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Information Content, Complexity, and Uncertainty in Material Flow Analysis

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  • Oliver Schwab
  • Helmut Rechberger

Abstract

Material Flow Analysis (MFA) is a useful method for modeling, understanding, and optimizing sociometabolic systems. Among others, MFAs can be distinguished by two general system properties: First, they differ in their complexity, which depends on system structure and size. Second, they differ in their inherent uncertainty, which arises from limited data quality. In this article, uncertainty and complexity in MFA are approached from a systems perspective and expressed as formally linked phenomena. MFAs are, in a graph†theoretical sense, understood as networks. The uncertainty and complexity of these networks are computed by use of information measures from the field of theoretical ecology. The size of a system is formalized as a function of its number of flows. It defines the potential information content of an MFA system and holds as a reference against which complexity and uncertainty are gauged. Integrating data quality measures, the uncertainty of an MFA before and after balancing is determined. The actual information content of an MFA is measured by relating its uncertainty to its potential information content. The complexity of a system is expressed based on the configuration of each individual flow in relation to its neighboring flows. The proposed metrics enable different material flow systems to be compared to one another and the role of individual flows within a system to be assessed. They provide information useful for the design of MFAs and for the communication of MFA results. For exemplification, the regional MFAs of aluminum and plastics in Austria are analyzed in this article.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver Schwab & Helmut Rechberger, 2018. "Information Content, Complexity, and Uncertainty in Material Flow Analysis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(2), pages 263-274, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:22:y:2018:i:2:p:263-274
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12572
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    Cited by:

    1. Ciprian Cimpan & Eivind Lekve Bjelle & Anders Hammer Strømman, 2021. "Plastic packaging flows in Europe: A hybrid input‐output approach," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(6), pages 1572-1587, December.
    2. Jiayuan Dong & Jiankan Liao & Xun Huan & Daniel Cooper, 2023. "Expert elicitation and data noise learning for material flow analysis using Bayesian inference," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(4), pages 1105-1122, August.
    3. Junming Zhu, 2020. "Suggested use? On evidence‐based decision‐making in industrial ecology and beyond," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(5), pages 943-950, October.
    4. Frank Stadler & Luke Houghton, 2020. "Breathing life into climate change adaptation," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(2), pages 400-409, April.
    5. Luis Gabriel Carmona & Kai Whiting & Helmut Haberl & Tânia Sousa, 2021. "The use of steel in the United Kingdom's transport sector: A stock–flow–service nexus case study," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(1), pages 125-143, February.

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