Uploaded on 2014-11-25 by Paulo_G

stocks and flows, water, food, people, capital, information, Lisbon, future, approach **Introductory note** Appointing crucial stock and flows of Energy in the context of a city metabolism can be a challenging task, in the sense that the concept can be contextualized in a wide universe of crucial functions of the city. Mainly because cities are probably the most complex and dynamic man-made systems, with innumerous layers of interacting subsystems and structures, all with unique dynamics and scales. Although We can still consider, types of stocks and flows crucial to the very formation of the city, and therefore crucial for the formation and operation of a urban metabolism. Considering the initial factors that made possible early settlements, We can define these factors as water, food, shelter, and protection. The factors can still be contextualized in the modern city, being water an essential resource, not just for human consumption but for the production of energy, infrastructures, production of food and goods. Subsequently, it's perceivable the importance of food stack for the maintenance of a large population, and since the production areas tend to be in rural areas, it's also important to account for the flow of food into the city. The shelter and protection aspects, take a different scope in the stacks and flow approach, as they are the result of human action or intervention. Considering this, and in order of importance it is crucial to include the human factor as a major factor in the study of stacks and flow in a city. Although it another category, it is possible to perceive similarities and appoint people as one crucial stock and flow factor. One crucial aspect of the city, is the possibility of maintaining and develop the urban system. In this context ,capital is a essential factor regarding this aspects, and adds a Economic layer of complexity and further ramifications across the entire system. At a another level, and with growing importance We can assume Information, as a crucial part of the stack and flow approach in the context of the urban metabolism. The information aspect develops in a multilevel scenario: From the simple word to word conversation taken in the social fabric, to the level of the Big Data, supported by technological infrastructure. Both equally important, as they tend to develop a symbiotic relation. For the sake of simplicity, let us focus on the technological infrastructure. With this introductory note, is possible to consider five important factors in the stacks and flows of the city in general and in particular the city of Lisbon. These factors are: Water, Food, People, Capital and Information. It is possible to differentiate this factors into different categories, because some have different natures, although there are similarities regarding scope of the stacks and flows, and urban metabolism. **Water, Stacks and Flows** The presence of water, is particular drinking water is crucial to formation and survival of a settlement. This factor is as true in the beginning of the early settlements as it is today in the modern city. The importance of water runs across several systems, from simple drinking water, to the production of electric energy, maintenance and development of green areas, local fishing and aquaculture and even as a waterway. The presence of water is with no doubt one of the most important factor of the city. Lisbon's identity is deeply related with the river Tejo (Tagus), the primary usage of water in Lisbon relates to human consumption and infrastructure, and in second place as a waterway for the many cargo ships and cruse boats that. Historically the flow of water in Lisbon still relates with the old aqueduct of Aguas Livres, that brought the water from a spring source in Belas, outside of Lisbon. The aqueduct was initially build by the Romans, later in 1731 started new works to expand it. The Aqueduct maintained its crucial importance until 1880, when the new Alviela aqueduct was completed. The aqueduct of Aguas Livres ceased to work in 1968. The modern supply system is a complex system of both stacks and flows of water from various origins. The system is the responsibility of EPAL, the Lisbon Public Water Company that monitors the distribution (Flows) of water is maintained, and also the levels of the reservoirs (Stacks). EPAL’s supply system includes both the production and transport system and the distribution system. The first one is responsible for water collection, treatment and transport to the company’s customers and it has 2 surface collection points, 23 underground collection points and about 700 Km of conveyor pipes, 2 treatment stations and 31 pumping stations. The distribution system is responsible for managing and operating the general distribution network, with over 1,400 Km, and it further includes 14 reservoirs, 10 pumping stations and over 86 thousand branch lines connecting it to buildings, thereby providing the supply to homes in an area of 83 Km², which represents a population more than 500 thousand inhabitants. The transport and distribution lines are more than 2,100 Km long. EPAL currently manages and operates a supply system that is made up of three sub-systems: Castelo do Bode reservoir, opened in 1987 and extended in 2007 to a production capacity of around 625,000 m³ daily; the Tejo, opened in 1940 and extended in 1963 and 1976, with a daily production capacity of 400,000 m³; and Alviela,, which has been operating since 1880. Of the three above-mentioned sub-systems, the largest and most relevant one is Castelo do Bode, as it accounts for about 75% of the company’s production capacity. It has a water collection tower located in the Castelo do Bode reservoir, the Pumping Stations I and II downstream from the dam with the same name and the Asseiceira Water Treatment Station and the Pipe that connects the Water Treatment Station with the Vila Franca de Xira Pumping Station. With regard to the water production, transport and distribution operations, the system is managed through a remote-management system, one that is highly automated and centralizes operation and control in real time of more than 170 facilities ranging from pumping stations to treatment stations, from reservoirs to valves. Regarding the Flows, The distribution system spans over 1,400 Km, covering an area of approximately 83 Km² and a resident population of more than 500,000 inhabitants. The distribution system management is supported by a series of infrastructure and bodies, namely 14 reservoirs, 10 pumping stations, 60 electrical pump groups, 6 chlorination posts and about 86,000 branches connecting the system to buildings. **Food, Stacks and Flows** The MARL (Supply Market in the Region of Lisbon) is a supply center for agro-food products, where the various sectors of retailers can find everything to meet their needs . The MARL has as the main advantage the high accessibility, allowing great road access to principal routes that connect major cities and the hinterland where major production centers are located. It combines in the same space a wide range of food products and complementary activities and support services to wholesale activity. MARL was opened in June of 2000 to replace the old and small Entrecampos Market. MARL assumes itself as the major stock of food in the country, and the origin of the major flow of food to the smaller retailers inside the city. By being located in the municipality of Loures , in the town of Sao Juliao do Tojal, this factor enables proximity between major consumption centers, the city of Lisbon and the areas of agricultural production in the hinterland. It covers 38 % of the national population which is reflected in 50 % of the purchasing power of the country. Inside the wholesale market the various companies offer a wide variety and quantity of food products from vegetable products, fish, meat , dairy and also several complementary products. MARL is also the origin of a great flow of products that enter the city every day, that again became stock in local supermarkets and groceries stores. **People, Stocks and Flows** A notorious aspect in the stocks and flows of the city, relates to people. Naturally assuming a different category, the city itself during working hours could be referred as a stock of people, or consolidated residential areas could apply for the notion of stock. Lisbon metropolitan area, has actually an active population of about 1 to 1.3 million people, tough an area of 3,015.24 km², which is 3.3% of the total area of Portugal. The flows are in this case quite notorious. During the work days, Lisbon population rises 70% in relation to the resident population, that makes an expressive 425 thousand individuals that enter and exit every day. These refer to working individuals and students, not considering the notable flow of tourists especially during warmer months (June to September). There are areas in the city of Lisbon, that are traditionally have a mixed use of living and small local business, These areas are inhabited 24 hours a day, with a constant flow of persons, and with very sedentary residents. People don't leave those living areas because they also found in their services and events that maintain the community active. Some examples are held in typical parts of town, like Alfama, Mouraria, Bairro Alto. These places have a very strong sense of identity, and could be taken like stacks in the urban metabolism approach. On the other hand, the city also has particular zones that are more subject to the notion on flow, and they depend greatly of the urban mobility of the people that use them. These are zone of the city that traditionally related with fabrication of goods or with the port activity, being used only in certain times of the day, or just when particular need scenarios occur, these zones are Lisbon's docks, Braço de prata, etc. In a more modern term, there are fairly new zone that obey to the same principle, but with emphasis on the services. Places like Amoreiras high buildings clusters are mostly used as a business district, and therefore prone to a significant daily flow of people. Lisbon as the capital also provides a greater number of transportations. The city largest container ports on Europe's Atlantic coast. Portela airport serves over 16 million passengers annually (2013); The motorway network and the high speed rail system named Alfa Pendular link Lisbon to the main Portuguese cities. Lisbon has a major ship cruise terminal, providing an yearly flow of 558.040 persons (2013), and a total of 1.740.000 tourists annually (2009). These are notorious elements that can be contextualized in the flow perspective. **Capital, stacks and flows** Stocks and flow of capital are quite evident in major cities. Although capital is a virtual entity is possible to understand that the flows relate with the economical opportunities provided by a thriving community. The capital also has a different repercussion on the size, shape and living quality of a city, than material stocks and flows. There is a evident relation between the flow of capital and the flow of people, as capital moves when people move, or when there is commercial activities. But capital is also present in material goods and real state, and the city provides high density of goods, and services where capital stacks and flows. The Lisbon region is the wealthiest region in Portugal, GDP PPP per capita is 26,100 euro (4.7% higher than the average European Union's GDP PPP per capita). It is the 10th richest metropolitan area by GDP on the continent amounting to 110 billion euro and thus €39,375 per capita, 40% higher than the average European Union's GDP per capita. The city occupies 32nd place of highest gross earnings in the world. Most of the headquarters of multinationals in the country are located in the Lisbon area. It is also the political centre of the country, as seat of Government and residence of the Head of State. **Information, Stacks and flows** With a ever growing importance, Information is also a crucial player in the stocks and flows context. Again is perceptible a relationship between people and data, as data originates from human behavior and human intervention with the city. Information can be found at various levels, from the spoken word physically transmitted to carbon copy book information to big data. The stock of information relates to any king of repository of information, this again can spread from the human level, as people are also a regarding information repository of information, to libraries where books and physical publications can be found. In more recent years, information migrated to the virtual domain, and therefore the stack of digital information also moved from physical archives to data centers. In the context of the city, more important than big data centers that tend to relocate to the hinterland because of footprint needs and energy costs associated, one of the most important aspects relates to the growing adoption of mobile devices. These devices not only stack information, but are also participate in the flow process of information, being able to provide a number of information in real time. The Lisbon metropolitan area is the most populated area in Portugal, and Portugal is the 8th country in the world with more mobile phones per capita, 1085 mobile phones per thousand habitants (2005). More recent and un-official numbers report an increase and a migration from the regular cell phone to the more advanced "smart phone" type, indicating also new habits of use. The stack and flow of information is ubiquitous and continuously increasing and the human knowledge evolves, new technologies like cloud base system can also be a game changer in year to come. **Future proposals - Lisbon City** **Water** Water, and particular drinkable water will tend to be a precious resource. Smart consumption (smart Flow) is needed, with consumption reduction. (flow) In Lisbon, city soils are often impermeable, this generates a number of problems. The soil should be permeable and freatic sheets should be managed. (stack) New alternatives of production should be considered (desalinization centrals), this solution is costy but, should be studied. This will take advantage of the Tagus water and Atlantic Ocean water. (stack) **Food** A special attention to waste. A smarter and sustainable distribution (flow) may be in order. Right now the distribution is made by vehicles burning fossil fuel, this factor is costly bad for the environment and affects the consumer price. This aspect can be taken also into the production sector, although "agricultural diesel" is cheaper, sustainable alternatives must be considered. A very special note on quality. Quality is usually mistaken for the product appearance. Studies show that most consumers don't care that much about appearance, but are quite reluctant in buying products with additives or coatings (e.g. apples with wax coatings), most consumers also prefer non-GMO products. This factor not only relates with the production but also with the retailers (stack) that should provide quality to the consumer. Consider the impact for the ambient of certain products. Massive production of meat has a hefty environmental cost. Lisbon should consider the use of public land to the production of food. At another level the generation of urban farms and micro-production should be studied. **People** Cities will tend to change along with social behavior and the inverse is also true, there is a symbiosis between the city and it's habitants. Designers, city planners, stake holders and the politic power are also factor to held in account, as they hold extra responsibility in the process of changing the city. Lisbon, should assume a more green, ludic and cultural approach. Taking cars from the center of the city and giving back to the pedestrian important socials and historic zones, like the river front. This factor would change the centrality of some planes and also the density. (Altering stacks). Alternative means of transportation should be considered. Bicycles and electric trams. Work from home should be taken seriously. (Slowing flows). **Capital** The capital will tend to move entirely for the digital realm. Most payments are already done by digital means. New forms of payment are arising, also new "species" of money like the cryptocurrencys. It's plausible to assume that the flow will ramp up considerably, also as part of a globalization process provided by on-line shopping and services. Flows will ramp up. Lisbon must promote this changes, and this new processes originate new opportunities for business, and for the creation of value. The positive changes in the city and it's living quality also provide feedback on the capital value of real estate, ramping up stacks. Lisbon should provide ever-growing living conditions to it's habitants. **Information** Information, will ramp up exponentially demanding new and powerful ways to manage information. Stocks will tens do demobilize from personal machines to cloud based systems, located in mega datacenters somewhere in the world. Taking a positive approach on this factor. Storage (stacking) infrastructure should be removed from the city, and used for more interesting social purposes. Lisbon should maintain a light, "invisible" and highly efficient communication infrastructure. ![Water Supply][1] ![Altimetric supply][2] ![People flows][3] **Links** Wikepedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81guas_Livres_Aqueduct http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empresa_Portuguesa_de_%C3%81guas_Livres https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon_Metropolitan_Area **Statistics** http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpgid=ine_main&xpid=INE http://www.pordata.pt/Home http://www.portodelisboa.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_PORTO_LISBOA_ING http://www.refer.pt/ [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14169350967878437.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14169352254816879.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14169352629928126.gif