IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecomod/v272y2014icp188-197.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Synergism analysis of an urban metabolic system: Model development and a case study for Beijing, China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Yan
  • Liu, Hong
  • Fath, Brian D.

Abstract

The efficiency of urban metabolic processes depends on the degree of mutualism of these processes throughout the metabolic system and on the value gained by each compartment within the system. This can be assessed by means of ecological network-based synergism analysis. In this paper, we used material-flow accounting methods to account for the exchanges of resources and wastes among the compartments of an urban system. Using a seven-compartment urban metabolic network model of Beijing, China, as a case study, we examined the degree of synergism of the compartments, determined the nature of the resulting ecological relationships, and determined the flow of utility to each compartment within the system. The results revealed which types of ecological relationship contributed most to the system (here, exploitation) and identified the key compartments that decreased the system's degree of synergism. The results provide theoretical and empirical support for the development of policies designed to promote healthy development of Beijing's urban metabolic system.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Yan & Liu, Hong & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Synergism analysis of an urban metabolic system: Model development and a case study for Beijing, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 272(C), pages 188-197.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:272:y:2014:i:c:p:188-197
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.10.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380013004651
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.10.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Yu, Xiangyi, 2009. "Evaluation of urban metabolism based on emergy synthesis: A case study for Beijing (China)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(13), pages 1690-1696.
    2. Fath, Brian D., 2007. "Network mutualism: Positive community-level relations in ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 208(1), pages 56-67.
    3. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Yu, Xiangyi, 2009. "Ecological network and emergy analysis of urban metabolic systems: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(11), pages 1431-1442.
    4. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Fath, Brian D. & Li, Shengsheng, 2010. "Ecological network analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(16), pages 1865-1879.
    5. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Liu, Gengyuan & Yu, Xiangyi, 2011. "Emergy analysis of the urban metabolism of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(14), pages 2377-2384.
    6. Christopher Kennedy & John Cuddihy & Joshua Engel‐Yan, 2007. "The Changing Metabolism of Cities," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(2), pages 43-59, April.
    7. Zhang, Yan & Li, Shengsheng & Fath, Brian D. & Yang, Zhifeng & Yang, Naijin, 2011. "Analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Comparison of simple and complex model results," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 223(1), pages 14-19.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sue Ellen Taelman & Davide Tonini & Alexander Wandl & Jo Dewulf, 2018. "A Holistic Sustainability Framework for Waste Management in European Cities: Concept Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-33, June.
    2. Meng, Fanxin & Liu, Gengyuan & Yang, Zhifeng & Casazza, Marco & Cui, Shenghui & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2017. "Energy efficiency of urban transportation system in Xiamen, China. An integrated approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(P2), pages 234-248.
    3. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2015. "Ecological network analysis of an industrial symbiosis system: A case study of the Shandong Lubei eco-industrial park," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 306(C), pages 174-184.
    4. Kunhui Ye & Guo Liu & Yongwei Shan, 2016. "Networked or Un-Networked? A Preliminary Study on KIBS-Based Sustainable Urban Development: The Case of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-13, May.
    5. Yuting Wang & Lei Wang & Zhemin Li, 2020. "Dynamic Analysis of China’s Imported Raw Milk Powder Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Hu, Guangwen & Mu, Xianzhong, 2018. "Dominants in evolution of urban energy metabolism: A case study of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 385(C), pages 26-34.
    7. Xuecheng Wang & Xu Tang & Zhenhua Feng & Yi Zhang, 2019. "Characterizing the Embodied Carbon Emissions Flows and Ecological Relationships among Four Chinese Megacities and Other Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, May.
    8. Jiekun Song & Lina Jiang & Zeguo He & Zhicheng Liu & Xueli Leng, 2022. "Characteristics Analysis and Identification of Key Sectors of Air Pollutant Emissions in China from the Perspective of Complex Metabolic Network," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-28, July.
    9. Mingqi Zhang & Meirong Su & Weiwei Lu & Chunhua Su, 2015. "An Assessment of the Security of China’s Natural Gas Supply System Using Two Network Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-16, December.
    10. Wang, P.P. & Li, Y.P. & Huang, G.H. & Wang, S.G., 2022. "A multivariate statistical input–output model for analyzing water-carbon nexus system from multiple perspectives - Jing-Jin-Ji region," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    11. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Analysis of the energy metabolism of urban socioeconomic sectors and the associated carbon footprints: Model development and a case study for Beijing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 540-551.
    12. Li, Yanxian & Wang, Xinjing & Tian, Xin & Zhang, Yan, 2018. "Understanding the mechanism of urban material metabolism with ecological network analysis: An experimental study of Wuxi, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 367(C), pages 58-67.
    13. Francisco Orlando Rosales & Brian D. Fath & Grace Yolanda Llerena, 2023. "Quantifying a virtual water metabolic network of the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador using ecological network methods," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1304-1318, October.
    14. Yuan, Zhiyuan & Zheng, Xinqi & Lv, Lina & Xue, Chunlu, 2014. "From design to digital model: A quantitative analysis approach to Garden Cities theory," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 289(C), pages 26-35.
    15. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Yang, Zhifeng & Su, Meirong & Liu, Gengyuan & Li, Yanxian, 2015. "Multi-regional input–output model and ecological network analysis for regional embodied energy accounting in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 651-663.
    16. Thomas Elliot & Javier Babí Almenar & Samuel Niza & Vânia Proença & Benedetto Rugani, 2019. "Pathways to Modelling Ecosystem Services within an Urban Metabolism Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-22, May.
    17. Haiyan Shan & Junliang Yang & Guo Wei, 2019. "Industrial Symbiosis Systems: Promoting Carbon Emission Reduction Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-23, March.
    18. Xuecheng Wang & Xu Tang & Baosheng Zhang & Benjamin C. McLellan & Yang Lv, 2018. "Provincial Carbon Emissions Reduction Allocation Plan in China Based on Consumption Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-23, April.
    19. Liu, Ningyin & Zhang, Yan & Fath, Brian D., 2021. "The material metabolism characteristics and growth patterns of the central cities of China's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 448(C).
    20. Zhu, Xueting & Mu, Xianzhong & Hu, Guangwen, 2019. "Ecological network analysis of urban energy metabolic system—A case study of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 404(C), pages 36-45.
    21. Jørgensen, Sven E. & Nielsen, Søren Nors & Fath, Brian D., 2016. "Recent progress in systems ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 319(C), pages 112-118.
    22. Hao, Yan & Zhang, Menghui & Zhang, Yan & Fu, Chenling & Lu, Zhongming, 2018. "Multi-scale analysis of the energy metabolic processes in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) urban agglomeration," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 369(C), pages 66-76.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Borrett, Stuart R. & Sheble, Laura & Moody, James & Anway, Evan C., 2018. "Bibliometric review of ecological network analysis: 2010–2016," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 382(C), pages 63-82.
    2. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Fath, Brian D. & Li, Shengsheng, 2010. "Ecological network analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(16), pages 1865-1879.
    3. Zhang, Yan & Liu, Hong & Chen, Bin, 2013. "Comprehensive evaluation of the structural characteristics of an urban metabolic system: Model development and a case study of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 106-113.
    4. Chiu, Hao-Wei & Lee, Ying-Chieh & Huang, Shu-Li & Hsieh, Ya-Cheng, 2019. "How does peri-urbanization teleconnect remote areas? An emergy approach," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 403(C), pages 57-69.
    5. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2015. "Ecological network analysis of an industrial symbiosis system: A case study of the Shandong Lubei eco-industrial park," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 306(C), pages 174-184.
    6. Antonio Barragán-Escandón & Julio Terrados-Cepeda & Esteban Zalamea-León, 2017. "The Role of Renewable Energy in the Promotion of Circular Urban Metabolism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-29, December.
    7. Zhu, Xueting & Mu, Xianzhong & Hu, Guangwen, 2019. "Ecological network analysis of urban energy metabolic system—A case study of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 404(C), pages 36-45.
    8. Liao, Wenjie & Heijungs, Reinout & Huppes, Gjalt, 2012. "Thermodynamic analysis of human–environment systems: A review focused on industrial ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 76-88.
    9. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Analysis of the energy metabolism of urban socioeconomic sectors and the associated carbon footprints: Model development and a case study for Beijing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 540-551.
    10. Schaubroeck, Thomas & Staelens, Jeroen & Verheyen, Kris & Muys, Bart & Dewulf, Jo, 2012. "Improved ecological network analysis for environmental sustainability assessment; a case study on a forest ecosystem," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 144-156.
    11. Zhang, Yan & Lu, Hanjing & Fath, Brian D. & Zheng, Hongmei, 2016. "Modelling urban nitrogen metabolic processes based on ecological network analysis: A case of study in Beijing, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 337(C), pages 29-38.
    12. Zhanqi Wang & Ji Chai & Bingqing Li, 2016. "The Impacts of Land Use Change on Residents’ Living Based on Urban Metabolism: A Case Study in Yangzhou City of Jiangsu Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-17, October.
    13. Thomas Elliot & Javier Babí Almenar & Samuel Niza & Vânia Proença & Benedetto Rugani, 2019. "Pathways to Modelling Ecosystem Services within an Urban Metabolism Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-22, May.
    14. Adél Strydom & Josephine Kaviti Musango & Paul K. Currie, 2019. "Conceptualizing Household Energy Metabolism: A Methodological Contribution," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-19, October.
    15. Lu, Weiwei & Su, Meirong & Fath, Brian D. & Zhang, Mingqi & Hao, Yan, 2016. "A systematic method of evaluation of the Chinese natural gas supply security," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 858-867.
    16. Zhang, Yan & Li, Yanxian & Zheng, Hongmei, 2017. "Ecological network analysis of energy metabolism in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) urban agglomeration," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 351(C), pages 51-62.
    17. Mingqi Zhang & Meirong Su & Weiwei Lu & Chunhua Su, 2015. "An Assessment of the Security of China’s Natural Gas Supply System Using Two Network Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-16, December.
    18. Zhang, Yan & Li, Shengsheng & Fath, Brian D. & Yang, Zhifeng & Yang, Naijin, 2011. "Analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Comparison of simple and complex model results," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 223(1), pages 14-19.
    19. Zhai, Mengyu & Huang, Guohe & Liu, Lirong & Zheng, Boyue & Guan, Yuru, 2020. "Inter-regional carbon flows embodied in electricity transmission: network simulation for energy-carbon nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    20. Zackery B. Morris & Marc Weissburg & Bert Bras, 2021. "Ecological network analysis of urban–industrial ecosystems," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(1), pages 193-204, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:272:y:2014:i:c:p:188-197. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-modelling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.