Digitalisation driven urban metabolism circularity: A review and analysis of circular city initiatives

Abstract

Digitalisation of urban metabolism circularity provides policymakers, urban managers, planners and administrators with a useful tool for identifying, controlling and evaluating a wide range of data concerning the flows of social, environmental and economic resources. This approach is based on the crucial role of fixed and mobile digital infrastructures such as real-time monitoring stations, GPS tracking sensors, augmented reality, virtual sharing platforms, social media dashboards, smart grids, and the like in the development and strengthening of the quality and efficiency of the circularity of resources. For these reasons, the integration of digital technologies in mobility, waste, water and wastewater management, energy efficiency, safety, and so on, represents a crucial aspect for cities involved in the circularity of their urban metabolism. Through a systematic literature review and case study approaches, the analysis disclose a wide-range of initiatives adopted by several European circular cities that optimise the circularity of urban metabolic flows, and contributes to the efforts in increasing understanding and awareness of the digitalisation driven by the urban metabolism circularity.