In view of the contact restrictions currently in force, the kick-off event of the M-DAB2 (FFG No. 886923, opens an external URL in a new window) project took place online. Like its predecessor project M-DAB (FFG No. 873569, opens an external URL in a new window), this initiative is supported by the FFG's "City of the Future" funding programme. The interdisciplinary project consortium led by Simlab, opens in new window is concerned with the localisation, qualification and quantification of inward development potentials in urban areas. For the first time, the material intensity of inward development (amount of primary material) becomes assessable for different development variants, both from the perspectives of development and urban planning agencies.

Elaboration of criteria in the above sense and verification using GIS-based automated context analysis will allow for a comparison between different development scenarios (e.g. demolition and new construction, annex construction or retrofitting) under consideration of the urban context in which this development happens. It will furthermore allow for a more systematic approach to location planning using different views. Building on the extended data basis of our predecessor project, this project elaborates on potential profiles of different building and location types according to several parameters (e.g. building period, usage, construction class). In a next step, development pathways for each of these potential profiles are assessed with special regards for minimal resource utilization (land and material resources). In a final step, this project employs digital methods (e.g. Machine Learning) to identify similar potential/development patterns within the urban fabric.

M-DAB2 develops a reliable digital model of material intensity, which helps with the assessment of inward development potentials using an interactive visualization offering different views (e.g. real-estate developer, city-planning authorities). In combination with the database of our previous project, M-DAB, this project offers unprecedented insights into (1.)  attainable saving potentials in primary resource use and landfill volumes, (2.) the ability to compare development scenarios within the built environment and contrast these to greenfield development and (3.) to assess the city-wide potential and impacts of a chosen best-practice method with regards to resource utilization for selected use cases.

Project title: M-DAB2: Material intensity of inward development - resource assessment and localization of urban development potentials

Project duration: 01/2022 – 12/2023

Funded by: FFG: Stadt der Zukunft – 8. Ausschreibung

Lead partner: TU Wien – Institut für Raumplanung – FB Örtliche Raumplanung / Simlab

Consortium: TU Wien – Institute of Water Quality and Resource Management – Research Unit of Waste and Resource Management

TU Wien – Institute of Architectural Sciences – Research Unit of Digital Architecture and Planning

Rhomberg Bau GmbH

DS energie consulting & management GmbH