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Project title

A Resource Flow Analysis and Ecological Footprint of Ireland ? GIS Application

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Queen's University Belfast (QUB)

Lead Applicant

Manoj Kumar Roy

Project Abstract

The study is concerned with spatial allocation of material flows with emphasis on construction material in Irish housing sector. It addresses some of the key issues concerning anthropogenic impact on the environment through spatial temporal visualisation of the flow of materials wastes and emissions at different spatial levels. This is presented in the form of a spatial model the Spatial Allocation of Material Flow Analysis (SAMFA) which enables the simulation of construction material flows and associated energy use. SAMFA parallels the Island Limits project (EPA funded under 2004-SD-MS-22-M2) which aimed to create a Material Flow Analysis of the Irish economy classified by industrial sector. SAMFA further develops this by attempting to establish the material flows at the sub-national geographical scale which could be used in the development of local authority sustainability strategies and spatial planning frameworks by highlighting the cumulative environmental impacts of the development of the built environment. By drawing on the idea of Planning Support Systems (PSS) SAMFA also aims to providing a cross-disciplinary integrative medium for involving stakeholders in strategies for a sustainable built environment and as such would help illustrate the sustainability consequences of alternative policy scenarios.SAMFA has been developed through a three-phase methodology that included; the development of a conceptual framework drawing on the three key concepts of the mass-balance principle; consumer-based approach; and service unit concept (Phase 1); Validation of the model design through engagement with potential users and peer review (Phase 2); and production of first version of SAMFA followed by a pilot application based on construction material in the housing sector in Kildare County of the Republic of Ireland (Phase 3) The actual SAMFA model developed in Phase 3 has been developed from six key modules. Module 1 Material intensity and building lifetime simulation) which provides other modules with data on construction material intensity and probability of demolition at a given point in time drawing on assumptions established through other research such as Tanikawa et al. (2005) and Schiller (2007). Module 2 (ED-Level allocation of new housing units) provides the third module with an ED-wide fraction of the LA-level housing supply by type drawing on socio-economic demographic and policy variables established by Bramley (1993). Module 3 (Material-balance at different spatial scales) draws on M2 and M3 to compute the total material input (e.g. based on material intensity of housing at any one time) and outflow (based on ED level demolition rates). Modules 4 and 5 (Embodied Energy and Operational Energy at different spatial scales) areis then calculated from M3 mediated by average domestic energy use. Finally Module 6 (Total energy consumption of housing sector) draws on the previous modules to calculate the total energy use at the ED-level and higher spatial scales. The pilot run of the model in Kildare has shown that the model can be successfully calibrated and applied to develop alternative material flows and energy use scenarios at the ED-level. This has been demonstrated through the development of an integrated and a business-as-usual scenario with the former integrating a range of potential material efficiency and energy saving policy options and the latter replicating conditions that best describe the current trend. Their comparison shows that the former is better than the latter in terms of both material and energy use.The final report also identifies a number of potential areas of future research and areas of broader application. This includes the development of further accuracy to the SAMFA model (e.g. establishing actual life expectancy of buildings in the Irish context through field surveys) and the extension of the model to other Irish Counties. This would establish SAMFA as a valuable predicting and monitoring tool that is capable of integrating national and local spatial planning objectives with actual environmental impacts. Furthermore should the model prove successful at this level it then has the potential to transfer the modelling approach to other areas of the built environment such as commercial development and other key contributors of greenhouse emissions. The ultimate aim is to develop a meta-model for predicting consequences of consumption patterns at the local scale. This therefore offers the possibility of creating critical links between socio-technical systems with the most important challenge of all i- the limitations of the bio-physical environment.

Grant Approved

�129,155.56

Research Hub

Green and Circular Economy

Research Theme

Waste and Resources Management

Start Date

03/01/2006

Initial Projected Completion Date

03/03/2008