Forecasting aggregates demand: a case study in Attica, Greece

A lot of times it seems to be forgotten that sustainability does not only deal with environmental protection but also with the adequacy of raw materials for the conservation and recycling of life on the planet. In the case of aggregates the second aspect of the term is of great importance given that they are the most used materials, second only to water. Nevertheless, the extraction of aggregates in the vicinity of urban areas becomes a difficult task to accomplish, due to environmental implications and conflicts with other land uses. Both parameters call for a sound and long-term management, the first step of which should be a good establishment of future demand. The article introduces the main forecasting techniques that can be used for this purpose. It is proved that the models developed for the case of the Attica basin, Greece, can be applied in every region of the country, if adjusted to their individual characteristics, setting the boundaries of aggregates needs for a long-term period.