling and analysis tools to aid in tailoring these technologies for a specific context are abundant as well. However, compartmentalization of scientific knowledge does not allow researchers and practitioners to take full advantage of the available information and work towards the common goal of sustainability. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology, which can support researchers, engineers and planners who intend to use a modelling approach to tailor the technological solutions for a specific urban system. The methodology encompasses a systematic inventory of tools and techniques that can be used at different stages of model-based decision-making, such as objective formulation, model development, sensitivity analysis and optimisation. Whereas the methodology is intended to be generic, its applicability is illustrated with an example related to a residential water-energy cycle.