Estimating Environmental Impacts in Modeling the Sustainable Development of Machines and Technical Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Life cycle approaches are key to identifying and reducing the environmental burden of products and processes. Sustainable development is socio-economic development that ensures that the needs of present and future generations are met without worsening quality of life in three areas: economic, ecological and social. Life cycle analysis is a standardized framework for assessing the environmental impact of a product or process that incorporates complexity, leading to generalized conclusions about the entire life cycle. Each product affects the environment, and the life cycle of most products is long and complex. Therefore, the goal is to strive to minimize the product's environmental impact in all phases of the life cycle.

For this purpose, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique "from the cradle to the grave" is most often used, from the production and assessment of the environmental impact of the materials used in the production of a given product, to its disposal or recycling. Life cycle assessment is also used for the comparative analysis of different systems or products. The LCA technique is also a useful tool for the evaluation of installation projects of renewable energy sources. It is an effective instrument supporting the implementation of this type of investment, and also indicates how to increase the effectiveness of its operation, while minimizing its negative impact on the environment. Each type of investment, including renewable energy, interferes with the environment and disturbs the natural balance of the ecosystem. Wherever humans appear, there is a risk of changing the naturally occurring natural conditions. In fact, there is no place on Earth where the natural equilibrium would not be disturbed in some way. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent and limit the effects of human activity. We must also decide how to reduce environmental damage and promote sustainable development.

Renewable energy installations can also have a significant impact on the environment. The positive impact of renewable energy, in the form of renewable energy production and the limitation of the use of fossil fuels, may lose its importance in the global perspective in view of the amount of energy and other media used to produce structural elements. Important too is the question of the disposal of waste produced after the demolition of the object, which may indirectly contribute to, inter alia, the impoverishment of natural resources, climate change, and impacts on human health. For most types of renewable energy sources, the environmental impacts do not arise in the exploitation phase, but in the production and disposal phase.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect creative and research papers presenting original research results, developed using innovative methods for the integrated sustainable development assessment of the life cycles of machines and technical systems.

Prof. Dr. Andrzej Marczuk
Dr. Robert Kasner
Guest Editors

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