The ResourcePlan—An Instrument for Resource-Efficient Development of Urban Neighborhoods

Abstract

In Germany, the current sectoral urban planning often leads to inefficient use of resources, partly because municipalities lack integrated planning instruments and argumentation strength toward politics, investors, or citizens. The paper develops the ResourcePlan as (i) legal and (ii) a planning instrument to support the efficient use of resources in urban neighborhoods. The integrative, multi-methodological approach addresses the use of natural resources in the building and infrastructural sectors of (i) water (storm- and wastewater) management, (ii) construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, (iii) urban energy system planning, and (iv) land-use planning. First, the development as legal instrument is carried out, providing (i) premises for integrating resource protection at all legal levels and (ii) options for implementing the ResourcePlan within German municipal structures. Second, the evaluation framework for resource efficiency of the urban neighborhoods is set up for usage as a planning instrument. The framework provides a two-stage process that runs through the phases of setting up and implementing the ResourcePlan. (Eco)system services are evaluated as well as life cycle assessment and economic aspects. As a legal instrument, the ResourcePlan integrates resource protection into municipal planning and decision-making processes. The multi-methodological evaluation framework helps to assess inter-disciplinary resource efficiency, supports the spatial identification of synergies and conflicting goals, and contributes to transparent, resource-optimized planning decisions.

Adapting the ESSENZ Method to Assess the Criticality of Construction Materials: Case Study of Herne, Germany

“…It would be worthwhile to compare its availability with other building materials. Furthermore, the applied method could be integrated into an overall planning and development plan for neighbourhoods such as the Resource Plan [50]. Additional insights could be generated by comparing different areas, either within Germany with a different material structure or a similar area in another country with different criticality factors.…”

Energy and Business Synergy: Leveraging Biogenic Resources from Agriculture, Waste, and Wastewater in German Rural Areas

“…Therefore, this study integrates the conventional approach of life cycle assessments (Goal and Scope-Life Cycle Inventory (Cradle to Grave)-Impact Assessment-Interpretation), which is commonly utilized for evaluating waste disposal pathways (see [46,47]) and resource planning [48]. The intention is to bridge the gap by applying this established methodology to the assessment of biomass in the context of renewable energy supply for municipalities.…”

Editorial: Special Issue “Resource Management in Urban Districts—A Contribution to Sustainable Urban Development”

“…The next five papers (Naber et al 2022 [7], Hörnschemeyer et al 2022 [8], Beier et al 2022 [9], Boehnke et al 2022 [10], and Kugler et al 2022 [11]) show different assessment methods and tools that can be used for resource assessment purposes on a district level (green). In most of the papers, case studies of real urban districts show the application of the developed tools and methods.…”

“…Hörnschemeyer et al (2022) [8] developed the integrated planning tool (framework) "ResourcePlan", that covers water (storm-and wastewater) management, construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, urban energy system planning, and land-use planning. It helps to assess inter-disciplinary resource efficiency, supports the spatial identification of synergies and conflicting goals, and contributes to transparent, resource-optimized planning decisions.…”