Sustainability

25 pages, 12400 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Risk Assessment of Crowd-Gathering in Urban Open Public Spaces Supported by Spatio-Temporal Big Data

by Yicheng Yang, Jia Yu, Chenyu Wang and Jiahong Wen

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6175; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106175 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5851

The urban open public spaces are the areas where people tend to gather together, which may lead to great crowd-gathering risk. This paper proposes a new method to assess the rank and spatial distribution of crowd-gathering risk in open public spaces in a [...] Read more.

The urban open public spaces are the areas where people tend to gather together, which may lead to great crowd-gathering risk. This paper proposes a new method to assess the rank and spatial distribution of crowd-gathering risk in open public spaces in a large urban area. Firstly, a crowd density estimation method based on Tencent user density (TUD) data is built for different times in open public spaces. Then, a reasonable crowd density threshold is delimited to detect critical crowd situations in open public spaces and find out the key open public spaces that need to have intensive crowd-gathering prevention. For estimating the crowd-gathering risk in key open public spaces, the quantified risk assessment approach is conducted based on the classical risk theory that simultaneously considers the probability of an accident occurring, the severity of the accident consequence, and the risk aversion factor. A case study of the area within the Outer-ring Road of Shanghai was conducted to determine the feasibility of the new method. The thematic maps that describe the ranks and spatial distribution of crowd-gathering risk were generated. According to the risk maps, the government can determine the crowd control measures in different areas to reduce the crowd-gathering risk and prevent dangerous events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 342 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Strengthening Food Systems Governance to Achieve Multiple Objectives: A Comparative Instrumentation Analysis of Food Systems Policies in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands

by Erica Reeve, Amerita Ravuvu, Anna Farmery, Senoveva Mauli, Dorah Wilson, Ellen Johnson and Anne-Marie Thow

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6139; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106139 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5944

Abstract

Political leaders from around the world are demonstrating interest in adopting food policies that account for the economic, health, social and environmental dimensions of food. In the Pacific Islands, decades of experience in implementing multisectoral NCD and climate policy has indicated that operationalising [...] Read more.

Political leaders from around the world are demonstrating interest in adopting food policies that account for the economic, health, social and environmental dimensions of food. In the Pacific Islands, decades of experience in implementing multisectoral NCD and climate policy has indicated that operationalising food systems policies will be challenging. We aimed to identify opportunities for food systems sectors to more strongly promote nutrition and environmental sustainability in addition to economic objectives. We conducted a comparative documentary analysis of 37 food systems sector policies in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. We applied theories of agenda- setting to examine how the frames employed by different sectors, and evident in policy content, shaped policy priorities and activities. We identified a predominately economic framing of issues affecting food systems sectors. Though there were clear policy aims to produce enough food to meet population dietary requirements and to promote an environmentally resilient food supply, aims operationalised more predominately through policy content were those that increase the contribution of productive sectors to food exports and import substitution. Food systems sectors in the Pacific Islands have clear aims to promote nutritious and environmentally resilient food systems, but policy instruments could more strongly reflect these aims. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

20 pages, 1540 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mass-Balance Method for Provision of Net Zero Emission Transport Services

by Igor Davydenko, Meike Hopman, Ruben Fransen and Jorrit Harmsen

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6125; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106125 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5351

Abstract

There is a strong need to reduce emissions from transport and logistics. Electrification and use of greener energy carriers and fuels provide a ready way to reduce emissions, but these technologies are generally more expensive than the conventional ones they are replacing. Fortunately, [...] Read more.

There is a strong need to reduce emissions from transport and logistics. Electrification and use of greener energy carriers and fuels provide a ready way to reduce emissions, but these technologies are generally more expensive than the conventional ones they are replacing. Fortunately, some shippers are willing to pay the extra cost to ship their goods using net zero emission transport solutions. To capture this demand, carriers need to decarbonize a part of their operations related to the transport volumes of the “green” shippers. This paper proposes a mass-balancing method based on carbon footprinting to equip the carriers with a verifiable way to market net zero emission services without creation of operational inefficiencies and physical separation of conventional and low emission transport. The paper shows feasibility and rather “easy” data requirements of the method in an application case on real world data of a deep-sea carrier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1367 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Digitisation of Existing Water Facilities: A Framework for Realising the Value of Scan-to-BIM

by Emiliya Suprun, Sherif Mostafa, Rodney A. Stewart, Harold Villamor, Katrin Sturm and Alex Mijares

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6142; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106142 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3875

Abstract

Building information modelling (BIM) has been implemented in many utility-based organisations worldwide, and it has proved to provide substantial cost- and time-saving benefits and improved performance and asset management especially during the operations and maintenance (O&M) phase. BIM adoption and implementation success rely [...] Read more.

Building information modelling (BIM) has been implemented in many utility-based organisations worldwide, and it has proved to provide substantial cost- and time-saving benefits and improved performance and asset management especially during the operations and maintenance (O&M) phase. BIM adoption and implementation success rely on the accurate asset information stored in BIM models, mainly for existing assets. However, the asset information stored in asset management systems is often inaccurate, incomplete, out of date, duplicated or missing. Capturing the accurate as-is conditions of existing buildings has become feasible with the recent advancement of point cloud from 3D laser-scanning, resulting in a shift from ‘as-designed’ BIM to ‘as-constructed’ BIM. The potential benefits of using as-constructed BIM models for facility operations are compelling. This paper identifies the cost and benefit elements of the scan-to-BIM process as part of a case study research project at a water treatment plant (WTP) in South East Queensland, Australia. The paper develops association mapping between the cost and benefit elements for relevant stakeholders and identifies the critical asset information for effectively managing the WTP case selected. Furthermore, the paper investigates the impact of various levels of detail (LOD) and levels of information (LOI) on BIM applications depending on the project and asset requirements. Finally, this paper presents a framework that water asset owners and stakeholders can utilise to obtain value from investing in scan-to-BIM for existing facilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Green Building)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 1965 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoicePerspective

An Innovative Approach for Subnational Climate Adaptation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems: The Case Study of a Regional Strategy in Italy

by Alessandra Pollo, Irene Piccini, Jacopo Chiara, Elena Porro, Daniela Chiantore, Fabrizio Gili, Riccardo Alba, Andrea Barbi, Giuseppe Bogliani, Marco Bagliani, Alberto Doretto, Carlo Ruffino, Elisa Malenotti, Agostina Garazzino, Renata Pelosini, Consolata Siniscalco and Simona Bonelli

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6115; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106115 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4117

Abstract

Since climate change impacts are already occurring, urgent adaptive actions are necessary to avoid the worst damages. Regional authorities play an important role in adaptation, but they have few binding guidelines to carry out strategies and plans. Sectoral impacts and adaptive measures strongly [...] Read more.

Since climate change impacts are already occurring, urgent adaptive actions are necessary to avoid the worst damages. Regional authorities play an important role in adaptation, but they have few binding guidelines to carry out strategies and plans. Sectoral impacts and adaptive measures strongly differ between regions; therefore, specific results for each territory are needed. Impacts are often not exhaustively reported by literature, dataset and models, thus making it impossible to objectively identify specific adaptive measures. Usual expert elicitation helps to fill this gap but shows some issues. For the Piedmont Strategy, an innovative approach has been proposed, involving experts of private and public bodies (regional authorities, academia, research institutes, parks, associations, NGOs, etc.). They collaborated in two work group, first to identify current and future impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, and secondly to elaborate and prioritize measures. Involving 143 experts of 46 affiliations, it was possible to quickly edit a cross-validated list of impacts (110) and measures (92) with limited costs. Lastly, a public return of results took place. This approach proved to be effective, efficient and influenced the policymakers, overcoming the tendency to enact long-term actions to face climate change. It could be used internationally by subnational authorities also in other sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 7722 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

In-Stream Marine Litter Collection Device Location Determination Using Bayesian Network

by Abdullah Battawi, Ellie Mallon, Anthony Vedral, Eric Sparks, Junfeng Ma and Mohammad Marufuzzaman

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6147; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106147 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3634

Abstract

Increased generation of waste, production of plastics, and poor environmental stewardship has led to an increase in floating litter. Significant efforts have been dedicated to mitigating this globally relevant issue. Depending on the location of floating litter, removal methods would vary, but usually [...] Read more.

Increased generation of waste, production of plastics, and poor environmental stewardship has led to an increase in floating litter. Significant efforts have been dedicated to mitigating this globally relevant issue. Depending on the location of floating litter, removal methods would vary, but usually include manual cleanups by volunteers or workers, use of heavy machinery to rake or sweep litter off beaches or roads, or passive litter collection traps. In the open ocean or streams, a common passive technique is to use booms and a collection receptacle to trap floating litter. These passive traps are usually installed to intercept floating litter; however, identifying the appropriate locations for installing these collection devices is still not fully investigated. We utilized four common criteria and fifteen sub-criteria to determine the most appropriate setup location for an in-stream collection device (Litter Gitter—Osprey Initiative, LLC, Mobile, AL, USA). Bayesian Network technology was applied to analyze these criteria comprehensively. A case study composed of multiple sites across the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Coast was used to validate the proposed approach, and propagation and sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate performance. The results show that the fifteen summarized criteria combined with the Bayesian Network approach could aid location selection and have practical potential for in-stream litter collection devices in coastal areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Marine Debris)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2487 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evidence of the Anthropic Impact on a Crustacean Zooplankton Community in Two North Patagonian Lakes

by Juan-Alejandro Norambuena, Patricia Poblete-Grant, Jorge F. Beltrán, Patricio De Los Ríos-Escalante and Jorge G. Farías

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6052; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106052 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3551

Abstract

Lately, agriculture, livestock, forestry, and aquaculture activities have been greatly developed in Chilean North Patagonia, negatively impacting the balance of the environmental conditions in lakes and affecting the development and survival of several native species. The aim of this study was to assess [...] Read more.

Lately, agriculture, livestock, forestry, and aquaculture activities have been greatly developed in Chilean North Patagonia, negatively impacting the balance of the environmental conditions in lakes and affecting the development and survival of several native species. The aim of this study was to assess the anthropic impact on a zooplankton community in two North Patagonian lakes. We collected samples from four sites belonging to Lake Icalma and Lake Llanquihue, including four replicates per site. Water samples were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics and zooplankton communities. We focused on the presence of Daphnia pulex, a species of zooplanktonic crustacean that performs a key role in capturing energy from primary producers to deliver it to final consumers such as fish. We found that Llanquihue showed higher total phosphorus, nitrogen, copper, iron, manganese, total dissolved solids (TDS), and conductivity (EC) than Icalma. Furthermore, ecological variables were greatly decreased due to total P, total N, manganese, copper, total dissolved solids, and conductivity, which changed the species dominance of the zooplankton community in Llanquihue, indicating some degree of anthropization. This study provides fundamental information on the anthropogenic impact on water quality, as well as on zooplankton diversity, highlighting the importance of monitoring the health of these North Patagonia freshwater ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecology for Sustainability: Priorities, Approaches, and Partnerships for Management and Conservation of Freshwaters)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3923 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Floating Wetlands for Sustainable Drainage Wastewater Treatment

by Mohamed Elsayed Gabr, Madleen Salem, Hani Mahanna and Mohamed Mossad

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6101; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106101 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4682

Abstract

The preservation of water resources in modern urbanized society is a major concern. In this study, a floating constructed wetland (FWT) pilot plant was designed and constructed for the treatment of a polluted wastewater drain. A series of experiments were run continuously for [...] Read more.

The preservation of water resources in modern urbanized society is a major concern. In this study, a floating constructed wetland (FWT) pilot plant was designed and constructed for the treatment of a polluted wastewater drain. A series of experiments were run continuously for a year in pilot-scale FWTs in a semi-arid area located in Egypt’s Delta. Four aquatic plant species (Eichhornia, Ceratophyllum, Pistia stratiotes, and Nymphaea lotus) were used to assess the performance of FWTs for pollutant removals, such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS), from drainage wastewater to reuse the treated effluent in irrigation practices. The FWT systems were fed drainage tainted water on a weekly basis, and the concentrations and removal efficiency were assessed in the experiments. The average reduction in BOD, COD, TSS, TDS, TN, EC, and TP were 76–86%, 61–80%, 87–95%, 36.6–44.1%, 70–97%, 37–44%, and 83–96%, respectively. ANOVA with Post-HOC t-tests show that the Eichhornia, Pistia stratiotes, and Nymphaea lotus have the highest BOD and COD removal performance, whereas Pistia stratiotes and Nymphaea lotus have the highest TN and TP removal performance. In all cases, the Nymphaea lotus performed well in terms of pollutant removal. In addition, a design procedure for a FWT systems is presented. For wastewater treatment, FWT systems have proven to be a low-cost, long-term option. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Treatment and Sustainable Utilization of Sewage Water)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 8609 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Are Smart Cities Too Expensive in the Long Term? Analyzing the Effects of ICT Infrastructure on Municipal Financial Sustainability

by Gabriel Puron-Cid and J. Ramon Gil-Garcia

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6055; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106055 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6669

Abstract

Cities around the world are attempting to become smarter by using data and technology to improve internal operations, make better decisions, and increase the quality of life. This technology-intensive use frequently comes with large investments in the ICT infrastructure necessary for smart city [...] Read more.

Cities around the world are attempting to become smarter by using data and technology to improve internal operations, make better decisions, and increase the quality of life. This technology-intensive use frequently comes with large investments in the ICT infrastructure necessary for smart city initiatives, which may not be financially viable in the long term. Financial sustainability (FS) is a useful framework for assessing how governments meet their financial obligations, using different indicators of financial performance over time by controlling for contextual factors. This study examines 1723 municipal governments; only 89 of these explicitly conducted smart-city initiatives in Mexico over three time points (2014, 2016, and 2018). Panel data techniques were applied to compare the effects of the investments in ICT infrastructure across municipalities with or without smart-city initiatives on five indicators related to the financial condition within the FS framework (i.e., cash solvency, budget solvency, long-term solvency, service-level solvency for revenues and expenses). The results show an association between ICT infrastructure and some dimensions of FS. The main findings suggest the importance of adequate financial analysis for long-term capital and budgeting decisions, to create a more solid smart city financial strategy for the long term. Specific recommendations for city managers are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Smart and Sustainable Cities: Emerging Technologies and Innovation for Digital-Era Governance and Long-Term Impacts)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 4578 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparison of Thermal Energy Saving Potential and Overheating Risk of Four Adaptive Façade Technologies in Office Buildings

by Shady Attia, Stéphanie Bertrand, Mathilde Cuchet, Siliang Yang and Amir Tabadkani

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6106; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106106 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6471

Abstract

Adaptive façades are gaining greater importance in highly efficient buildings under a warming climate. There is an increasing demand for adaptive façades designed to regulate solar and thermal gains/losses, as well as avoid discomfort and glare issues. Occupants and developers of office buildings [...] Read more.

Adaptive façades are gaining greater importance in highly efficient buildings under a warming climate. There is an increasing demand for adaptive façades designed to regulate solar and thermal gains/losses, as well as avoid discomfort and glare issues. Occupants and developers of office buildings ask for a healthy and energy-neutral working environment. Adaptive façades are appropriate dynamic solutions controlled automatically or through occupant interaction. However, relatively few studies compared their energy and overheating risk performance, and there is still a vast knowledge gap on occupant behavior in operation. Therefore, we chose to study four dynamic envelopes representing four different façade families: dynamic shading, electrochromic glazing, double-skin, and active ventilative façades. Three control strategies were chosen to study the dynamic aspect of solar control, operative temperature, and glare control. Simulations were realized with EnergyPlus on the BESTEST case 600 from the ASHRAE standard 140/2020 for the temperate climate of Brussels. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to study the most influential parameters. The study findings indicate that dynamic shading devices and electrochromic glazing have a remarkable influence on the annual thermal energy demand, decreasing the total annual loads that can reach 30%. On the other hand, BIPV double-skin façades and active ventilative façades (cavity façades) could be more appropriate for cold climates. The study ranks the four façade technologies and provides novel insights for façade designers and building owners regarding the annual energy performance and overheating risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Structural Sensing and Sustainable Infrastructure Maintenance)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2544 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Land and Water Productivity in Intercropped Systems of Walnut—Buckwheat and Walnut–Barley: A Case Study

by Helena Žalac, Vladimir Zebec, Vladimir Ivezić and Goran Herman

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106096 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2875

Abstract

Intercropping arable crops in orchards is a sustainable land use for intensifying agricultural production, under the condition of plants’ complementarity in sharing resources. This study investigated the aspects of water use and yields in intercropped systems of walnut and crops. To assess possible [...] Read more.

Intercropping arable crops in orchards is a sustainable land use for intensifying agricultural production, under the condition of plants’ complementarity in sharing resources. This study investigated the aspects of water use and yields in intercropped systems of walnut and crops. To assess possible temporal complementarity between crops and trees, a summer crop—buckwheat—and a winter crop—barley—were intercropped in walnut orchards. The land and water productivity were studied under two designs: in an older, denser orchard and a younger one, with wider tree spacing. The results showed a reduction in yields and water productivity (WP) of intercrops due to the competition with walnut trees, with the exception of buckwheat in the younger orchard, where this summer crop surprisingly achieved the highest yield and WP. Nevertheless, in the system with mature fruiting trees, intercropping with winter barley was 53% more productive per unit of land and 83% more water-productive than growing walnut and barley separately but also 48% more land-productive and 70% more water-productive than the walnut–buckwheat system. Our results indicate positive effects of trees on microclimates but also emphasize the importance of species selection and systems design on the overall productivity of intercropped systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Soil and Water Management Challenges & Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture under Climate Change)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3058 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluation of Growth Rate and Biomass Productivity of Scenedesmus quadricauda and Chlorella vulgaris under Different LED Wavelengths and Photoperiods

by Ruth Chinyere Anyanwu, Cristina Rodriguez, Andy Durrant and Abdul Ghani Olabi

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6108; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106108 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 7630

Abstract

Cultivation has been identified as an essential stage for biofuel production. This research has examined two important parameters for the industrial production of microalgae, namely microalgae growth rate and biomass productivity. Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmusquadricauda were cultivated using a closed photobioreactor (PBR). [...] Read more.

Cultivation has been identified as an essential stage for biofuel production. This research has examined two important parameters for the industrial production of microalgae, namely microalgae growth rate and biomass productivity. Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmusquadricauda were cultivated using a closed photobioreactor (PBR). A novel approach for cultivation and energy input reduction was developed by incorporating periods of darkness during cultivation, as would happen in nature. Three different LED light sources (white, red, and green) were used to determine the conditions that result in the highest growth rate and biomass productivity. C. vulgaris and S. quadricauda responded differently to lighting conditions. It was found that, depending on the LED source and light period, different growth rates and biomass productivities were obtained. Overall, experimental results obtained in this study indicated that a white LED is more effective than green or red LEDs in increasing microalgae growth rate and biomass productivity. A maximum growth rate of 3.41 d⁻¹ and a biomass productivity of 2.369 g L⁻¹d⁻¹ were achieved for S.quadricauda under a 19 h period of white light alternating with 5 h of darkness. For C. vulgaris the maximum growth rate of 3.49 d⁻¹ and maximum biomass productivity of 2.438 g L⁻¹d⁻¹ were achieved by continuous white light with no darkness period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Utility System Optimization for Sustainable Industries)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3155 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Energy and Environmental Assessment of a Hybrid Dish-Stirling Concentrating Solar Power Plant

by Stefania Guarino, Alessandro Buscemi, Antonio Messineo and Valerio Lo Brano

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6098; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106098 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4342

Abstract

Although the 2019 global pandemic slowed the growing trend of CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere, it has since resumed its rise, prompting world leaders to accelerate the generation of electricity from renewable sources. The study presented in this paper is focused on [...] Read more.

Although the 2019 global pandemic slowed the growing trend of CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere, it has since resumed its rise, prompting world leaders to accelerate the generation of electricity from renewable sources. The study presented in this paper is focused on the evaluation of the energy and environmental benefits corresponding to the hypothesis of hybridizing a dish-Stirling plant installed on the university campus of Palermo (Italy). These analyses were carried out by means of dynamic simulations based on an accurate energy model validated with the experimental data collected during the measurement campaign that occurred during the period of operation of the reference plant. Assuming different scenarios for managing the production period and different fuels, including renewable fuels, it was found that the annual electricity production of the dish-Stirling system operating in solar mode can be increased by between 47% and 78% when hybridized. This would correspond to an increase in generation efficiency ranging from 4% to 16%. Finally, assuming that the dish-Stirling system is hybridized with renewable combustible gases, this would result in avoided CO₂ emissions of between approximately 1594 and 3953 tons over the 25-year lifetime of the examined plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clever Fuel Usage: Consumption, Emissions and Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1710 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Environmental Impacts of Boom-Corridor and Selectively Thinned Small-Diameter-Tree Forests

by Teresa de la Fuente, Dan Bergström, Raul Fernandez-Lacruz, Teppo Hujala, Nike Krajnc, Ruben Laina, Tomas Nordfjell, Matevz Triplat and Eduardo Tolosana

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6075; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106075 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2717

Abstract

European forest stands of small-diameter trees can provide industries with biomass as an alternative to fossil use. Small-tree harvesting is costly using conventional methods but using accumulating felling heads (AFH) in combination with a novel boom-corridor thinning (BCT) technique can increase harvester productivity [...] Read more.

European forest stands of small-diameter trees can provide industries with biomass as an alternative to fossil use. Small-tree harvesting is costly using conventional methods but using accumulating felling heads (AFH) in combination with a novel boom-corridor thinning (BCT) technique can increase harvester productivity and supply cost efficiency. This method has great potential to reduce costs, but its environmental impact compared with selective thinning (ST) needs to be determined. The objectives of this study were therefore to quantify and compare tree and soil damage as well as air, water and soil emissions for both BCT and ST in various European small-diameter-tree forests. Trials were performed in 84 study units (42 replications per thinning technique) across four countries. Damaged trees (with a diameter at breast height ≥ 7 cm) were measured after thinning and after forwarding. Harvesting emissions were calculated from a life cycle assessment. The percentage of remaining trees that had been damaged by the harvesting processes was 13% and 19% for BCT and ST, respectively, and the difference was significant. BCT exhibited the lowest emissions in all environmental impact categories considered, in all countries. Greenhouse gas emissions were on average 17% lower for BCT. BCT in small-diameter-tree stands therefore reduces the environmental impact of thinning operations compared with conventional methods, and results in less damage to the remaining trees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Forestry)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 4008 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Temporal Perspective in Eco² Building Design

by Patricia Schneider-Marin and Werner Lang

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6025; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106025 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3580

Abstract

The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector has great potential and responsibility for reducing its considerable resource consumption and high share of global emissions. However, economic factors are often cited as barriers to more environmentally friendly solutions in building design. Hence, environmental and [...] Read more.

The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector has great potential and responsibility for reducing its considerable resource consumption and high share of global emissions. However, economic factors are often cited as barriers to more environmentally friendly solutions in building design. Hence, environmental and economic life cycle assessment (LCA and LCC) are of utmost importance in building design. They serve as the base methodologies for what we call the “Eco²” framework. In this context, monetary valuation of multiple environmental impacts allows to integrate the results as a basis for design decisions. A case study representative of small-scale office buildings in Germany illustrates the Eco² framework and shows the influence of temporal parameters (discount rates and price changes), as well as of differing monetary valuation, on the ranking of design options. Varying the temporal parameters affects the ranking of different solutions for the structure and finishes of the case study building but not for its mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems and operation. However, the ratio of environmental life cycle cost (eLCC) to financial life cycle cost (fLCC) is significantly higher for MEP systems and operation than for the structure and finishes. This investigation shows that it is possible to achieve simultaneous emission and cost savings, whereas temporal factors can decisively influence decision making in design processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Thinking and Sustainability Assessment of Buildings)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3600 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Improving the Sustainability of Urban Water Management through Innovative Groundwater Recharge System (GRS)

by Abedin Mohammad-Hosseinpour and José-Luis Molina

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5990; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105990 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6102

Abstract

Negative impacts of groundwater overuse have always been one of the problems of modern cities in arid and semi-arid regions; rapid population growth and climate change have also exacerbated these problems in many areas. One of the best approaches to deal with the [...] Read more.

Negative impacts of groundwater overuse have always been one of the problems of modern cities in arid and semi-arid regions; rapid population growth and climate change have also exacerbated these problems in many areas. One of the best approaches to deal with the impacts of these phenomena (soil subsidence, decline in groundwater quality, and seawater intrusion) is to artificially recharge water into aquifers and raise the groundwater level. In this paper, an innovative solution called Groundwater Recharge Systems (GRS) is proposed with high efficiency, low cost, and fast implementation capability to address these problems. The proposed solution also has the capability of being constructed in urban environments without the need to allocate any spacious land or the need to use any sophisticated technologies. The study of implementing the proposed groundwater recharge systems in the study area showed that the performance of this system, even in worst-case scenarios, will be very significant even considering climate change impacts such as seawater level rise and decline in precipitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Planning and Management of Urban Water Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2178 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Sustainability and Circular Economy Perspectives of Materials for Thermoelectric Modules

by Manuela Castañeda, Elkin I. Gutiérrez-Velásquez, Claudio E. Aguilar, Sergio Neves Monteiro, Andrés A. Amell and Henry A. Colorado

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5987; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105987 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5376

Abstract

The growing demand for energy and the environmental problems derived from this problem are arousing interest throughout the world in the development of clean and efficient alternative energy sources, which involve ecological processes and materials. The materials used in the processes associated with [...] Read more.

The growing demand for energy and the environmental problems derived from this problem are arousing interest throughout the world in the development of clean and efficient alternative energy sources, which involve ecological processes and materials. The materials used in the processes associated with thermoelectric generation technology will provide solutions to this situation. Materials related to energy make it possible to generate energy from waste heat residues, which are derived from various industrial processes in which significant fractions of residual energy are deposited into the environment. However, despite the fact that thermoelectric technology represents some relative advantages in relation to other energy generation processes, it in turn faces some technical limitations such as its low efficiency with respect to the high costs that its implementation demands today, and this has been the subject of intense research in recent years. On the other hand, the sustainability of the processes when analyzed from a circular economy perspective must be taken into account for the implementation of this technology, particularly when considering its large-scale implementation. In this article, a systematic search focused on the sustainability of thermoelectric modules is carried out as a step towards a circular economy model. The review aims to examine recent developments and trends in the development of thermoelectric systems in order to promote initiatives in favor of the environment. The aim of this study is to present a current overview, including trends and limitations, in research related to thermoelectric materials. As a result of this analysis, it was found that aspects related to costs and initiatives related to circular economy models have been little explored, which represents not only an opportunity for the development of new approaches in the conception of thermoelectric systems, but also for the conception of optimized designs that address the current limitations of this technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Materials for Civil Construction: Utilization and Advantages)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2174 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Sustainability Potential of Upcycling

by Jagdeep Singh

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5989; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105989 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 9319

Abstract

The upcycling trend has received renewed attention in the past few years due to growing concerns for the environment related to increased resource consumption and waste volumes. Indeed, cities across the world are supporting resource upcycling initiatives by establishing do-it-yourself (DIY) repair cafes [...] Read more.

The upcycling trend has received renewed attention in the past few years due to growing concerns for the environment related to increased resource consumption and waste volumes. Indeed, cities across the world are supporting resource upcycling initiatives by establishing do-it-yourself (DIY) repair cafes and makerspaces as a means to transform societies towards sustainable development. However, the sustainability potential of such upcycling initiatives is unknown due to the lack of theoretical frameworks. This research aims to explore the direct and indirect social, economic, and environmental implications of upcycling activities at DIY bicycle repair studios. The main objectives of the study were to: (1) examine the upcycling activities in these studios that contribute to slowing and closing the material cycles, (2) explore the behavioral implications of the users of these maker spaces in the context of environmental sustainability, and (3) propose ways to evaluate the broad environmental impacts of the upcycling activities at these studios. The objectives were explored in three case studies—2 in Sweden (Cykelköket in Malmö and Bagarmossens Cykelköket in Stockholm) and 1 in Switzerland (Point Vélo, Lausanne). Semi-structured interviews, user surveys, and participant observation methods are employed to collect qualitative, and quantitative data to formulate a systemic exploration of major activities and socio-economic exchanges at these repair cafes. The study identified multiple social, economic, and environmental impacts of upcycling activities and represented them in causal loop diagrams. Based on this, a framework for evaluating and governing the overall sustainability potential of upcycling activities is proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Consumption and Production by Upcycling: Advances in Science and Practices)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 4485 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Inventory Models in a Sustainable Supply Chain: A Bibliometric Analysis

by Katherinne Salas-Navarro, Paula Serrano-Pájaro, Holman Ospina-Mateus and Ronald Zamora-Musa

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6003; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106003 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5901

Abstract

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of inventory models in a sustainable supply chain. The methodology contains reviewing previous research with a performance evaluation, network analysis, and science mapping to identify the applications, trends, and future research topics. Scientific mapping examines the periods [...] Read more.

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of inventory models in a sustainable supply chain. The methodology contains reviewing previous research with a performance evaluation, network analysis, and science mapping to identify the applications, trends, and future research topics. Scientific mapping examines the periods and volumes of publications, authors, journals, countries, regions, organizations, subject areas, and citation analyses. The dataset was obtained with the Scopus database and analyzed using MS Excel and VOSviewer. The search equation identified 335 research papers, which resulted in 131 significant manuscripts on the subject after being screened and filtered. The most notable countries in developing research were Iran, India, China, the United States, Canada, Taiwan, France, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Denmark. Saha, S., Ajay, S.Y., and Baboli, A. were the most cited authors. The journals that publish the most research were Sustainability, the Journal of Cleaner Production, and the International Journal of Production Economics. Some research focuses on reducing carbon emissions and polluting agents applied in different industries in China, Brazil, India, and others. The main findings were the number of industry sectors researching this topic, increasing the number of publications, and promoting the proper use of resources within a sustainable supply chain. There are many investigations of theoretical models that have applications in real-life cases. There is also evidence of the high importance of promoting sustainable development. The emissions regulations in a green supply chain applied to agricultural products have allowed for more actions to achieve responsible production and consumption, as seen in applied research in the pulp and paper industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain and Operations Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1076 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exploring Consumers’ Attitudes towards Food Products Derived by New Plant Breeding Techniques

by Gabriella Vindigni, Iuri Peri, Federica Consentino, Roberta Selvaggi and Daniela Spina

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5995; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105995 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3621

Abstract

New plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) are seen as promising and innovative tools to achieve food security and food safety. Biotechnological innovations have great potential to address sustainable food development, and they are expected in the near future to play a critical role in [...] Read more.

New plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) are seen as promising and innovative tools to achieve food security and food safety. Biotechnological innovations have great potential to address sustainable food development, and they are expected in the near future to play a critical role in feeding a growing population without exerting added pressure on the environment. There is, however, a considerable debate as to how these new techniques should be regulated and whether some or all of them should fall within the scope of EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), despite the product obtained being free from genes foreign to the species. In the EU, the adoption of these methods does not rely only on the scientific community but requires social acceptance and a political process that leads to an improved regulatory framework. In this paper, we present the results of an online survey carried out in Italy with 700 randomly selected participants on consumer attitudes towards food obtained by NPBTs. By applying the decision tree machine learning algorithm J48 to our dataset, we identified significant attributes to predict the main drivers of purchasing such products. A classification model accuracy assessment has also been developed to evaluate the overall performance of the classifier. The result of the model highlighted the role of consumers’ self-perceived knowledge and their trust in the European approval process for NPBT, as well as the need for a detailed label. Our findings may support decision makers and underpin the development of NPBT products in the market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Multifaceted Nature of Food and Nutrition Insecurity around the World and Foodservice Business)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 5831 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Consumer Concern and Willingness to Pay for Plastic Alternatives in Food Service

by Emily Fischbach, Eric Sparks, Kenneth Hudson, Shoon Lio and Elizabeth Englebretson

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5992; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105992 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5405

Abstract

Plastic food service packaging represents a large source of plastic waste and marine debris. Currently, most food service business operators are resistant to changing to environmentally friendly alternatives due to perceived cost and loss of business due to passing these costs onto the [...] Read more.

Plastic food service packaging represents a large source of plastic waste and marine debris. Currently, most food service business operators are resistant to changing to environmentally friendly alternatives due to perceived cost and loss of business due to passing these costs onto the consumer. To address these issues, we assessed the willingness of consumers to pay for plastic alternatives in both dine-in and takeout scenarios at restaurants in relation to levels of environmental concern, environmental identity, and demographics through a survey. Data were analyzed using a combination of descriptive statistics, regressions, and exploratory factor analyses. Of the 1371 survey responses, nearly 66% of respondents indicated they would be willing to pay 40 cents or more per person per meal at a restaurant for plastic alternatives and that this preference did not vary between dine-in and takeout scenarios. Additionally, education level and level of caring for the environment were the two most significant factors that increased willingness to pay for plastic alternatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Marine Debris)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 291 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Economic Benefits of Supporting Private Social Enterprise at the Nexus of Water and Agriculture: A Social Rate of Return Analysis of the Securing Water for Food Grand Challenge for Development

by Ku McMahan and Saad Usmani

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5969; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105969 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3062

Abstract

This article attempts to evaluate the comparative socioeconomic benefits of funding performance-based private sector social enterprises and posits that the social rate of return of such investments is significant and exceeds expectations for similar investment portfolios. Using the case study of the Securing [...] Read more.

This article attempts to evaluate the comparative socioeconomic benefits of funding performance-based private sector social enterprises and posits that the social rate of return of such investments is significant and exceeds expectations for similar investment portfolios. Using the case study of the Securing Water for Food Grand Challenge for Development, we perform a social rate of return analysis on 16 water conservation technologies (WCTs) in 10 nations. Through using an extensive benefit cost ratio, we obtain the Marginal Internal Rate of Return whereby the discounted value of future benefits is equal to the reinvestment cost of capital for the SWFF portfolio. This allows the impact of SWFF to be comparable to other investments and serve as a benchmark. The resulting social rate of return metrics exceed the conservative expectations of impact investment funds as well as comparable foreign aid investments. The reasons behind this high rate of social impact are further explored and recommendations are provided accordingly for an alternative performance-based investment model of foreign aid disbursement that prioritizes scalable small and medium-sized social agribusiness enterprises in developing nations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Sustainability)

28 pages, 5612 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Climate Change Risk and Vulnerabilities Analysis in Trieste SECAP

by Marco Manzan, Giovanni Bacaro, Andrea Nardini, Giulia Casagrande, Amedeo Pezzi, Francesco Petruzzellis, Enrico Tordoni and Giorgio Fontolan

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5973; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105973 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4102

Abstract

Climate change is affecting more and more local communities, which are now facing different hazards; in answer to this threat, specific actions at the local level should be taken. The Covenant of Mayors (CoM) is an initiative that tries to involve municipalities and [...] Read more.

Climate change is affecting more and more local communities, which are now facing different hazards; in answer to this threat, specific actions at the local level should be taken. The Covenant of Mayors (CoM) is an initiative that tries to involve municipalities and communities in developing SECAPs, i.e., plans for sustainable energy and climate with the aim to develop adaptation and mitigation measures. In order to identify and evaluate hazards, the CoM developed a template relative to the current risk level and expected changes in the future. This paper develops a methodology to fill the template using a data driven approach instead of a heuristic one. The methodology was applied to the city of Trieste in northeast Italy and uses local weather station data and projections obtained from GCM-RCM models. Data were manipulated using different approaches for current risk levels and the Mann–Kendall test is proposed as a method to identify the future evolution of hazard intensity and frequency. The results showed that the developed approach could help municipalities in developing their SECAPs and in identifying the present and future evolution of hazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Governance for Sustainable Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1689 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Toxic and Trace Elements in Seaweeds from a North Atlantic Ocean Region (Tenerife, Canary Islands)

by Soraya Paz, Carmen Rubio-Armendáriz, Inmaculada Frías, Fernando Guillén-Pino, Daniel Niebla-Canelo, Samuel Alejandro-Vega, Ángel J. Gutiérrez, Arturo Hardisson and Dailos González-Weller

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5967; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105967 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3285

Abstract

Canary Islands is a North Atlantic Ocean archipelago in the Macaronesian region that stand out for its great algae diversity and its climatic conditions. However, even in this low industrialised area, human activities tend to increase the marine pollution. Asparagopsis spp. and Liagora [...] Read more.

Canary Islands is a North Atlantic Ocean archipelago in the Macaronesian region that stand out for its great algae diversity and its climatic conditions. However, even in this low industrialised area, human activities tend to increase the marine pollution. Asparagopsis spp. and Liagora spp. algae are red algae frequent in the Canary Islands’ coasts. Therefore, they could be used as bio-indicators of marine pollution for trace elements. A total of 30 samples of both algae’s species from Tenerife’s southern coast, specifically in Playa Grande, Porís de Abona, in Arico (Tenerife, Spain) were used to determine trace element content (Mn, B, Ba, Cu, Cd, Co, Fe, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn, Al, Cr) through inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP—OES). Highest Fe concentrations were found in Liagora spp. concentrations (1190 ± 1545 mg/kg dw) and Al (288 ± 157 mg/kg dw) was more significant in Asparagopsis spp. High concentrations of B were also registered in both species 80.2 ± 34.2 mg/kg dw and 77.9 ± 34.2 mg/kg dw, respectively. The recorded concentrations show a high contamination scenario in the collected area. Porís is known by its marine diversity and by its higher pollution levels, compared with other locations of Tenerife, due to the currents present on the Canary Island and its singular north orientation, actions must be taken to reduce pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Methods and Techniques for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Emerging Contaminants in Food and Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 1885 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Applying Marine Protected Area Frameworks to Areas beyond National Jurisdiction

by Emily S. Nocito, Jenna Sullivan-Stack, Elizabeth P. Pike, Kristina M. Gjerde and Cassandra M. Brooks

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5971; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105971 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6615

Abstract

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can provide a range of ecological benefits. Frameworks—including the IUCN protected area categories and The MPA Guide—offer tools towards evaluating an MPA’s objectives, types, Level of Protection, and potential effectiveness. However, the majority of MPAs exist in national [...] Read more.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can provide a range of ecological benefits. Frameworks—including the IUCN protected area categories and The MPA Guide—offer tools towards evaluating an MPA’s objectives, types, Level of Protection, and potential effectiveness. However, the majority of MPAs exist in national waters, raising the question of how these frameworks apply in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). We evaluated the existing ABNJ MPAs in the Antarctic designated through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) using the two above mentioned frameworks. The newly released The MPA Guide, which complements guidance from the IUCN protected area categories, provides perhaps the most exhaustive framework as it seeks to evaluate implementation, enabling conditions, and outcomes. The CCAMLR MPAs ranged from Category 1A (for IUCN)/Highly Protected (for The MPA Guide) to Category IV (for IUCN)/Lightly Protected (for The MPA Guide) due to differences in management objectives and activities occurring within the zones of the MPAs. Given ongoing negotiations for a new international, legally binding treaty for high seas biodiversity, evaluating an MPA using these existing frameworks will prove useful to allow for a full comprehensive picture of an MPA and what it can expect to achieve. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Sustainability: Socio-Economic Outcomes of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Achieving Zero Hunger Goal through Minimizing Waste in Food Supply Chain: Evidence from Asian Emerging Region

by Caiyun Liu, Hui Jiang, Daniel Badulescu and Dorin Paul Bac

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5930; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105930 - 13 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6342

Abstract

Agricultural products have taken center stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic as countries strive to become self-sufficient and independent. Despite this, Agri-products supply chain management has largely been ignored. Farmers are typically in charge of getting these products to market. The local market [...] Read more.

Agricultural products have taken center stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic as countries strive to become self-sufficient and independent. Despite this, Agri-products supply chain management has largely been ignored. Farmers are typically in charge of getting these products to market. The local market suffers because of the significant quantity of agricultural products wasted along the Agri-Food supply chain (AFSC), and export revenue is at risk. To address the issue of food waste in AFSC, this study identified the sources of food waste and proposed corrective measures for the local farming industry. Stakeholders from the farming community, transportation companies, and retailers were conducting semi-structured interviews and coding them using open-source coding. Lack of cold storage and improper handling and packaging of products have been found to have a negative impact on the distribution process in developing countries. In this regard, a well-designed supply chain strategy, network design, and information system can alleviate these issues. Farmers and transporters must be taught how to minimize damage during transport. Recycled packaging material can also be used, saving money while reducing the likelihood of product damage. This is among the pioneer studies that focus on the causes of food waste in AFSC in Pakistan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Waste Management and Sustainability in the Food System)

17 pages, 4201 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Novel Neural Computing Model Applied to Estimate the Dynamic Modulus (DM) of Asphalt Mixtures by the Improved Beetle Antennae Search

by Jiandong Huang, Mengmeng Zhou, Mohanad Muayad Sabri Sabri and Hongwei Yuan

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5938; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105938 - 13 May 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2679

Abstract

To accurately estimate the dynamic properties of the asphalt mixtures to be used in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), a novel neural computing model using the improved beetle antennae search was developed. Asphalt mixtures were designed conventionally by eight types of aggregate [...] Read more.

To accurately estimate the dynamic properties of the asphalt mixtures to be used in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), a novel neural computing model using the improved beetle antennae search was developed. Asphalt mixtures were designed conventionally by eight types of aggregate gradations and two types of asphalt binders. The dynamic modulus (DM) tests were conducted under 3 temperatures and 3 loading frequencies to construct 144 datasets for the machine learning process. A novel neural network model was developed by using an improved beetle antennae search (BAS) algorithm to adjust the hyperparameters more efficiently. The predictive results of the proposed model were determined by R and RMSE and the importance score of the input parameters was assessed as well. The prediction performance showed that the improved BAS algorithm can effectively adjust the hyperparameters of the neural network calculation model, and built the asphalt mixture DM prediction model has higher reliability and effectiveness than the random hyperparameter selection. The mixture model can accurately evaluate and predict the DM of the asphalt mixture to be used in MEPDG. The dynamic shear modulus of the asphalt binder is the most important parameter that affects the DM of the asphalt mixtures because of its high correlation with the adhesive effect in the composition. The phase angle of the binder showed the highest influence on the DM of the asphalt mixtures in the remaining variables. The importance of these influences can provide a reference for the future design of asphalt mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pavement Design, Analysis and Material Characterization)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2965 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Combined Effect of Ultraviolet Irradiation and Temperature on Hot Mix Asphalt Mixture Aging

by Ahmed Abouelsaad and Greg White

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5942; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105942 - 13 May 2022

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 3476

Abstract

Reliable accelerated simulation of asphalt aging is of significant interest to asphalt researchers and pavement practitioners alike. However, current laboratory aging protocols are either based on binder aging rather than mixture aging or use dry ovens to heat asphalt mixtures, omitting the important [...] Read more.

Reliable accelerated simulation of asphalt aging is of significant interest to asphalt researchers and pavement practitioners alike. However, current laboratory aging protocols are either based on binder aging rather than mixture aging or use dry ovens to heat asphalt mixtures, omitting the important effects of UV radiation. Binder aging cannot take into account the interactions between the binder and aggregate phases during aging, while the omission of UV radiation ignores an important catalyst in the aging process. In this study, a comparison of the effect of conventional thermal oven aging to the combined effect of heat and ultraviolet irradiation on the resilient modulus and surface texture of dense-graded asphalt field cores and gyratory-compacted samples was undertaken. Significantly higher rates of modulus increase with aging time were measured for the samples aged by both heat and ultraviolet irradiation. The gyratory-compacted samples showed more realistic results in terms of surface texture compared to the field cores, likely due to the extraction of field cores from a small area of pavement that was subjected to concentrated pneumatic tyre rolling, which was not representative of typical asphalt construction. It was concluded that using aging indices, calculated as the ratio of the aged value to the initial value, is recommended for asphalt aging investigations. The findings of this study highlight the significance and importance of developing aging protocols that combine heat, ultraviolet irradiation, and any other environmental factors that may affect the aging behaviour of asphalt mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Roads and Airfields: Pavement Materials and Pavement Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2578 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exploring a Pathway to Sustainable Performance in Manufacturing Firms: The Interplay between Innovation Capabilities, Green Process, Product Innovations and Digital Leadership

by Muddassar Sarfraz, Larisa Ivascu, Muhammad Ibrahim Abdullah, Ilknur Ozturk and Jasim Tariq

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5945; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105945 - 13 May 2022

Cited by 78 | Viewed by 8210

Abstract

In recent years, advancing industrialization and rapid climate change have considerably influenced the global consumption pattern of natural assets. Undoubtedly, this massive utilization of natural resources and hazardous environmental emissions have profoundly curbed the worldwide socio-economic context, substantially causing this ecological burden to [...] Read more.

In recent years, advancing industrialization and rapid climate change have considerably influenced the global consumption pattern of natural assets. Undoubtedly, this massive utilization of natural resources and hazardous environmental emissions have profoundly curbed the worldwide socio-economic context, substantially causing this ecological burden to amplify the harmful effects on countries’ prosperity. This study aims to improve the sustainable performance of manufacturing firms in Pakistan through innovation capabilities and green process innovation. The study has adopted a quantitative approach, and data has been accumulated through a structured questionnaire distributed among 299 employees working in manufacturing firms. A structural equation model using Smart PLS software was used to analyze the collected data from the respondents. The results have identified a significant correlation between innovation capabilities, green process innovation, and sustainable performance. The buffering role of digital leadership enhances the employees’ creative skills and sustainable performance. Additionally, the extent that green product innovation plays a mediating role between innovation capabilities, green process innovation, and sustainable performance has been contemplated. Henceforth, the current study also analyzes the moderating role of digital leadership in sustainable performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Advances in Industry 4.0 Technologies and Theories for Manufacturing Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 12499 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Sustainable Aviation Electrification: A Comprehensive Review of Electric Propulsion System Architectures, Energy Management, and Control

by Jinning Zhang, Ioannis Roumeliotis and Argyrios Zolotas

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5880; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105880 - 12 May 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 11276

Abstract

The civil aviation sector plays an increasingly significant role in transportation sustainability in the environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Driven by the concerns of sustainability in the aviation sector, more electrified aircraft propulsion technologies have emerged and form a very promising approach to [...] Read more.

The civil aviation sector plays an increasingly significant role in transportation sustainability in the environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Driven by the concerns of sustainability in the aviation sector, more electrified aircraft propulsion technologies have emerged and form a very promising approach to future sustainable and decarbonized aviation. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive and broad-scope survey of the recent progress and development trends in sustainable aviation electrification. Firstly, the architectures of electrified aircraft propulsion are presented with a detailed analysis of the benefits, challenges, and studies/applications to date. Then, the challenges and technical barriers of electrified aircraft propulsion control system design are discussed, followed by a summary of the control methods frequently used in aircraft propulsion systems. Next, the mainstream energy management strategies are investigated and further utilized to minimize the block fuel burn, emissions, and economic cost. Finally, an overview of the development trends of aviation electrification is provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emission Control in Sustainable Transportation System for Better Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 1652 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The COVID-19 Impact on Supply Chain Operations of Automotive Industry: A Case Study of Sustainability 4.0 Based on Sense–Adapt–Transform Framework

by Burak Eldem, Aldona Kluczek and Jan Bagiński

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5855; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105855 - 12 May 2022

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 23143

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of global manufacturing companies to their supply chains and operating activities as one of the significant disruption events of the past two decades. It has demonstrated that major companies underestimate the need for sustainable and resilient [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of global manufacturing companies to their supply chains and operating activities as one of the significant disruption events of the past two decades. It has demonstrated that major companies underestimate the need for sustainable and resilient operations. The pandemic has resulted in significant disruptions especially in the automotive industry. The goal of the study is to determine impact of the COVID-19 on supply chain operations in a Turkish automotive manufacturer and to develop a framework for improving operational activities to survive in the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) environment. The study identifies how the case study company has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and what challenges the company faced during the pandemic. A diagnostic survey and semi-structured interviews were used as data sources with qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results showed that the pandemic led to significant disruptions through various factors explained by shortage of raw materials/spare parts, availability of transportation, availability of labors, demand fluctuations, increase in sick leaves, new health and safety regulations. Findings also show the necessity to re-design resilience supply chain management by providing recovery plans (forecasting, supplier selection, simulation, monitoring) which consider different measures in different stages. In addition, the best practices were recommended for the case study by considering internal, external, and technological challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the given targeted guidelines and improvement for the automotive company might be applicable in the industrial practices for other organizations. The article concludes with future research directions and managerial implications for successful applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Sustainable Industry 4.0: Efficiency, Effectiveness, Evaluation, Development Frameworks)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2326 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Drying of Food Waste for Potential Use as Animal Feed

by Abdul Wasim Noori, Mohammad Jafar Royen, Alžbeta Medveďová and Juma Haydary

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5849; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105849 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6364

Abstract

A considerable part of food is wasted, causing investment capital loss as well as environmental pollution and health problems in humans. Indirect solar drying was applied to test the potential of drying and reusing this waste as a component of animal feed. The [...] Read more.

A considerable part of food is wasted, causing investment capital loss as well as environmental pollution and health problems in humans. Indirect solar drying was applied to test the potential of drying and reusing this waste as a component of animal feed. The effect of weather changes on drying kinetics and the effective diffusion coefficient, dried feed nutritional composition, and microbiological analysis of the dried product were investigated. A convective laboratory dryer was used as a reference method. Weather conditions have a crucial effect on the use of solar drying; one sunny day with appropriate conditions can reduce the water activity of food waste to below 0.3 and moisture content to below 6%. Much better fitting of experimental and model drying curves was achieved considering sample shrinkage, applying a more complex solution of Fick’s second law combined with an optimization procedure. The studied food waste had a good combination of nutrients, such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates; however, the amount of protein in the dried food waste was found to be lower than that in regular feed, and therefore, adding a protein source is recommended. Autoclaving of fresh samples reduced the total microbial counts of dried samples by more than 50%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biowaste Valorization for a Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Society)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 1722 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Regenerative Agriculture and Its Potential to Improve Farmscape Function

by Tom O’Donoghue, Budiman Minasny and Alex McBratney

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5815; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105815 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 54 | Viewed by 28073

Abstract

Recent reviews have identified major themes within regenerative agriculture—soil health, biodiversity, and socioeconomic disparities—but have so far been unable to clarify a definition based on practice and/or outcomes. In recent years, the concept has seen a rapid increase in farming, popular, and corporate [...] Read more.

Recent reviews have identified major themes within regenerative agriculture—soil health, biodiversity, and socioeconomic disparities—but have so far been unable to clarify a definition based on practice and/or outcomes. In recent years, the concept has seen a rapid increase in farming, popular, and corporate interest, the scope of which now sees regenerative agriculture best viewed as a movement. To define and guide further practical and academic work in this respect, the authors have returned to the literature to explore the movement’s origins, intentions, and potential through three phases of work: early academic, current popular, and current academic. A consistent intention from early to current supporters sees the regeneration, or rebuilding, of agricultural resources, soil, water, biota, human, and energy as necessary to achieve a sustainable agriculture. This intention aligns well with international impetus to improve ecosystem function. The yet to be confirmed definition, an intention for iterative design, and emerging consumer and ecosystem service markets present several potential avenues to deliver these intentions. To assist, the authors propose the Farmscape Function framework, to monitor the impact of change in our agricultural resources over time, and a mechanism to support further data-based innovation. These tools and the movement’s intentions position regenerative agriculture as a state for rather than type of agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainability in Agricultural Systems and Ecosystem Services)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 2421 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Energy Transition in France

by Badr Eddine Lebrouhi, Eric Schall, Bilal Lamrani, Yassine Chaibi and Tarik Kousksou

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5818; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105818 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 13884

Abstract

To address the climate emergency, France is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It plans to significantly increase the contribution of renewable energy in its energy mix. The share of renewable energy in its electricity production, which amounts to 25.5% in 2020, [...] Read more.

To address the climate emergency, France is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It plans to significantly increase the contribution of renewable energy in its energy mix. The share of renewable energy in its electricity production, which amounts to 25.5% in 2020, should reach at least 40% in 2030. This growth poses several new challenges that require policy makers and regulators to act on the technological changes and expanding need for flexibility in power systems. This document presents the main strategies and projects developed in France as well as various recommendations to accompany and support its energy transition policy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2460 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Approaching Sustainable Bike-Sharing Development: A Systematic Review of the Influence of Built Environment Features on Bike-Sharing Ridership

by Lidong Zhu, Mujahid Ali, Elżbieta Macioszek, Mahdi Aghaabbasi and Amin Jan

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5795; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105795 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6016

Abstract

Bike-sharing is known as a sustainable form of transportation. This travel mode is able to tackle the “last mile” transit issue and deliver financial, well-being, and low-carbon lifestyle advantages to users. To date, many studies have analysed the influence of various factors, including [...] Read more.

Bike-sharing is known as a sustainable form of transportation. This travel mode is able to tackle the “last mile” transit issue and deliver financial, well-being, and low-carbon lifestyle advantages to users. To date, many studies have analysed the influence of various factors, including built environments, on bike-sharing ridership. However, no study has exclusively synthesised these findings regarding the association between built-environment attributes and bike-sharing ridership. Thus, in this study, a systematic literature review was conducted on 39 eligible studies. These studies were assessed with respect to (1) bike-sharing usage, (2) studies’ geographical distribution, (3) data collection and analysis method, and (4) built environment factor type. Most studies were carried out in the US and Chinese cities. Variables associated with diversity, density, and distance to public transport stations and public transport infrastructure were frequently employed by the studies reviewed. It was found that BS stations with an average capacity of 24.63 docks and street network systems with an average length of 12.57 km of cycling lanes had a significant impact on the bike-sharing ridership. The findings of these studies were combined, and a series of recommendations were proposed based on them for bike-sharing service providers and researchers in academia. The findings of this evaluation can help practitioners and scholars understand the important built environment elements that influence bike-sharing ridership. Knowledge in this field will enable bike-sharing service providers to direct their resources sufficiently to enhance the more essential aspects of bike-sharing users’ satisfaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Design, Urban Planning and Traffic Safety)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3560 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Study of a Composite Biofilm Reactor for the Treatment of Mariculture Wastewater: Performance and Microbial Communities

by Kai Li, Pan Xu, Xiaoxiao Chen, Peijun Li and Yuewu Pu

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5743; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105743 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3065

Abstract

Mariculture wastewater is one of the main sources of saline wastewater. This study used a waterfall aeration biofilm reactor combined with a sequencing batch reactor (WABR-SBR) to treat simulated mariculture sewage. Despite the high inhibition by salinity, the reactor maintained a high removal [...] Read more.

Mariculture wastewater is one of the main sources of saline wastewater. This study used a waterfall aeration biofilm reactor combined with a sequencing batch reactor (WABR-SBR) to treat simulated mariculture sewage. Despite the high inhibition by salinity, the reactor maintained a high removal efficiency for organic matter and ammonium nitrogen. The ammonia nitrogen removal rate was greater than 99%, while that for nitrite, which is extremely toxic to farmed animals, was greater than 80%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that salinity affected the surface structure and composition of biofilms, which became compact and secreted more solute to resist the impact of salinity. High throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the main phyla in the biofilms were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Metagenomic annotation of genes further indicated nitrogen metabolism pathways under high salinity. The conclusions of this study can provide a theoretical foundation for the biological treatment of high-salt wastewater and provide a technical reference for further application of the WABR-SBR composite system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1054 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Conventional vs. Innovative Protocols for the Extraction of Polysaccharides from Macroalgae

by Damiano Spagnuolo, Antonio Di Martino, Vincenzo Zammuto, Simona Armeli Minicante, Antonio Spanò, Antonio Manghisi, Concetta Gugliandolo, Marina Morabito and Giuseppa Genovese

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5750; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105750 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3611

Abstract

Macroalgae are one of the most environmentally friendly resources, and their industrial by-products should also be sustainable. Algal polysaccharides represent valuable products, and the definition of new eco-sustainable extraction processes, ensuring a safe and high-quality product, is a new goal in the context [...] Read more.

Macroalgae are one of the most environmentally friendly resources, and their industrial by-products should also be sustainable. Algal polysaccharides represent valuable products, and the definition of new eco-sustainable extraction processes, ensuring a safe and high-quality product, is a new goal in the context of reducing the carbon footprint. The aim of the present work was to determine the influence of the extraction methodology on the properties and structure of the polysaccharides, comparing conventional and innovative microwave-assisted methods. We focused on extraction times, yield, chemical composition and, finally, biological activities of raw polymers from three macroalgal species of Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Phaeophyceae. The main objective was to design a sustainable process in terms of energy and time savings, with the aim of developing subsequent application at the industrial level. Extraction efficacy was likely dependent on the physico-chemical polysaccharide properties, while the use of the microwave did not affect their chemical structure. Obtained results indicate that the innovative method could be used as an alternative to the conventional one to achieve emulsifiers and bacterial antiadhesives for several applications. Natural populations of invasive algae were used rather than cultivated species in order to propose the valorization of unwanted biomasses, which are commonly treated as waste, converting them into a prized resource. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Environmental Research on Protists in the Bioeconomy Innovations)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 2280 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Developing a Building Stock Model to Enable Clustered Renovation—The City of Leuven as Case Study

by Evelien Verellen and Karen Allacker

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5769; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105769 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2643

Abstract

The existing building patrimony is responsible for 36% of the global energy use and 37% of the greenhouse gas emissions. It is hence a major challenge to improve its energy performance. According to the Renovation Wave, the average annual renovation rate should be [...] Read more.

The existing building patrimony is responsible for 36% of the global energy use and 37% of the greenhouse gas emissions. It is hence a major challenge to improve its energy performance. According to the Renovation Wave, the average annual renovation rate should be doubled by 2030 up to 3% and deep energy renovations should be encouraged. The Belgian city of Leuven works towards this target and is even more ambitious, setting their goal on becoming climate neutral by 2050. The strategy investigated in this study is to increase the renovation rate by clustering renovations, which is challenging since the Belgian building stock is highly privatised. Based on a thorough literature study, this paper examines various methodologies for building stock modelling. The main focus is comparing the required input data with the data availability, handling the data gaps, and defining their influence on the model’s accuracy. The findings are applied to Leuven by analysing the main drivers to cluster renovation measures. However, many data gaps appeared, leading to the selection of a GIS-enhanced archetype model enriched by energy data as the most suitable approach. To avoid misinterpretation due to differences in data quality, transparent reporting in stock modelling is recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Green Building)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 830 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction by Building a Robust Social-Emotional Preparedness Program

by Shira Daskal, Adar Ben-Eliyahu, Gal Levy, Yakov Ben-Haim and Ronnen Avny

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5763; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105763 - 10 May 2022

Viewed by 4843

Abstract

Despite the progress made in understanding the characteristics of earthquakes, the predictions of earthquake activity are still inevitably very uncertain, mainly because of the highly complex nature of the earthquake process. The population′s mental strength is of high importance not only to cope [...] Read more.

Despite the progress made in understanding the characteristics of earthquakes, the predictions of earthquake activity are still inevitably very uncertain, mainly because of the highly complex nature of the earthquake process. The population′s mental strength is of high importance not only to cope with an earthquake, but also to return quickly to functioning. Social-emotional preparedness for extreme adverse events and crises is a critical factor in the population’s quick recovery and return to full functioning. In the present study, we apply a multi-disciplinary lens to extend the scope of earthquake preparedness to include social-emotional programs. The goal of this study is to develop a robust “no-regret” social-emotional preparedness program (SEPP) along with methodological tools for evaluating the SEPP robustness against uncertainty in different earthquake scenarios. The research methodology is twofold. First, we develop the SEPP based on social-emotional proxies-for-robustness, and second, we apply the info-gap decision theory (IGDT) methods to assess the robustness of the SEPP in the face of uncertainty in different earthquake scenarios. The findings indicate gaps between the level of robustness of the SEPP in different scenarios. A key conclusion that emerges from this study is the need for a robust SEPP to make a significant contribution to the population’s ability to return to functioning. Such SEPP should be formulated to maximize the robustness against uncertainty in different scenarios, rather than the traditional planning based on a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Formulating a robust SEPP by analyzing the robustness of the SEPP against uncertainty will enable to make decisions immune to surprises. Ways to create or improve earthquake preparedness are suggested for policy and in-school application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment and Sustainable Disaster Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

36 pages, 781 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceSystematic Review

Nurses’ Work Environment during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Person-Centred Practice—A Systematic Review

by Cicilia Nagel, Albert Westergren, Sophie Schön Persson, Petra Nilsson Lindström, Åsa Bringsén and Kerstin Nilsson

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5785; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105785 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6492

Abstract

The work environment and especially the psychosocial work environment influence the mental and physical well-being of employees. The aim of this study was to identify and analyse the state of knowledge regarding nurses’ work situation, health, and person-centred work during the COVID-19 pandemic [...] Read more.

The work environment and especially the psychosocial work environment influence the mental and physical well-being of employees. The aim of this study was to identify and analyse the state of knowledge regarding nurses’ work situation, health, and person-centred work during the COVID-19 pandemic through a systematic review. Methods: Systematic Review, nine included articles. The theoretical swAge model was used as the framework in a deductive content analysis. Results: The result was presented in the nine determinate areas from the swAge model and showed that all nine determinate areas of the swAge model were of importance to both the nurses’ sustainable work situation during the COVID-19 pandemic and to person-centred care. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on nurses’ health, both physically but especially psychologically, with high levels of depression, anxiety, and burnout. Nurses experienced a lack of control and support from organizations. They had to work with limited resources and sometimes care for patients beyond their expertise. Conclusion: There is a further need for more studies that address person-centredness from an organisational perspective with the intention to develop strategies and measure activities on how to make the nurses’ work situation more sustainable, and to increase their ability to give more person-centred care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Healthy Working Life for All Ages—Work Environment, Age Management and Employability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1696 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Blockchain Technology: Potential Applications for Public Sector E-Procurement and Project Management

by Malik Khalfan, Neda Azizi, Omid Haass, Tayyab Maqsood and Istiaq Ahmed

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5791; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105791 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 9445

Abstract

Project implementations normally fail due to sustainable development problems that inhibit the usage levels required to facilitate successful implementations. This paper explores the successful implementation from a Bangladesh perspective. In particular, it identifies the possible applications of Blockchain in project procurement and management, [...] Read more.

Project implementations normally fail due to sustainable development problems that inhibit the usage levels required to facilitate successful implementations. This paper explores the successful implementation from a Bangladesh perspective. In particular, it identifies the possible applications of Blockchain in project procurement and management, and it develops a guideline for incorporating Blockchain into project management to improve the existing project and the procurement management practices in developing countries. This is a qualitative study with an interpretivist research methodology. By adopting an interpretive approach, this study construes knowledge as that only gained through social constructions, such as language, shared meanings, documents, industry reports, reviews of academic papers, and tools; it is a changing and relative phenomenon. This study reveals that developing countries are suffering in terms of the development of projects, including poor project management, a lack of transparency, poor procurement management, etc. A total of 38 issues were identified through this study, which are the main barriers to the successful implementation of public sector projects. One of the main reasons is due to the practice of awarding the lowest bidder during the procurement process due to the current regulatory requirements. This paper found that the Oracle platform, built on Blockchain technology as a cloud-computing platform, is one of the prominent E-procurement platforms that provides both the Blockchain platform and the cloud-based applications. Therefore, after observing and analysing the platform, it is found that Blockchain technology has the capability to resolve 25 issues out of 38 identified issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 493 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Entrepreneurs’ Life Satisfaction Built on Satisfaction with Job and Work–Family Balance: Embedded in Society in China, Finland, and Sweden

by Junguang Gao, Tao Chen, Thomas Schøtt and Fuzhen Gu

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5721; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095721 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5398

Abstract

Entrepreneurs are known to be more satisfied than employees, with their life satisfaction being built on their satisfaction with their job and work–family balance. We argue that effects differ among societies, drawing on theories about self-determination and culture. Representative samples of 1276 entrepreneurs [...] Read more.

Entrepreneurs are known to be more satisfied than employees, with their life satisfaction being built on their satisfaction with their job and work–family balance. We argue that effects differ among societies, drawing on theories about self-determination and culture. Representative samples of 1276 entrepreneurs and 3821 employees in traditional China and modern Finland and Sweden were surveyed by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), which is amenable to multivariate analyses. The effects of occupation upon satisfaction were found to differ among the societies, consistent with their cultural differences. These findings contribute to contextualizing theories about satisfaction being embedded in society and culture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Open Innovation and Entrepreneurship)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 8801 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the Human Critical Area (HCA) in the “Three Water Lines” Region of Northwest China and the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors between 2000 and 2020

by Zhiting Chen, Qing Ren, Tian Zhang, Zhewen Kang, Xiaoyan Huang, Peng Li, Xiaohu Dang, Xiaoshu Cao and Mingjiang Deng

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5728; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095728 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3814

Abstract

The Human Critical Area (HCA) is an area that characterizes the surface landscape created by human beings in the Anthropocene. Based on the signatures left by major human activities over the Earth′s surface, this research demarcates an arid inland region of Northwest China, [...] Read more.

The Human Critical Area (HCA) is an area that characterizes the surface landscape created by human beings in the Anthropocene. Based on the signatures left by major human activities over the Earth′s surface, this research demarcates an arid inland region of Northwest China, the “Three Water Lines”, into four HCA types: Agricultural Area, Built-up Area, Ecological Area, and Bare Area. This paper explores the HCA′s distribution and changes in the “Three Water Lines” region between 2000 and 2020 with land use/cover data, as well as the impact of socioeconomic factors on the HCA dynamics with statistics sourcing from authoritative yearbooks. To achieve this, the Land Use Transition Matrix is used to investigate the changes in area and distribution, while binary linear regression and stepwise multiple linear regression are applied to examine the single and joint effects of the socioeconomic factors. The main findings are as follows: (i) The four HCA types are distinguished quantitatively and by their distribution patterns. Ecological Area and Bare Area cover most (more than 90% in total) of the territory with extensive and continuous distribution. Agricultural Area is mainly found on the eastern and western parts of the region, with flat terrain, abundant water resources, and moderate temperatures. Built-up Area is the most concentrated but has an unbalanced distribution and the lowest quantity. (ii) Despite some discernible spatial and quantity changes at regional and county levels between 2000 and 2020, the general characteristics in HCA’s structure and distribution pattern have mainly remained consistent. (iii) Transitions between HCA types occur constantly, and the primary source type of the transitions differs from one another. Ecological Area and Bare Area form the sources of the most evident transitions. (iv) Agricultural Area and Built-up Area are more prone influence from some socioeconomic dynamics. By contrast, there is no evidence that socioeconomic factors directly affect Bare Area. As the first empirical study of the newly conceived concept, Human Critical Area, this paper sheds light on the renovation of geographic traditions of studying the evolution of the human-environment system through the lens of human activities-driven landscape changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Restoration and Sustainable Livelihoods in Vulnerable and Degraded Regions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 7322 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mechanical and Durability Assessment of Recycled Waste Plastic (Resin8 & PET) Eco-Aggregate Concrete

by Adewumi John Babafemi, Nina Sirba, Suvash Chandra Paul and Md Jihad Miah

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5725; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095725 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 6265

Abstract

The massive amount of plastic waste in our natural environment is a global concern. In this study, recycling plastic waste to partially replace natural sand in concrete is investigated. The performance of Resin8, a unique combination of all types of plastics and Polyethylene [...] Read more.

The massive amount of plastic waste in our natural environment is a global concern. In this study, recycling plastic waste to partially replace natural sand in concrete is investigated. The performance of Resin8, a unique combination of all types of plastics and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in concrete, has also been investigated. Replacement contents of 5%, 10%, and 15% for sand by volume were performed. The concrete mixes incorporating recycled plastic waste were tested against a reference concrete mix without plastic. The workability, compressive strength, tensile strength, oxygen permeability index (OPI), and effect of temperature were assessed. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was conducted on the plastics and plastic concretes, pre- and post-temperature exposure. PET at a replacement content of 10% slightly increased the compressive strength by 2.4%. Regarding the OPI test, all the mixes incorporating recycled plastic waste are classified as “good”. When exposed to a temperature of 250 °C, no significant change in compressive strength was observed for the concrete mixes incorporating Resin8 at a replacement content of 15%, and the mixes incorporating PET at a replacement content of 5%, 10%, and 15%. It was clear from the results that both Resin8 and PET are suitable as a partial replacement for sand in concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Utilization of Waste Polymer)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2729 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Durability Analysis of Building Exterior Thermal Insulation System in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Area Based on ANSYS

by Zhijia Huang, Yadong Sun, Lin Gan, Guo Liu, Yang Zhang and Tao Zhou

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5702; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095702 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3024

Abstract

External thermal insulation systems often have durability problems, including cracking, hollowing, and falling off, which seriously affect safety and energy-saving effects. Based on finite element theory and using ANSYS software, this paper studies the distribution law of the temperature field and temperature stress [...] Read more.

External thermal insulation systems often have durability problems, including cracking, hollowing, and falling off, which seriously affect safety and energy-saving effects. Based on finite element theory and using ANSYS software, this paper studies the distribution law of the temperature field and temperature stress of the external thermal insulation system. It was found that, compared with an uninsulated wall, the temperature stress of the substrate in summer was reduced by 52.9%, and the temperature stress of the substrate in winter was reduced by 50.9%. The temperature stress is mainly concentrated in the middle position of the external wall insulation system, and the middle of the wall can appear as a hollow drum and fall off. When the temperature of the external wall surface is 60 °C, the maximum temperature stress of the insulation system is 2.46 MPa, compared with the external wall surface of 70 °C—a decrease of 22.2%; the maximum temperature stress on the substrate is 0.46 MPa—a decrease of 20.7%. When the temperature of the outer wall surface is 50 °C, the maximum temperature stress suffered by the insulation system is 1.75 MPa, compared with the outer wall surface of 70 °C—a decrease of 44.4%. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature stress suffered by the substrate is 0.34 MPa—a decrease of 41.4%. This paper investigates and numerically simulates the durability of external wall insulation systems for buildings in hot summer and cold winter regions, and studies the durability of EPS insulation, which can provide guidance for other insulation material design and durability studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy, Smart and Interactive Built Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 385 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Corporate Sustainability and Risk Management—The U-Shaped Relationships of Disaggregated ESG Rating Scores and Risk in the German Capital Market

by Fabio Korinth and Rainer Lueg

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5735; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095735 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7732

Abstract

This study addresses the relationship between the (dis)aggregated ESG rating and different types of risk (i.e., market risk, idiosyncratic risk, total risk) in the German stock market. We investigate not only the overall ESG rating and the E, S, and G pillar scores [...] Read more.

This study addresses the relationship between the (dis)aggregated ESG rating and different types of risk (i.e., market risk, idiosyncratic risk, total risk) in the German stock market. We investigate not only the overall ESG rating and the E, S, and G pillar scores but also all the underlying category scores. Thereby, we provide in-depth insight into diverse CS operations. We cover 454 firm years (2012–2019) using ordinary least squares regression with firm and year fixed effects. Our main insights are the U-shaped relationships between CS and risk: Ecological investments first decrease systematic risk (beta), while overinvestment increases systematic risk again. Likewise, social investments initially decrease idiosyncratic risk, while overinvestment increases idiosyncratic risk again. Further findings suggest only one linkage between systematic risk and the social pillar score. In the category scores, a few more relevant linkages were identified, which indicates that disaggregation of the ESG ratings increases the explanatory power of models. In respect to findings from other capital markets, it appears that the effects of the ESG ratings on risk may depend on the existing level of sustainability in the capital market. Last, our study provides insights into the nonlinearity of the CS–risk relationships. Full article

13 pages, 1700 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Quantitative Ground Risk Assessment for Urban Logistical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Based on Bayesian Network

by Peng Han, Xinyue Yang, Yifei Zhao, Xiangmin Guan and Shengjie Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5733; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095733 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4395

Abstract

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been used for the delivery of medical supplies in urban logistical distribution, due to its ability to reduce human contact during the global fight against COVID-19. However, due to the reliability of the UAV system and the [...] Read more.

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been used for the delivery of medical supplies in urban logistical distribution, due to its ability to reduce human contact during the global fight against COVID-19. However, due to the reliability of the UAV system and the complex and changeable operation scene and population distribution in the urban environment, a few ground-impact accidents have occurred and generated enormous risks to ground personnel. In order to reduce the risk of UAV ground-impact accidents in the urban logistical scene, failure causal factors, and failure modes were classified and summarized in the process of UAV operation based on the accumulated operation data of more than 20,000 flight hours. The risk assessment model based on the Bayesian network was built. According to the established network and the probability of failure causal factors, the probabilities of ground impact accidents and intermediate events under different working conditions were calculated, respectively. The posterior probability was carried out based on the network topology to deduce the main failure inducement of the accidents. Mitigation measures were established to achieve the equivalent safety level of manned aviation, aiming at the main causes of accidents. The results show that the safety risk of the UAV was reduced to 3.84 × 10⁻⁸ under the action of risk-mitigation measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Airspace System Planning and Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 13417 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Analysing Key Steps of the Photogrammetric Pipeline for Museum Artefacts 3D Digitisation

by Elisa Mariarosaria Farella, Luca Morelli, Simone Rigon, Eleonora Grilli and Fabio Remondino

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5740; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095740 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6644

Abstract

In recent years, massive digitisation of cultural heritage (CH) assets has become a focus of European programmes and initiatives. Among CH settings, attention is reserved to the immense and precious museum collections, whose digital 3D reproduction can support broader non-invasive analyses and stimulate [...] Read more.

In recent years, massive digitisation of cultural heritage (CH) assets has become a focus of European programmes and initiatives. Among CH settings, attention is reserved to the immense and precious museum collections, whose digital 3D reproduction can support broader non-invasive analyses and stimulate the realisation of more attractive and interactive exhibitions. The reconstruction pipeline typically includes numerous processing steps when passive techniques are selected to deal with object digitisation. This article presents some insights on critical operations, which, based on our experience, can rule the quality of the final models and the reconstruction times for delivering 3D heritage results, while boosting the sustainability of digital cultural contents. The depth of field (DoF) problem is explored in the acquisition phase when surveying medium and small-sized objects. Techniques for deblurring images and masking object backgrounds are examined relative to the pre-processing stage. Some point cloud denoising and mesh simplification procedures are analysed in data post-processing. Hints on physically-based rendering (PBR) materials are also presented as closing operations of the reconstruction pipeline. This paper explores these processes mainly through experiments, providing a practical guide, tricks, and suggestions when tackling museum digitisation projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Heritage as Sustainable Resource for Culture and Tourism)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 4081 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Expansion of the Invasive Plant Species Reynoutria japonica Houtt in the Upper Bistrița Mountain River Basin with a Calculus on the Productive Potential of a Mountain Meadow

by Bogdan-Mihai Negrea, Valeriu Stoilov-Linu, Cristian-Emilian Pop, György Deák, Nicolae Crăciun and Marius Mirodon Făgăraș

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5737; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095737 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4934

Abstract

Many invasive plant species use interactions with their anthropic environment as a propagation factor and benefit from climate changes, which have become accentuated in the last decade. The way such species interact with climate changes, as well as their high specific ecological plasticity, [...] Read more.

Many invasive plant species use interactions with their anthropic environment as a propagation factor and benefit from climate changes, which have become accentuated in the last decade. The way such species interact with climate changes, as well as their high specific ecological plasticity, gives them a consistent advantage over native plant species. This work aims to demonstrate through a simple calculation the quantification of the productive potential of a wet meadow on which populations of an invasive plant species grew. The loss of productive potential induced by Reynoutria japonica Houtt on a mountain meadow in Ciocănești village, Romania, was the main objective. In the case of the productive potential of the meadows, a method for the general calculation of such losses was shown. The degree of anthropization of the studied area was also evaluated, correlating the degree of anthropization with the invasive species’ potential for spreading and affecting the mountain area. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1507 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Indicators of Sustainable Employability among Older Finnish Postal Service Employees: A Longitudinal Study of Age and Time Effects

by Subas Neupane, Saila Kyrönlahti, Prakash K.C., Anna Siukola, Hanna Kosonen, Kirsi Lumme-Sandt, Pirjo Nikander and Clas-Håkan Nygård

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5729; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095729 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3073

Abstract

We first clarify the definition of sustainable employability, and then we study how the indicators of sustainable employability among older Finnish postal service employees have changed over time. Finally, we estimate the effect of age on these indicators in a two-year follow up. [...] Read more.

We first clarify the definition of sustainable employability, and then we study how the indicators of sustainable employability among older Finnish postal service employees have changed over time. Finally, we estimate the effect of age on these indicators in a two-year follow up. A questionnaire survey among the Finnish postal service employees was conducted in 2016, and a follow-up was conducted in 2018. We analyze data from 1262 subjects who replied to both the baseline and the follow-up surveys. Sustainable employability is defined as a multidimensional construct using nine indicators and covering three domains (health, well-being and employability) based on Fleuren and colleagues’ model. Measurement time (repeated measure) is used as a within-subjects factor, and age is used as a between-subjects factor. The estimated marginal means of the indicators of sustainable employability at the baseline and the follow-up by age in years are calculated. No significant change is found in eight indicators (work ability, time and resources, recovery after work, job satisfaction, motivation, perceived employment, enough training on the job and relevance of work) of sustainable employability after the two-year follow-up. We find a statistically significant effect of time on self-rated health (F = 6.56, p = 0.011). Six out of nine indicators (self-rated health, work ability, time and resources, recovery after work, job satisfaction, and perceived employment) have a statistically significant effect of age between subjects. Partial Eta Squared (ŋ²_p) shows a very small difference in the indicators of sustainable employability during the follow-up, indicating that the employability of the workers was sustained throughout. We used the Fleuren model as the basis for our definition of sustainable employability. Although they are based on single items, these indicators of sustainable employability remain stable after the two-year follow-up. Significant effects of age between subjects are found for six out of nine indicators. The results suggest that age may be an important determinant of sustainable employability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Healthy Working Life for All Ages—Work Environment, Age Management and Employability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Editor’s Choice Articles

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI