Sustainability

The dynamically changing world poses new challenges to urbanized areas, e.g., related to water management in the architectural and urban context. Improving retention and strengthening blue-green infrastructure can be based on technical, semi-natural and natural methods, which are less invasive. Various forms are used in the city space: flow control, detention, retention, filtration, infiltration, and treatment. The implementation of the green order strategy and shaping sustainable development in the context of designing the city’s resilience is associated with shaping spatial policy and urban planning assumptions for the transformation of public spaces and new investments in urbanized areas in crisis. The shaping of waterfronts in the city and green and blue infrastructure significantly shape the parameters of the environment and the regenerative capacity of the urban ecosystem. The aim of this work was to show the relationship between the problem of embankments and the possibilities of developing space in their proximity, including areas exposed to the risk of flooding. The relationships determined by the goal were verified in comparative studies, a repeatable method of collecting, processing, analyzing, and interpreting the obtained data was used. The issue was presented in a broader context of flood risk and water management in the area of Lake Zegrze, collisions and spatial conflicts were analyzed. The results are presented in the context of detailed water management data for the complex of Riva Zegrze facilities, which is a model example regarding the sustainable development of areas on embankments, considering their specific floodplain development possibilities. The effects of the research allowed for the formulation of conclusions, including in terms of implementation, in the field of urban and architectural design for areas associated with an embankment. Full article

In the oil sector, various strategies are applied to mitigate harmful effects on the environment. These strategies include, among others, compensation plans, the measurement and control of the carbon footprint and/or water footprint, the recovery of waste from activities and processes, and Environmental Management Systems (EMS). An EMS provides a formal framework that enables more efficient work on environmental issues, thereby improving performance. It aims to raise awareness of the environmental impacts associated with the oil industry in different areas through the use of weighting matrices. Additionally, it seeks to conduct sustainable studies and optimize the direct activities involved in the exploitation of hydrocarbons as a natural resource. Factors considered in decision making include ensuring that the strategy does not compromise the well-being of future generations, has economic viability, and does not hinder any oil sector activities such as exploration, drilling, production, or processing of derivatives. The purpose of this is that it allows for the creation of decision matrices based on weighting methodologies that outline possible correlations between specific activities of the oil sector such as water use, effects on soils and landscapes, greenhouse gas emissions, solid waste, liquid effluents, hazardous waste, and toxic waste, among others. The decision matrices can also help elucidate the relationship of these activities with mitigation strategies to provide a decision-making tool for environmental management plans so that activities are implemented in a way that can mitigate impacts on water, soil, and air resources. The results of this study were classified using a traffic light matrix, based on the level of technical congruence, using an optimal (green), regular (yellow), medium (orange), and at-risk (red) scale. The environmental impact of “alteration of the geoform of the land” was positioned in the at-risk category due to its assessment by experts in relation to the activity of “land adaptation”. In the medium category, a total of 23 impacts were identified, while 10 impacts fell into the regular category. These results were evaluated in the context of the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the oil industry. Full article

Based on the provincial panel data from 2004 to 2019, this paper constructs a more comprehensive industrial structure upgrading coefficient and uses a moderated mediation model to verify the mechanism of OFDI reverse green innovation technology on industrial upgrading. It is found that OFDI has a reverse green technology innovation effect, which can positively promote China’s industrial upgrading. From the perspective of a moderated mediating effect, the increase of domestic R&D investment is conducive to shortening the technological gap with developed countries, and the enhancement of domestic environmental regulation also encourages multinational enterprises to implement green technology cooperation. Both of them strengthen the reverse green technology innovation effect of OFDI, and correspondingly have a greater promoting effect on the upgrading of industrial structure. The reverse green technology innovation of OFDI mainly promotes strategic green innovation of noninvention types, but the enhancement of R&D capability and the improvement of environmental regulation can strengthen the reverse substantive green innovation of OFDI. After endogenous processing and replacing the core explanatory variables, the results are still significant. Full article

Cooling load refers to the amount of energy to be removed from a space (or consumed) to bring that space to an acceptable temperature or to maintain the temperature of a space at an acceptable range. The study aimed to develop a series of models and determine the most accurate ones in the prediction of the cooling load of low-rise tropical buildings based on their basic architectural and structural characteristics. In this context, a series of machine learning (regression) algorithms were tested during the research to determine the most accurate/efficient prediction model. In this regard, a data set consisting of ten features indicating the basic characteristics of the building (floor area, aspect ratio, ceiling height, window material, external wall material, roof material, window wall ratio north faced, window wall ratio south faced, horizontal shading, orientation) were used to predict the cooling load of a low-rise tropical building. The dataset was generated utilizing a set of generative and algorithmic design tools. Following the dataset generation, a series of regression models were tested to find the most accurate model to predict the cooling load. The results of the tests with different algorithms revealed that the relationship between the predictor variables and cooling load could be efficiently modeled through Histogram Gradient Boosting and Stacking models. Full article

This study aims to estimate the average annual rate of soil loss by rainfall in terms of spatial distribution and sediment rate using RUSLE and GIS techniques. Additionally, remote sensing and available soil property information are applied for erosion analysis. The work reveals a very severe type of soil erosion, with the highest mean rate in the steep areas. Annual mean erosion in many parts of the basin is in the range of 0 to 9237.0 t/km²/year with an average of 403 t/km²/year. Approximately 45% (in the upper basin) of the total area has moderate to high soil loss by water, especially in five catchments, namely Serranoyacu, Naranjos, Naranjillo, Yuracyacu, and Tonchima at 886.8 t/km²/yr, 985.1 t/km²/yr, 691.3 t/km²/yr, 567.3 t/km²/yr, and 506.9 t/km²/yr, respectively. Catchment-wise soil loss estimates suggest that these areas are experiencing much higher soil loss in comparison to others; hence, these catchments are prioritized for soil conservation efforts. Sediment rate assessments indicate high sediment deposition along the flow direction of the mainstream of the catchment; in the upper Mayo part, the highest sediment rates are in Yuracyacu, Serranoyacu and Tonchima. Finally, the parts most vulnerable to increased erosion rate are the central part of the basin, which indicates progressive sediment deposition. Full article

An industry technology roadmap (hereafter ITRM) is a strategic planning tool to predict the technologies and innovations demanded by the future market, allowing the industry to leverage capital and other investments in a range of alternative technologies and achieve sustainable development. To date, ITRM has been adopted by various global organizations in different industries; however, the majority of research has focused on roadmapping techniques only. Although success factors have been mentioned in some of the literature, little work has been conducted to assess the success of any ITRM. This research, therefore, developed an assessment model, including a theoretical and knowledge framework, assessment methods, and quantitative indices, to systematically assess the contents of an ITRM. We then used it to assess four global textile ITRMs. The assessment results led us to recommend five success factors of an effective ITRM: (1) methodological industry technology roadmapping; (2) a multi-organizational background; (3) systematic presentation of ITRM contents; (4) balanced contents for market and technology forces; and (5) appropriate databases. Compared with the success factors proposed in the previous literature, these five success factors are more practical for roadmap content construction. Full article

Clarifying the driving factors of enterprise digital transformation can help us understand the real driving forces of industrial digitization and digital industrialization, improve the implementation of industrial policies, and narrow the digital divide between different regions and firms to facilitate high-quality and sustainable development. Based on 38,891 news items from provincial and municipal governments in China, this paper uses text analysis to depict the government’s attention to the digital economy and explore the influencing factors driving digital transformation. In the empirical analysis, government attention to the digital economy positively impacts enterprise digital transformation primarily through fiscal expenditures on science and technology, the digital economy level, the digital financial inclusion level, industrial agglomeration, and firm nature. The positive impact of market competition on enterprise digital transformation is significant for small-scale firms. The insight from this finding is that enterprise digital transformation cannot be solved entirely by market forces but also needs to be led by digital industrial policies with government attention. Full article

In the 21st century, environmental problems are considered the biggest challenges. Turkey is one of the emerging markets that need to improve the quality of their environment. In the literature, how political risk affects the environment in Turkey has not been studied. In order to contribute to the issue, this study aims to determine the impact of political stability on the quality of the environment in Turkey. The present study investigates the effect of political stability on environmental quality, taking into account the critical role of economic growth, environmental regulation, patents in environmental technologies, and renewable energy consumption in Turkey from 1990 to 2019. The present study used nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) models to investigate the effect of political stability on environmental quality in Turkey. The empirical findings show that political stability in Turkey reduces environmental deregulation by declining CO₂ emissions. Similarly, patents in environmental technologies and renewable energy consumption positively contribute to the environmental quality in Turkey by decreasing CO₂ emissions. On the other hand, economic growth has a significant positive effect on CO₂ emissions. This study suggests that political stability is an important indicator of environmental quality in Turkey. In order to ensure the continuity of Turkey’s environmental sustainability, political tension in the country should be controlled by politicians, and it is recommended that Turkey should turn to and invest in renewable energy sources by following technological innovation. Full article

Crișana Region is one of the most representative and wide historical regions of Romania, which encompasses several “lands” and ethnographic areas, each of them being defined by a series of features, among which those of demographic nature (ethnicity, religion) and ethno-cultural features stand out. In this context, the aim of the current study is to identify, assess and emphasize the relationship between the demographic features and those related to the ethno-cultural heritage. The accomplishment of this work required the use of the multi-criteria analysis method, successfully applied in various activity areas, a method which is characterized by a high level of complexity. The obtained results emphasized the spatial distribution on ‘territorial administrative unit’ (TAU) level of the aggregated synthetic values and of the relationship types which were determined between population and ethno-cultural heritage in Crișana Region, Romania. Full article

This study evaluates the current collection and recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Italy by means of the analysis of national and regional data from EUROSTAT and the Italian WEEE Coordination Centre database, as well as through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders of the WEEE management system of the Campania region (Southern Italy). Urban systems, among which the metropolitan city of Naples in the Campania region, are the main users of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and, as a consequence, the main generators of WEEE, which must be managed and recovered properly in order to prevent the loss of valuable resources and the associated environmental impacts. In addition to analysing the current state of WEEE collection and recycling in Italy and its regions and urban systems, the study aims to improve our understanding of the WEEE reverse supply chain and the main barriers and drivers to collection and recycling. The results reveal that the main barriers to the collection/delivery/recycling of WEEE resulted in the low awareness of the citizens about the importance of WEEE recovery, the lack of trust towards administrators, the lack of certified first treatment plants, the aversion of the citizens to the opening of new plants due to past inefficient solutions in solid waste management, the exploitation of high value materials only (so-called “cannibalization”, the illegal trade of WEEE, the influence of the market on the valorization of secondary materials), and, finally, the dominance of economic efficiency over the proximity advantage for the disposal of solid waste. On the other hand, the main drivers for collection emerged to be the adoption of education programmes in schools and constant communication campaigns directed to citizens in order to improve WEEE collection and recycling behaviour; the adoption of economic and non-economic incentives; the availability of municipal collection points (ecological islands) and other collection centres characterised by easy access by citizens for the delivery of their WEEE. Full article

Although the importance and benefits of logistics integration in omni-channel (OC) retailing have been discussed in the literature, the impacts of logistics integration from the dimension of internal and external logistics remain unknown. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate the relationships among internal and external logistics integration capabilities, supply-chain integration (SCI), and financial performance (FP) in OC retailing based on the dynamic capability view. An empirical study is conducted based on a survey of 230 OC retailers in China’s market. Factor analysis and regression analysis are conducted to examine the hypotheses of the proposed conceptual model. The quantitative analyses show that the internal logistics integration capability is significantly related to the external logistics integration capability, and they both have positive effects on SCI, while the external logistics integration capability generates a higher impact (i.e., almost 1.5 times that of the internal logistics integration capability). The numerical results also demonstrate that the logistics integration capabilities and SCI have similar positive effects on FP (i.e., all the relevant regression coefficients show values around 0.25), and SCI plays a partial intermediary role in the relationships between logistics integration capabilities and FP. Furthermore, the quantitative evidence addresses the fact that the FP is not influenced by OC retailers’ characteristics, indicating a fair business environment in the OC retail industry. Full article

Water resources in arid and semi-arid inland regions are highly vulnerable, facing threats from global climate change and human activities. Ensuring water resource sustainability requires scientifically evaluating the vulnerability of water resources and its driving factors. Taking the Shule River Basin, an inland river in northwest China, as an example, this study established an assessment system considering 16 influencing factors based on three aspects, including natural vulnerability, anthropogenic vulnerability, and carrying capacity vulnerability. The mature-element fuzzy model based on comprehensive weight and the Delphi method were used to evaluate the water resource vulnerability of the basin from 2005 to 2021. The results were as follows: (1) The water resource vulnerability in the Shule River Basin was between severe and moderate from 2005 to 2021, with a trend towards severe vulnerability. (2) The barrier analysis at the index level shows that factors of natural vulnerability had a low impact on water resource vulnerability in the basin from 2005 to 2019 but exerted a greater impact in 2020–2021, an impact that was far higher than that caused by factors of man-made vulnerability and water resource vulnerability. The impact of factors of anthropogenic vulnerability on water resource vulnerability was relatively low in the entire study period, except in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2021. In 2005–2010, the factors of bearing capacity vulnerability had a great impact on water resource vulnerability, but in 2011–2021, the impact was alleviated and was gradually reduced. (3) Among the 16 factors affecting water resource vulnerability, the obstacle degree was higher than 6.5% for the following factors: the ratio of irrigation water use on farmland, the annual precipitation, total water resources, the annual quantity of wastewater effluent, the urbanization rate, the surface water control rate, and the degree of groundwater resource amount, exploration, and utilization obstacle values. Full article

The bit–rock interaction is a key point in the fracture process observed in excavation applications, which makes its analysis relevant. As the discrete element method (DEM) has been successfully applied to study rock breakage behavior, we apply it in the present study to analyze various aspects of the bit–rock interaction. This research focuses on numerically analyzing the bit–rock interaction, encompassing the force penetration relationship (FPR), mechanical energy transfer to the rock, and the efficiency of the mechanical energy transfer process. In order to perform this analysis, we simulate various bit radii and impact velocities. In this study, we establish a power–law function to describe the relationship between the energy transferred to the rock and the force, both as functions of bit penetration. The least-squares method is employed to accomplish this determination. Remarkably, it was observed that the latter aligns with the Hertzian contact law when lower impact velocities of the bit are employed. Moreover, a bit-radius-dependent optimal velocity for the mechanical energy transfer process was determined, signifying its significance in the design of excavation tools. The primary conclusion drawn from this research is the quantification of the influence of both the bit impact velocity and the bit radius on the force penetration relationship during the bit–rock interaction. This quantification was achieved by employing the coefficients derived from the regression model established for the FPR. These findings hold practical implications for the enhancement of excavation tools’ efficiency during the design phase, thus contributing to advancements in the field of excavation engineering. Full article

Architecture plays a crucial role in expressing identities. Cultural heritage as a sustainable process identifies the representation of architectural identity and its continuity. This study aims to create a model of the sustainable continuity of cultural heritage as an approach to studying architectural identity in Erbil. This study contributes to revealing a comprehensive model that includes the relationship between inherited and created sustainable elements related to cultural heritage that affects the continuity of architectural identity. The study combined visual analysis using graphical representation, the analysis of previous studies, field surveys, and questionnaire surveys as methods of data collection. The rationale behind selecting Erbil is related to its unique sustainable developments related to its cultural heritage through the ages, as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. This paper built two hypotheses. The first assumes that there is a significant correlation between elements that represent cultural heritage as a sustainable process and the continuity of architectural identity, and the second assumes that certain elements of cultural heritage have a greater effect on the continuity of architectural identity. The proposed model revealed a strong correlation between independent variables that represent cultural heritage frameworks such as the typo-morphology of house layouts and facades, sociocultural factors, and sustainable development factors and the dependent factor of the continuity of architectural identity in houses situated in Erbil. The regression analysis demonstrated that the most effective factor contributing to the continuity of the architectural identity of houses in Erbil is the physical characteristics related to the typo morphology of the house’s plan layout. Full article

The universalization of higher education and the uncertainty of the labor market in China has rendered the career development of college students increasingly important. However, previous constructs of career development and their measurements were mainly developed for psychological interventions based on Western culture, rather than educational practices in China. To investigate the career development of Chinese college students, this study examined a four-factor model of the Perception of Career Development Inventory for Chinese College Students. The four factors are self-seeking, competence enhancements, context exploration, and role matching. The present study confirmed the four-factor structure and provided evidence of satisfactory psychometric properties using a sample of Chinese college students (N = 739). Further validation and the investigation of educational effects need to be extended. Full article

In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were eco-friendly synthesized using banana peel (BPE) and date seed (DSE) extracts. Biosynthesis of both ZnONPs_BPE and ZnONPs_DSE was confirmed by using an ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer (UV–VIS), then followed by their characterization using different analyses: scanning (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), zeta potential analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial potency of ZnONPs_BPE and ZnONPs_DSE was evaluated using a broth microdilution assay against pathogenic strains to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). UV spectra confirm the formation of ZnONPs-BPE (290 nm) and ZnONP_DSE (400 nm). TEM, SEM, and XRD revealed their hexagonal crystalline structures with nanoscale size ZnONPs_BPE (57.4 ± 13.8 nm, −9.62 mV) and ZnONPs_DSE (72.6 ± 17.1 nm, −5.69 mV). FTIR analysis demonstrated the presence of various functional groups on ZnONPs’ surfaces that act as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents. The biosynthesized ZnONPs demonstrated a good antimicrobial potential against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis) strains. Especially, ZnONPs-BPE has a higher antimicrobial effect against Salmonella enteritidis (MIC = 0.75 mg/mL, MBC = 1.5 mg/mL), while ZnONP_DSE has a higher effect against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.75 mg/mL, MBC = 3 mg/mL). The present results are consistent with previous studies that reported the antimicrobial potential of green ZnONPs through ROS induction that in turn damages microbial DNA. Consequently, the present results support the use of different biowastes in NPs’ synthesis, which is a simple and sustainable way that helps with waste management and decreases environmental pollution. Full article

Colombia is considered a pioneer in inclusive recycling in Latin America and the state-led formalisation policies are considered a referent for the socio-economic inclusion of waste pickers beyond the region. Nevertheless, more than 60,000 waste pickers in Colombia are struggling to remain in place despite these inclusive recycling and formalisation policies. This paper examines the implementation of formalisation policies and their consequences for the population of waste pickers by comparing evidence from two Colombian cities: Bogotá and Cartagena de Indias. The paper draws on extensive qualitative community-based research methodology with waste pickers in both cities guided by an interdisciplinary epistemological position to support Colombian waste pickers’ political struggle for recognition from a theoretical reflection. This paper shows how formalisation policies became a mechanism of manifold dispossessions in both cities. This paper categorises three forms of enclosures faced by waste pickers: (a) material and socio-economic; (b) bodily and spatial; and (c) political and organisational. Finally, this paper concludes by urging to consider the situated social, political, and cultural facets of waste pickers’ labour to enhance grassroots reflections on how to achieve greater levels of social justice and inclusion. Full article

Strengthening ecosystem monitoring and improving the efficiency of ecological risk assessment are of great significance for the sustainable development of ecosystems in an arid area. Using remote sensing monitoring data of land use, the ecological risk status of typical arid areas is assessed, its spatial heterogeneity is analyzed from the perspective of space-time, and the key areas of ecological risk management are finally identified. The results show that (1) the transformation mode of landscape ecological risk was dominated by medium–low risk to medium risk, and low risk to medium–low risk as a secondary level; in addition, the ecological risk level of the region increased. From 2000 to 2020, the transformation mode of landscape ecological risk was dominated by medium risk to medium–low risk, and medium–low risk to low risk as a secondary level; in addition, the regional ecological risk level shows a moderating trend. (2) The spatial difference in the ecological risk level in the Hexi region is obvious, showing a gradual decline from east to west, and the spatial difference in the ecological risk level in the west is significant. (3) A total of 1194 grid units are identified as key areas for ecological risk management in the Hexi region, accounting for 43% of the study area. This study provides important theoretical basis for ecosystem monitoring and risk assessment management in similar areas of arid regions. Full article

Shared electric scooters (e-scooters) offer a potential strategy to mitigate environmental concerns and congestion. However, successfully addressing these issues with e-scooters requires adoption across a diverse array of consumers. Understanding the differences between users and non-users can improve shared e-scooter appeal, operation and safety. The objective of this paper is to compare shared e-scooter users and non-users in terms of their perceptions on safety, trip behaviors, other shared modes, risk propensity and willingness to adopt technology. A survey was conducted involving 210 (51.3%) users and 199 (48.7%) non-users of shared e-scooters. Binary logistic regression and chi-squared tests were performed. The results reveal that users demonstrated a higher risk propensity and were more likely to be early adopters of new technologies. Non-users tended to place higher importance on helmet use, while users have an overall increased feeling of safety associated with riding e-scooters in vehicle lanes, on sidewalks and being passed by e-scooters as a pedestrian. Overall, users also have a more positive perception of e-scooter sanitary levels than non-users, and a more positive perception on the sanitary levels and usability of e-scooters over e-bicycles. These findings can provide guidance to urban planners, municipal authorities and micromobility providers in developing infrastructure and policies to better support micromobility adoption. Full article