On the use of random graphs in analysing resource utilization in urban systems

Urban resource models increasingly rely on implicit network formulations. Resource consumption behaviours documented in the existing empirical studies are ultimately by-products of the network abstractions underlying these models. Here, we present an analytical formulation and examination of a gener...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Royal Society open science 2020-04, Vol.7 (4), p.200087-200087
Main Authors: Arbabi, Hadi, Punzo, Giuliano, Meyers, Gregory, Tan, Ling Min, Li, Qianqian, Densley Tingley, Danielle, Mayfield, Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
circular economy
Engineering
mathematical modelling
random graphs
resource efficiency
urban resource systems
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Urban resource models increasingly rely on implicit network formulations. Resource consumption behaviours documented in the existing empirical studies are ultimately by-products of the network abstractions underlying these models. Here, we present an analytical formulation and examination of a generic demand-driven network model that accounts for the effectiveness of resource utilization and its implications for policy levers in addressing resource management in cities. We establish simple limiting boundaries to systems' resource effectiveness. These limits are found not to be a function of system size and to be simply determined by the system's average ability to maintain resource quality through its transformation processes. We also show that resource utilization in itself does not enjoy considerable size efficiencies with larger and more diverse systems only offering increased chances of finding matching demand and supply between existing sectors in the system.
ISSN:2054-5703
2054-5703
DOI:10.1098/rsos.200087