The Urban Metabolism Analyst Model (UMan) was developed to address a number of shortcomings that were encountered when researchers applied EW-MFA or other bulk MFA studies on an urban level. The method was described through a case study on the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Rosado, Niza, and Ferrão 2014). UMan uses a material classification that is based on Eurostat reporting, but top-level aggregation happens for 28 material types (much more than EW-MFA). Spatial and sectoral disaggregation of data allows to comprehend the inner workings of the black box. Product lifespan data is used to gain a better understanding of the recovery of materials from the material stock in the city. Import and export flows that merely flow through an urban system are decoupled from flows that specifically originate in or are destined for urban areas.

The additional understanding that UMan provides requires increased data collection and processing. There are relatively few case studies using this method and it has yet to be replicated outside of a small group of core researchers. The method did find uptake outside in a more applied context, as part of the UrbanWINS project.