Smart District and Circular Economy: The Role of ICT Solutions in Promoting Circular Cities

Massimiliano Viglioglia, Matteo Giovanardi, Riccardo Pollo and Pier Paolo Peruccio
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Massimiliano Viglioglia: Polytechnic of Turin, Department of Architecture and Design, 10125 Turin, Italy
Matteo Giovanardi: Polytechnic of Turin, Department of Architecture and Design, 10125 Turin, Italy
Riccardo Pollo: Polytechnic of Turin, Department of Architecture and Design, 10125 Turin, Italy
Pier Paolo Peruccio: Polytechnic of Turin, Department of Architecture and Design, 10125 Turin, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: Cities will have a decisive role in reducing the consumption of resources and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Various experiences of urban regeneration have exploited Information and Communication Technology (ICT) potentialities to optimize the management of complex systems and to encourage sustainable development models. This paper investigates the role of ICT technologies in favouring emerging design for Circular Economy (CE) in the urban context. The paper starts by defining the theoretical background and subsequently presents the goal and methodology of investigation. Through a scoping review, the authors identify case studies and analyse them within the Ellen MacArthur Foundation classification framework that splits the urban context into three urban systems: buildings, mobility and products. The research focuses on nine case studies where the ICT solutions were able to promote the principles of CE. The results show, on the one hand, how data management appears to be a central issue in the optimization of urban processes and, on the other hand, how the district scale is the most appropriate to test innovative solutions. This paper identifies physical and virtual infrastructures, stakeholders and tools for user engagement as key elements for the pursuit of CE adoption in the urban context.

Keywords: smart district; Circular Economy; urban systems; ICT; systemic design; urban metabolism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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