Urban environmental systems are characterized by intricate interdependencies that often exhibit nonlinear behaviors, leading to unexpected outcomes such as tipping points and emergent patterns. This conceptual paper develops a novel theoretical framework for examining these nonlinear feedbacks through an agent-free system dynamics approach, which emphasizes aggregate-level stocks, flows, and feedback loops without relying on individual agent simulations. Drawing on recent literature in urban sustainability and complex systems, the framework integrates principles of nonlinearity—such as thresholds, bifurcations, and hysteresis—into system dynamics modeling to better capture the dynamics of urban ecosystems, including interactions between built environments, resource use, and ecological resilience. The proposed model highlights how feedback mechanisms can amplify or dampen environmental degradation in urban settings, offering a lens for understanding long-term system trajectories. By synthesizing theoretical insights, this work addresses gaps in existing conceptualizations that overlook aggregate nonlinearities in favor of agent-based granularity. The framework's implications extend to urban policy, suggesting pathways for sustainable interventions that account for systemic sensitivities. Ultimately, this paper advances theoretical discourse on urban environmental modeling by prioritizing conceptual rigor over empirical validation, paving the way for future explorations in complex adaptive systems.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
