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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Towards the observation of Territorial Energy Systems : a geographical design approach for energy territorialisation

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description

Having an effect on a system calls for a thorough knowledge of it. The main goal of this research is toprovide a general framework for the interpretation of geographic information, as well as a methodologicalframework to understand the interrelations between territory and energy in the context of a territorialobservatory. A literature review of energy planning on the one hand and spatial planning on the other revealssimilar developments in the two fields, in particular in terms of decentralisation and environmental concerns.The change of geographical scale chosen for the analysis brings new possibilities for public intervention. Inthis context, therefore, local authorities have a key role to play in implementing energy policy goals in theirplanning practices. They need analysis and prospective studies, as well as basic knowledge to carry outterritorial energy planning. Indeed, the socio-spatial functions (living, travelling, working, etc.) arethemselves at the root of spatial layout, urban forms and settlement structures. Those functions cannot bedisassociated from questions of land use and energy. So, to understand energy which is vital, ubiquitous, andresponsible for the organisation of territory, a systemic approach is proposed: the Territorial Energy System.It illustrates the importance of the interactions between a territory and its energy system, and more precisely,the interdependence between energy processes and territorial ones. We propose a design approach in thecontext of an observatory, and more precisely conceptual models, to analyse the territory-energyinterrelations, especially with a focus on semantic dimensions. This approach combines three elements: ameta-model, a light and pre-consensus domain ontology, and individual conceptual data models for eachindicator. An original indicator is then used for a first ontology population: the territorial energy label.Characterising the interrelations between territory and energy is non-trivial, dealing with the variety ofprocesses, scales or data constraints and the numerous meanings of those two concepts. The maincontributions of this research is firstly to demonstrate the relevance of a territorial perspective on energy, aswell as presenting a geographical design approach to conceptualising the observation of territorial energysystems in a territorial observatory