Diversity and Connectance in an Industrial Context

Abstract

The ecological metaphor of industrial ecology is a proven conceptual tool, having spawned an entire field of interdisciplinary research that explores the intimate linkages between industry and its underlying natural systems. Besides its name and a number of borrowed concepts, however, industrial ecology has no formal relationship with the ecological sciences. This study explores the potential for further interdisciplinary collaboration by testing whether some of the same quantitative analysis techniques used in community ecology research can have meaning in an industrial context. Specifically, we applied the ecological concepts of connectance and diversity to an analysis of Burnside Industrial Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Our results demonstrate that these ecological tools show promise for use in industrial ecology. We discuss the meaning of connectance and diversity concepts in an industrial context and suggest next steps for future studies. We hope that this research will help to lay the groundwork of an ecologically inspired tool kit for analyzing industrial ecosystems.

Connectedness and its dynamics in the Swedish biofuels for transport industry

“…Information about physical flows (metabolism) and conditions are essential, but a realisation of resource efficient solutions (implementation of IS) is also very much dependent on economic, institutional and social aspects (Schiller et al, 2014, Domenech andDavies, 2009). The "connectedness concept" has been brought in from the field of biological ecology (Hardy and Graedel, 2002) where ecologists have used both connectedness (or connectance, connectiveness) and diversity to examine the stability, productivity, and functioning of natural communities (Wright et al, 2009). Connectance in biological ecology food webs is a quantitative measure (Hardy and Graedel, 2002) generally defined as the ratio of the number of actual interactions to the number of potential interactions in a community (Wright et al, 2009).…”

“…The "connectedness concept" has been brought in from the field of biological ecology (Hardy and Graedel, 2002) where ecologists have used both connectedness (or connectance, connectiveness) and diversity to examine the stability, productivity, and functioning of natural communities (Wright et al, 2009). Connectance in biological ecology food webs is a quantitative measure (Hardy and Graedel, 2002) generally defined as the ratio of the number of actual interactions to the number of potential interactions in a community (Wright et al, 2009). A company with several products and many customers can be seen as more resilient than a competitor relying on one major product, mainly sold to a few customers.…”

Conditions for resource-efficient production of biofuels for transport in Sweden

“…The concept of connectedness is borrowed from theoretical ecology (Hardy and Graedel, 2002) where it is a strictly quantitative measurement used together with diversity to study the stability, productivity and functioning of natural communities, generally defined as the ratio between the numbers of actual interactions to the number of possible interactions in a community (Wright et al, 2009). Transferred to an industrial case this implies for instance that a company with several types of feedstock, products or costumer groups has a greater connectedness and will be more resilient to changed conditions than a company mainly relying on one feedstock, one main product which is sold to one type of customer.…”

The role of geospatial industrial diversity in the facilitation of regional industrial symbiosis

“…Keeping in mind that industrial ecology is still a nascent discipline, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this form of analysis and each article, in its own way, provides a stepping stone toward the greater depth of understanding required to elevate industrial ecology to a position where it can deliver tangible eco-industrial development. However, as stated by Wright et al (2009), ecology is largely a quantitative science. Indeed, orthodox ecology is a science based upon observation, analysis, and interpretation into sound context-specific scientific principle.…”

“…As such, it is readily apparent why diversity should be a concept of interest within industrial ecology research. Indeed, the subject of diversity within industrial ecosystems has already been afforded dedicated examination by several authors (e.g., Korhonen, 2005;Wells and Darby, 2006;Wright et al, 2009); whilst the concept is given more than a passing consideration within many further industrial ecology focussed articles (e.g., Korhonen, 2001;Nielsen, 2007;Mayer, 2008;Ashton, 2009;Jensen et al, 2011a). Many of these articles are largely conceptual in nature and approach the subject of diversity and its potential for promoting the development of sustainable and resourceful industrial systems from a theoretical and assumptive position.…”