The tremendous quantities of energy masses that flow within cities in the past years have influence the behavior of societies at the regional and urban scale. In the last two decades, urban metabolism research has become an important tool used to create government awareness on natural resource transformations, anthropogenic consumption patterns, sustainability practices, biodiversity importance, land use covers, and energy and resource management. There is a high need for cities to account for sustainable long-term management practices in order to design and better implement policies that can protect the rights of future generations. The research examines the Italian case study of the Lombardy region and the Metropolitan City of Milan. Identifying the distinct states of urban consumption flows and understanding the basis for transitions between states and the contributing of transition literature. Applied Gravitational Model and Geographic Information System applications to analyze the dynamic variation of energy consumption flows by sector (residential, industrial, tertiary, urban transport and agriculture) over a period of time by focusing on the regional and urban level (Zhang et al., 2012). The research identified, modeled and quantified energy flow centers of gravity in the Metropolitan City of Milan and Lombardy region. The research renders not only an account of the energetic inputs/outputs involved it visualizes the extended geographical relations through tracing energy type sources and achieving maximum efficiency in the use of natural resources and maximum disturbance to the ecosystems. Understanding the urban metabolic profile of cities and regions by applying gravitational modeling and geographic information systems can aid political leaders, planners, architects and engineers to identify energy flow intensities at the urban and regional level thus, provide scientific support for adjusting future energy management strategies.

EURA Conference 2016: City Lights, Cities and Citizens Within/Beyond/Notwithstanding the Crisis