URBANLAB
Understanding cities through the resource flows, infrastructures and living systems that sustain them
The UrbanLab is an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Louvain combining resource-flow analysis, spatial data and AI-enabled methods to examine how infrastructures, ecosystems and institutions can support more circular, resilient and inclusive urban transitions.
Explore our research
URBANLAB
Understanding cities through the flows, systems and agencies that sustain them
The UrbanLab is an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Louvain combining resource-flow analysis, spatial data and AI-enabled methods to examine how infrastructures, ecosystems and institutions can support more circular, resilient and inclusive urban transitions.
Explore our research
About the Lab
Rethinking the relationships between cities, resources and living systems
Urban metabolism examines the flows of materials, energy, water, food and waste through which urban life is sustained.
Our Lab expands this perspective by studying the spatial, ecological, social, and institutional relations through which these flows are produced and transformed.
Rather than treating the city as a closed system of inputs and outputs, we study the interactions linking:
Buildings, construction systems and resource-provisioning infrastructures • Ecosystems and their material benefits • Communities, institutions and forms of governance • Formal and informal practices • Local territories and distant resource regions
The Lab was founded and is directed by Professor Daniela Perrotti within the Louvain Research Institute for Landscape, Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Louvain.
About the Lab
Rethinking the relationships between cities, resources and living systems
Urban metabolism examines the flows of materials, energy, water, food and waste through which urban life is sustained.
Our Lab expands this perspective by studying the spatial, ecological, social, and institutional relations through which these flows are produced and transformed.
Rather than treating the city as a closed system of inputs and outputs, we study the interactions linking:
Buildings, construction systems and resource-provisioning infrastructures • Ecosystems and their material benefits • Communities, institutions and forms of governance • Formal and informal practices • Local territories and distant resource regions
The Lab was founded and is directed by Professor Daniela Perrotti within the Louvain Research Institute for Landscape, Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Louvain.
Our Research
Two research axes
Our Research
Two research axes
Cross-Cutting Research
Spatial Data, AI and Urban Intelligence
This cross-cutting research line combines geospatial data, urban-metabolism datasets and explainable artificial intelligence to analyse resource flows, infrastructure interdependencies and socio-ecological patterns across scales.
It connects both research axes through spatial clustering, remote sensing, computational modelling and data integration, translating evidence into decision-support tools for planning, design and policy.
Geospatial data integration
Explainable AI and spatial clustering
Computational modelling
Decision-support tools
Featured Research Programmes
Caring Nature
A Horizon Europe project developing and validating ten solutions to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare while safeguarding care quality and safety.
2024–2026
The Spatial Dimension of Urban Metabolism
Research connecting urban resource flows with public space, landscape infrastructure and vulnerable communities.
Doctoral research completed in 2025
Green with Grey
Research into the ecological and hydrological potential of desealing industrial sites.
2018–2022
ReFrameCity
A regional and relational framework for understanding the metabolism of interconnected cities.
Postdoctoral research in 2025
Explainable Artificial Intelligence and Spatial Metabolic Dynamics
Explainable computational methods for identifying and interpreting metabolic clusters in Belgian cities.
Postdoctoral research, outputs from 2024
Green–Built Service Nexus
Research coupling green and built infrastructure, urban thermal environments and carbon emissions.
Postdoctoral collaboration 2025–2026
Caring Nature
A Horizon Europe project developing and validating ten solutions to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare while safeguarding care quality and safety.
2024–2026
The Spatial Dimension of Urban Metabolism
Research connecting urban resource flows with public space, landscape infrastructure and vulnerable communities.
Doctoral research completed in 2025
Green with Grey
Research into the ecological and hydrological potential of desealing industrial sites.
2018–2022
ReFrameCity
A regional and relational framework for understanding the metabolism of interconnected cities.
Postdoctoral research in 2025
Explainable Artificial Intelligence and Spatial Metabolic Dynamics
Explainable computational methods for identifying and interpreting metabolic clusters in Belgian cities.
Postdoctoral research, outputs from 2024
Green–Built Service Nexus
Research coupling green and built infrastructure, urban thermal environments and carbon emissions.
Postdoctoral collaboration 2025–2026
People
A collaborative research community
The UrbanLab brings together researchers, doctoral researchers, visiting scholars and research-support staff working across urban metabolism, infrastructure and spatial planning, landscape architecture, environmental science and research through design.
People
A collaborative research community
The UrbanLab brings together researchers, doctoral researchers, visiting scholars and research-support staff working across urban metabolism, infrastructure and spatial planning, landscape architecture, environmental science and research through design.
People
A collaborative research community
The UrbanLab brings together researchers, doctoral researchers, visiting scholars and research-support staff working across urban metabolism, infrastructure and spatial planning, landscape architecture, environmental science and research through design.
Leadership
Scientific direction, programme building and institutional partnerships.
Researchers
Interdisciplinary expertise in resource and material flows, infrastructure systems, spatial analysis and environmental transition.
Doctoral Researchers
Emerging research on metabolic processes, circular construction, governance and socio-ecological transition.
Methods
Interdisciplinary by design
The Lab integrates methods that are often separated in urban research, combining resource- and material-flow assessment, systems modelling, spatial data, AI-enabled analysis, participatory inquiry and research through design.
Methods
Interdisciplinary by design
The Lab integrates methods that are often separated in urban research, combining resource- and material-flow assessment, systems modelling, spatial data, AI-enabled analysis, participatory inquiry and research through design.
Methods
Interdisciplinary by design
The Lab integrates methods that are often separated in urban research, combining resource- and material-flow assessment, systems modelling, spatial data, AI-enabled analysis, participatory inquiry and research through design.
Resource and material-flow assessment
Material-flow analysis, resource accounting, material-stock analysis, life-cycle assessment and infrastructure metabolism.
Systems modelling
Dynamic and relational modelling, network analysis, scenario development and decision-support frameworks.
Conceptual research
Philosophy of science, systems theory, conceptual engineering and the study of agency.
Research through design
Translating metabolic evidence into spatial strategies, urban archetypes, infrastructure scenarios and landscape interventions.
Spatial analysis
GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, territorial mapping and landscape analysis.
Data integration and artificial intelligence
Urban data integration, explainable artificial intelligence, spatial clustering and computational literature analysis.
Participatory research
Stakeholder engagement, co-design workshops, interviews, surveys and collaborative scenario building.
Resource and material-flow assessment
Material-flow analysis, resource accounting, material-stock analysis, life-cycle assessment and infrastructure metabolism.
Systems modelling
Dynamic and relational modelling, network analysis, scenario development and decision-support frameworks.
Conceptual research
Philosophy of science, systems theory, conceptual engineering and the study of agency.
Research through design
Translating metabolic evidence into spatial strategies, urban archetypes, infrastructure scenarios and landscape interventions.
Spatial analysis
GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, territorial mapping and landscape analysis.
Data integration and artificial intelligence
Urban data integration, explainable artificial intelligence, spatial clustering and computational literature analysis.
Participatory research
Stakeholder engagement, co-design workshops, interviews, surveys and collaborative scenario building.
Impact
From Evidence to Action
The Lab translates integrated evidence on resource flows, infrastructure systems, ecosystems and urban practices into planning strategies, design approaches, spatial intelligence and decision-support tools for more circular, climate-resilient and inclusive urban transitions.
Impact
From Evidence to Action
The Lab translates integrated evidence on resource flows, infrastructure systems, ecosystems and urban practices into planning strategies, design approaches, spatial intelligence and decision-support tools for more circular, climate-resilient and inclusive urban transitions.
Impact
From Evidence to Action
The Lab translates integrated evidence on resource flows, infrastructure systems, ecosystems and urban practices into planning strategies, design approaches, spatial intelligence and decision-support tools for more circular, climate-resilient and inclusive urban transitions.
Sustainable and resilient infrastructure planning
Circular construction and urban mining
Resource-sensitive urban and regional planning
Nature-based solutions and climate-responsive landscape design
Environmental, spatial and multispecies justice
Public-health-oriented environments
Food-system resilience
AI-enabled spatial decision-support tools
Collaboration across science, policy, communities and industry
Sustainable and resilient infrastructure planning
Circular construction and urban mining
Resource-sensitive urban and regional planning
Nature-based solutions and climate-responsive landscape design
Environmental, spatial and multispecies justice
Public-health-oriented environments
Food-system resilience
AI-enabled spatial decision-support tools
Collaboration across science, policy, communities and industry
Updates
Latest Updates
Updates
Latest Updates
Updates
Latest Updates
An Urban Metabolism Approach to Understand the Infrastructural Dynamics of the UK Urban Domestic Heat Supply
Christina Sarah Bristow’s doctoral thesis develops a typology of UK cities based on the infrastructural dynamics of domestic heat supply, connecting building stocks, energy demand and low-carbon transition pathways.
Completed in 2022
The Spatial Dimension of Urban Metabolism: Resource Flows, Public Space, and Vulnerable Communities
Daniel Otero Peña’s doctoral thesis develops spatially explicit urban-metabolism tools for resource-sensitive and community-inclusive planning and design.
Defended 28 August 2025
UMaNS: Urban Metabolism for Advanced Nature-Based Solutions
Ursula-Crisy Cardenas-Mamani’s doctoral research integrates urban metabolism, ecosystem services and dynamic modelling for nature-based solutions.
Defended 26 February 2025
An Urban Metabolism Approach to Understand the Infrastructural Dynamics of the UK Urban Domestic Heat Supply
Christina Sarah Bristow’s doctoral thesis develops a typology of UK cities based on the infrastructural dynamics of domestic heat supply, connecting building stocks, energy demand and low-carbon transition pathways.
Completed in 2022
The Spatial Dimension of Urban Metabolism: Resource Flows, Public Space, and Vulnerable Communities
Daniel Otero Peña’s doctoral thesis develops spatially explicit urban-metabolism tools for resource-sensitive and community-inclusive planning and design.
Defended 28 August 2025
UMaNS: Urban Metabolism for Advanced Nature-Based Solutions
Ursula-Crisy Cardenas-Mamani’s doctoral research integrates urban metabolism, ecosystem services and dynamic modelling for nature-based solutions.
Defended 26 February 2025
Publications
Selected Publications
Publications
Selected Publications
Publications
Selected Publications
Resource-sensitive and community-inclusive urban archetypes to enhance the applicability of urban metabolism frameworks by design practitioners
Daniel Otero Peña; Daniela Perrotti
Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability
Journal Article
2026
Who is your Neighbour? Energy Consumption Relations in Suburban and Urban Areas: Evidence from Central Europe
Daniel Otero Peña; Daniela Perrotti
Environmental Modeling & Assessment
Journal Article
2026
Design insights for resource-efficient and community-inclusive urban spaces: Learning from the metabolism of alternative resource governance systems in Brussels
Daniel Otero Peña; Daniela Perrotti
Cities
Journal Article
2026
Resource-sensitive and community-inclusive urban archetypes to enhance the applicability of urban metabolism frameworks by design practitioners
Daniel Otero Peña; Daniela Perrotti
Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability
Journal Article
2026
Who is your Neighbour? Energy Consumption Relations in Suburban and Urban Areas: Evidence from Central Europe
Daniel Otero Peña; Daniela Perrotti
Environmental Modeling & Assessment
Journal Article
2026
Design insights for resource-efficient and community-inclusive urban spaces: Learning from the metabolism of alternative resource governance systems in Brussels
Daniel Otero Peña; Daniela Perrotti
Cities
Journal Article
2026
Cities are not closed systems
Their metabolism extends across territories, infrastructures, ecosystems and communities. Understanding these relationships is essential to creating urban environments that are more resource-sensitive, socially just and ecologically resilient.