Seeking a unified urban systems theory

Abstract

Cities are a key driver of environmental and climatic change, and at the same time significantly impacted by that change. Vulnerability varies spatially and over time, and the complex relationships among climate, ecosystem health, and socioeconomic development call for an integrated theoretical framework within which to study the world's cities. Advances in the fields of industrial ecology, urban metabolism and urban ecology shed light on these relationships. However, much of the current research is found in the form of case studies. Though detailed and relevant, the lack of a cohesive theory precludes standardization of and comparison between methodical experiments pertaining to the relationship between urban systems and global climate change. Aiming to identify and connect underlying issues, and to drive research forward, this study is a synthesis of key emergent theories and continuities in the body of research surrounding urban systems and global change. Thinking of cities as complex open systems integrated within a larger environmental and social context brings us closer to understanding how cities impact/are impacted by climate change and variability. The physical realism and interdisciplinary nature of a unified urban systems theory will facilitate more grounded and effective policy to shape and govern our cities.

Excess heat supply collaborations within the district heating sector: Drivers and barriers

“…Compared to previous studies, this study also differs in the way it addresses IS combined with a business perspective. This combination is in line with Coelho and Ruth (2006) as well as Woodard (2001) who mean that one weakness with IS is that it mainly considers factors related to the inputs and outputs of collaboration and not the collaboration process per se. It is important to also consider the business model of the collaboration where the actors are involved (Coelho andRuth, 2006 andWoodard, 2001).…”

“…These complementary approaches focus on factors necessary for the development of business agreements. However, as mentioned above IS does not deal directly with the business perspective and thus is isolated from business studies and industrial investments (Coelho andRuth, 2006 andWoodard, 2001). The link between IS theory and the business model perspective within the framework of this study builds on previous IS research that shows the importance of well-designed business agreements between the actors involved in collaboration.…”

Utilisation of Excess Heat Towards a Circular Economy: Implications of interorganisational collaborations and strategic planning

“…As earlier mentioned, knowledge on how to develop sustainable business models for interorganisational collaborations in line with industrial symbiosis networks is a previously highlighted knowledge gap within the industrial symbiosis literature (Walls and Paquin, 2015;Coelho and Ruth, 2006;Woodard, 2001). Increased knowledge could entail greater opportunities to facilitate further development of excess heat utilisation collaborations -both regarding excess heat-based systems of district heating and the utilisation of low-grade excess heat.…”

“…This is because industrial symbiosis concerns collaborations on resources between normally unrelated actors, similar to the studied collaborations on excess heat. Yet, one highlighted weakness with the industrial symbiosis concept is that it mainly considers factors related to the inputs and outputs of collaboration, and not the business agreements behind the collaborations where the actors are involved (Walls and Paquin, 2015;Tsvetkova and Gustafsson, 2012;Coelho and Ruth, 2006;Woodard, 2001). As mentioned in the introduction, interorganisational collaborations between normally unrelated actors require business models taking the collaborative aspects into consideration.…”

“…Similar to the examples described above, this thesis uses the canvas model in a general way, and in combination with industrial symbiosis, to get a generic understanding of how a business model perspective could contribute to a deeper understanding of the drivers and barriers behind the studied collaborations on excess heat supply. The nine building blocks which constitute the canvas model are used to complement the industrial symbiosis perspective -which mainly consider factors related to the inputs and outputs of collaboration (Coelho and Ruth, 2006) -by focusing on the basic steps behind the collaborating companies' and organisations' business strategies and agreements.…”