IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v23y2019i1p222-240.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unified Materials Information System (UMIS): An Integrated Material Stocks and Flows Data Structure

Author

Listed:
  • Rupert J. Myers
  • Tomer Fishman
  • Barbara K. Reck
  • T. E. Graedel

Abstract

Modern society depends on the use of many diverse materials. Effectively managing these materials is becoming increasingly important and complex, from the analysis of supply chains, to quantifying their environmental impacts, to understanding future resource availability. Material stocks and flows data enable such analyses, but currently exist mainly as discrete packages, with highly varied type, scope, and structure. These factors constitute a powerful barrier to holistic integration and thus universal analysis of existing and yet to be published material stocks and flows data. We present the Unified Materials Information System (UMIS) to overcome this barrier by enabling material stocks and flows data to be comprehensively integrated across space, time, materials, and data type independent of their disaggregation, without loss of information, and avoiding double counting. UMIS can therefore be applied to structure diverse material stocks and flows data and their metadata across material systems analysis methods such as material flow analysis (MFA), input‐output analysis, and life cycle assessment. UMIS uniquely labels and visualizes processes and flows in UMIS diagrams; therefore, material stocks and flows data visualized in UMIS diagrams can be individually referenced in databases and computational models. Applications of UMIS to restructure existing material stocks and flows data represented by block flow diagrams, system dynamics diagrams, Sankey diagrams, matrices, and derived using the economy‐wide MFA classification system are presented to exemplify use. UMIS advances the capabilities with which complex quantitative material systems analysis, archiving, and computation of material stocks and flows data can be performed.

Suggested Citation

  • Rupert J. Myers & Tomer Fishman & Barbara K. Reck & T. E. Graedel, 2019. "Unified Materials Information System (UMIS): An Integrated Material Stocks and Flows Data Structure," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 222-240, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:23:y:2019:i:1:p:222-240
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12730
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12730
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jiec.12730?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rechberger, H. & Graedel, T. E., 2002. "The contemporary European copper cycle: statistical entropy analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1-2), pages 59-72, August.
    2. Stefan Pauliuk & Guillaume Majeau-Bettez & Daniel B. Müller, 2015. "A General System Structure and Accounting Framework for Socioeconomic Metabolism," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(5), pages 728-741, October.
    3. Geyer, R. & Davis, J. & Ley, J. & He, J. & Clift, R. & Kwan, A. & Sansom, M. & Jackson, T., 2007. "Time-dependent material flow analysis of iron and steel in the UK," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 101-117.
    4. Uihlein, Andreas & Poganietz, Witold-Roger & Schebek, Liselotte, 2006. "Carbon flows and carbon use in the German anthroposphere: An inventory," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 410-429.
    5. Graedel, T. E. & Bertram, M. & Fuse, K. & Gordon, R. B. & Lifset, R. & Rechberger, H. & Spatari, S., 2002. "The contemporary European copper cycle: The characterization of technological copper cycles," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1-2), pages 9-26, August.
    6. Lupton, R.C. & Allwood, J.M., 2017. "Hybrid Sankey diagrams: Visual analysis of multidimensional data for understanding resource use," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 141-151.
    7. Meylan, Grégoire & Reck, Barbara K., 2017. "The anthropogenic cycle of zinc: Status quo and perspectives," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-10.
    8. M. Fischer‐Kowalski & F. Krausmann & S. Giljum & S. Lutter & A. Mayer & S. Bringezu & Y. Moriguchi & H. Schütz & H. Schandl & H. Weisz, 2011. "Methodology and Indicators of Economy‐wide Material Flow Accounting," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(6), pages 855-876, December.
    9. Eckelman, Matthew J. & Daigo, Ichiro, 2008. "Markov chain modeling of the global technological lifetime of copper," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 265-273, September.
    10. Tanimoto, Armando H. & Gabarrell Durany, Xavier & Villalba, Gara & Pires, Armando Caldeira, 2010. "Material flow accounting of the copper cycle in Brazil," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 20-28.
    11. Bertram, M. & Graedel, T. E. & Rechberger, H. & Spatari, S., 2002. "The contemporary European copper cycle: waste management subsystem," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1-2), pages 43-57, August.
    12. Davis, J. & Geyer, R. & Ley, J. & He, J. & Clift, R. & Kwan, A. & Sansom, M. & Jackson, T., 2007. "Time-dependent material flow analysis of iron and steel in the UK," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 118-140.
    13. Spatari, S. & Bertram, M. & Fuse, K. & Graedel, T. E. & Rechberger, H., 2002. "The contemporary European copper cycle: 1 year stocks and flows," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1-2), pages 27-42, August.
    14. T. E. Graedel & Dick van Beers & Marlen Bertram & Kensuke Fuse & Robert B. Gordon & Alexander Gritsinin & Ermelinda M. Harper & Amit Kapur & Robert J. Klee & Reid Lifset & Laiq Memon & Sabrina Spatari, 2005. "The Multilevel Cycle of Anthropogenic Zinc," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 9(3), pages 67-90, July.
    15. Glen Peters & Edgar Hertwich, 2006. "Structural analysis of international trade: Environmental impacts of Norway," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 155-181.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Christoph Helbig & Jonas Huether & Charlotte Joachimsthaler & Christian Lehmann & Simone Raatz & Andrea Thorenz & Martin Faulstich & Axel Tuma, 2022. "A terminology for downcycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1164-1174, August.
    2. Porcelli, Roberto & Gibon, Thomas & Marazza, Diego & Righi, Serena & Rugani, Benedetto, 2023. "Prospective environmental impact assessment and simulation applied to an emerging biowaste-based energy technology in Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    3. John D. Morley & Rupert J. Myers & Yves Plancherel & Pablo R. Brito-Parada, 2022. "A Database for the Stocks and Flows of Sand and Gravel," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, August.
    4. John D. Morley & Rupert J. Myers & Yves Plancherel & Pablo R. Brito-Parada, 2022. "A Database for the Extraction, Trade, and Use of Sand and Gravel," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Wu & Wang, Minxi & Li, Xin, 2016. "Analysis of copper flows in the United States: 1975–2012," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 67-76.
    2. Klinglmair, Manfred & Fellner, Johann, 2011. "Historical iron and steel recovery in times of raw material shortage: The case of Austria during World War I," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 179-187.
    3. Shaoli Liu & Xin Li & Minxi Wang, 2016. "Analysis of Aluminum Resource Supply Structure and Guarantee Degree in China Based on Sustainable Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Taulo, J.L. & Sebitosi, A.B., 2016. "Material and energy flow analysis of the Malawian tea industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 1337-1350.
    5. Lanzano, T. & Bertram, M. & De Palo, M. & Wagner, C. & Zyla, K. & Graedel, T.E., 2006. "The contemporary European silver cycle," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 27-43.
    6. Harper, E.M. & Bertram, M. & Graedel, T.E., 2006. "The contemporary Latin America and the Caribbean zinc cycle: One year stocks and flows," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 82-100.
    7. Chen, Weiqiang & Shi, Lei & Qian, Yi, 2010. "Substance flow analysis of aluminium in mainland China for 2001, 2004 and 2007: Exploring its initial sources, eventual sinks and the pathways linking them," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(9), pages 557-570.
    8. Guo, Tianjiao & Geng, Yong & Song, Xiaoqian & Rui, Xue & Ge, Zewen, 2023. "Tracing magnesium flows in China: A dynamic material flow analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Kapur, Amit, 2006. "The future of the red metal—A developing country perspective from India," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 160-182.
    10. Fu, Xinkai & Ueland, Stian M. & Olivetti, Elsa, 2017. "Econometric modeling of recycled copper supply," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 219-226.
    11. Esther Thiébaud & Lorenz M. Hilty & Mathias Schluep & Heinz W. Böni & Martin Faulstich, 2018. "Where Do Our Resources Go? Indium, Neodymium, and Gold Flows Connected to the Use of Electronic Equipment in Switzerland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, July.
    12. Torsten Hummen & Stefanie Hellweg & Ramin Roshandel, 2023. "Optimizing Lifespan of Circular Products: A Generic Dynamic Programming Approach for Energy-Using Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-27, September.
    13. Truttmann, Nina & Rechberger, Helmut, 2006. "Contribution to resource conservation by reuse of electrical and electronic household appliances," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 249-262.
    14. Geyer, R. & Davis, J. & Ley, J. & He, J. & Clift, R. & Kwan, A. & Sansom, M. & Jackson, T., 2007. "Time-dependent material flow analysis of iron and steel in the UK," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 101-117.
    15. Yuan, Zengwei & Liu, Xin & Wu, Huijun & Zhang, Ling & Bi, Jun, 2011. "Anthropogenic phosphorus flow analysis of Lujiang County, Anhui Province, Central China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(8), pages 1534-1543.
    16. Luca Ciacci & Ivano Vassura & Fabrizio Passarini, 2017. "Urban Mines of Copper: Size and Potential for Recycling in the EU," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-14, January.
    17. Simões, Pedro & Marques, Rui Cunha, 2011. "How does the operational environment affect utility performance? A parametric study on the waste sector," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(7), pages 695-702.
    18. Tanimoto, Armando H. & Gabarrell Durany, Xavier & Villalba, Gara & Pires, Armando Caldeira, 2010. "Material flow accounting of the copper cycle in Brazil," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 20-28.
    19. Mao, J.S. & Dong, Jaimee & Graedel, T.E., 2008. "The multilevel cycle of anthropogenic lead," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(8), pages 1058-1064.
    20. Wang, Minxi & Chen, Wu & Li, Xin, 2015. "Substance flow analysis of copper in production stage in the U.S. from 1974 to 2012," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PA), pages 36-48.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:23:y:2019:i:1:p:222-240. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.