Urban retrofitting: identifying disruptive and sustaining technologies using performative and foresight techniques

Dixon, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4513-6337, Eames, M., Britnell, J., Watson, G. B. and Hunt, M. (2014) Urban retrofitting: identifying disruptive and sustaining technologies using performative and foresight techniques. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 89. pp. 131-144. ISSN 0040-1625 doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2013.08.027

Abstract/Summary

Cities, which are now inhabited by a majority of the world's population, are not only an important source of global environmental and resource depletion problems, but can also act as important centres of technological innovation and social learning in the continuing quest for a low carbon future. Planning and managing large-scale transitions in cities to deal with these pressures require an understanding of urban retrofitting at city scale. In this context performative techniques (such as backcasting and roadmapping) can provide valuable tools for helping cities develop a strategic view of the future. However, it is also important to identify ‘disruptive’ and ‘sustaining’ technologies which may contribute to city-based sustainability transitions. This paper presents research findings from the EPSRC Retrofit 2050 project, and explores the relationship between technology roadmaps and transition theory literature, highlighting the research gaps at urban/city level. The paper develops a research methodology to describe the development of three guiding visions for city-regional retrofit futures, and identifies key sustaining and disruptive technologies at city scale within these visions using foresight (horizon scanning) techniques. The implications of the research for city-based transition studies and related methodologies are discussed.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/34251
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of the Built Environment > Urban Living group
Uncontrolled Keywords	Low carbon; Energy; Water; Waste; Cities; Transition theory; Roadmaps; Retrofit
Publisher	Elsevier
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item