Material Flow Analysis Methodology

This lecture covers the Material Flow Analysis (MFA) methodology, starting with an introduction to MFA methodology and understanding economy-wide/bulk MFA. It delves into the history of MFA, including the works of Santorio, Lavoisier, and Leontief. The lecture explores the urban metabolism of cities like Brussels and Vienna, showcasing the assessment of material flows and stocks within these systems. It also discusses the applications of MFA in various fields, such as economic input-output tables and dynamic MFA. The lecture emphasizes the purpose and steps of MFA, from system definition to recommendations, and highlights the importance of MFA in identifying harmful material accumulation, predicting future quantities, and optimizing systems for resource efficiency.