Dynamic Assessment of Nature Based
Solutions Through Urban Level LCA
Duygu Başoğlu, Emre Yöntem, Seda Yöntem, Beril Şenyurt
and Özge Yılmaz
Abstract Planning Nature Based Solutions (NBS) to address urban challenges
requires an approach that embeds the multiple dimensions of NBS to effectively
portray their use and impact. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a comprehensive assessment methodology in this regard. This paper discusses the environmental assessment of NBS via LCA using urban metabolism as an overarching
approach to model the urban ecosystem. Performing a dynamic assessment with
time series data is suggested as a way of identifying hotspots of the indicators
studied within a determined time frame, allowing the assessor to observe and
mitigate extremities and make informed decisions on desired temporal patterns.
Dynamic assessment is supported by two simulation methodologies: Building
Information Modelling for the built environment and Agent Based Modelling for
social behavioural patterns.
1 Introduction
Cities consume 75% of the world’s resources, generate around 75% of greenhouse
gas emissions globally, and are responsible for 60–80% of energy consumption
around the world [5]. Poverty and urban decay are rising problems. Yet urbanization is also inevitable as a necessity to accommodate the growing world population in limited land, and as hubs that provide economic, social and environmental
potential. Over half of the world’s population lives in cities, with more than 20% in
cities with a population over 1,000,000, while cities occupy less than 2% of the
surface area of the earth. Urban areas generate around 80% of the global economic
output [1–5]. This is made possible by the critical density provided by cities as
arenas of agglomeration economies and sharing [6].
D. Başoğlu (&) Á E. Yöntem Á S. Yöntem Á B. Şenyurt Á Ö. Yılmaz
Ekodenge Consultancy Engineering Architecture Inc., 06800 Ankara, Turkey
e-mail: duygu.basoglu@ekodenge.com
© The Author(s) 2018
E. Benetto et al. (eds.), Designing Sustainable Technologies,
Products and Policies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66981-6_32
293
Solutions Through Urban Level LCA
Duygu Başoğlu, Emre Yöntem, Seda Yöntem, Beril Şenyurt
and Özge Yılmaz
Abstract Planning Nature Based Solutions (NBS) to address urban challenges
requires an approach that embeds the multiple dimensions of NBS to effectively
portray their use and impact. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a comprehensive assessment methodology in this regard. This paper discusses the environmental assessment of NBS via LCA using urban metabolism as an overarching
approach to model the urban ecosystem. Performing a dynamic assessment with
time series data is suggested as a way of identifying hotspots of the indicators
studied within a determined time frame, allowing the assessor to observe and
mitigate extremities and make informed decisions on desired temporal patterns.
Dynamic assessment is supported by two simulation methodologies: Building
Information Modelling for the built environment and Agent Based Modelling for
social behavioural patterns.
1 Introduction
Cities consume 75% of the world’s resources, generate around 75% of greenhouse
gas emissions globally, and are responsible for 60–80% of energy consumption
around the world [5]. Poverty and urban decay are rising problems. Yet urbanization is also inevitable as a necessity to accommodate the growing world population in limited land, and as hubs that provide economic, social and environmental
potential. Over half of the world’s population lives in cities, with more than 20% in
cities with a population over 1,000,000, while cities occupy less than 2% of the
surface area of the earth. Urban areas generate around 80% of the global economic
output [1–5]. This is made possible by the critical density provided by cities as
arenas of agglomeration economies and sharing [6].
D. Başoğlu (&) Á E. Yöntem Á S. Yöntem Á B. Şenyurt Á Ö. Yılmaz
Ekodenge Consultancy Engineering Architecture Inc., 06800 Ankara, Turkey
e-mail: duygu.basoglu@ekodenge.com
© The Author(s) 2018
E. Benetto et al. (eds.), Designing Sustainable Technologies,
Products and Policies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66981-6_32
293