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18 pages, 1555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Model Collaborative Inversion Method for Natural Gas Pipeline Leakage Sources in Underwater Environments

by Xue Yang, Wei Chen and Zheng Zhang

Water 2025, 17(11), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17111562 - 22 May 2025

Viewed by 354

The identification of leakage sources in underwater natural gas pipelines (UNGPs) remains a critical challenge due to complex environmental conditions. In this study, we propose a novel simulation–optimization method, integrating numerical bubble plume dynamics models with surrogate models to enable accurate leakage parameter inversion. First, a bubble plume underwater motion simulation model was developed based on the actual conditions of the study area to predict the future spatial and temporal variation characteristics of the bubble plumes in certain wave fields. Then, the simulation–optimization method was applied to determine the leakage velocity and offset distance of the underwater gas pipeline leakage source via inversion. To reduce the computational load of the optimization model by repeatedly invoking the simulation model, the Kriging method and a backpropagation (BP) neural network were used to build surrogate models for the numerical model. Finally, the optimized surrogate model was solved using the simulated annealing method, and the inverse identification results were obtained. The experimental results show that both methods can achieve a high inversion accuracy. The relative error of the Kriging model is no more than 12%, and the running time is 13 min. Meanwhile, based on the BP neural network surrogate model, the relative error of the BP neural network model is about 14%, and the running time is 2.5 min. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI, Machine Learning and Digital Twin Applications in Water)

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16 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Framing Social Sustainability in Infrastructure Theory and Practice: A Review of Two Road Projects in Mexico from a Business and Human Rights Lens

by Laura Treviño-Lozano

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042369 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3559

Abstract

While it has been more than 30 years since sustainability appeared in the development agenda, it remains a fashionable concept with an underdeveloped social dimension and no common understanding. In infrastructure, social sustainability has been neglected or limited to positive social impacts without considering negative social impacts linked to the prevention and redress of business-related human rights abuses on workers, end-users and communities. Through a literature review, this paper explores how sustainability is framed in theory, particularly its social dimension in the context of infrastructure. Across a qualitative analysis of a socially sustainable road project—Necaxa—and a socially unsustainable—Paso Expres—it further explores the elements that frame social sustainability in Mexican practice of road infrastructure, including the role that businesses and human rights play. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliable and Resilient Infrastructures for Sustainable Transport Systems)

25 pages, 428 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The UNGPs on Business and Human Rights and the Greening of Human Rights Litigation: Fishing in Fragmented Waters?

by Liliana Lizarazo-Rodriguez

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10516; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910516 - 22 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4843

Abstract

This article is written around the time a Dutch court ordered the corporate group Shell to cut its carbon emissions by 2030. The aim of the article is to contribute to the conceptualisation of the phenomenon this judgement unveils in terms of greening human rights litigation supported by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). It addresses, firstly, how claiming the protection of the Earth before courts is occurring in a highly fragmented legal, economic and social context as a way to overcome the multiple obstacles flagged by the literature on the UNGPs. Secondly, it assesses how human rights litigation seeking global justice has evolved in waves with common trends, such as activism from social actors and courts that rely on arguments based on progressive soft law. Thirdly, it identifies two trends in the current wave of green litigation: the anthropocentric perspective that claims the protection of the Earth in the public interest and the ecocentric perspective that claims autonomous rights for Mother Earth. Finally, the article flags some gaps in this third wave of human rights litigation, particularly the risk of disregarding the third pillar of the UNGPs: access to an effective remedy for marginalised communities that are not aware of these ongoing developments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Business, Human Rights and the Environment)

15 pages, 296 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Public Procurement and Human Rights: Barriers to Deliver on Socially Sustainable Road Infrastructure Projects in Mexico

by Laura Treviño-Lozano

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9605; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179605 - 26 Aug 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4135

Abstract

Public procurement involves a process through which the public sector buys goods, services and works from private suppliers to accomplish its functions, including road infrastructure projects. Sustainability, both within the procurement process and the infrastructure outcome, comprises economic, environmental and social dimensions. Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) is acknowledged as a core dimension of sustainable development goal 12 (SDG12) on sustainable consumption by States and production by businesses, and as a State-business nexus within Pilar I of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Clearly, SPP delivering sustainable infrastructure involves broad positive effects and benefits for involved stakeholders and leveraging power over business suppliers to include social sustainable criteria within the procurement process is in the State’s hands. However, SPP has been little implemented in developing States such as Mexico resulting in unsustainable infrastructure outcomes. This article explores, through two case studies, the barriers of socially sustainable public procurement of road infrastructure developed by businesses contracted by the State in Mexico. By identifying such barriers, the Mexican State could be able to implement measures to tackle them and deliver on social sustainable infrastructure aligned with its commitments on sustainable development goals and its international obligations on human rights. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Business, Human Rights and the Environment)

21 pages, 356 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Business, Human Rights and Climate Due Diligence: Understanding the Responsibility of Banks

by Chiara Macchi and Nadia Bernaz

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8391; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158391 - 27 Jul 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7516

Abstract

Under the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), banks, like all businesses, have a responsibility to respect human rights and to carry out human rights due diligence. Although climate due diligence is not explicitly included in the UNGPs, tackling an enterprise’s direct and indirect climate change impacts is arguably a dimension of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and should form part of the human rights due diligence process. At present, it is unclear how such responsibility applies to banks, whose contribution to climate change is mostly indirect. This article addresses the research question: how should the law be interpreted to form a coherent climate due diligence standard for banks? To address it, the article first maps out the climate responsibility of banks under international soft law standards and assesses privately developed guidance. It then elucidates the emerging concept of climate due diligence, reading climate change responsibilities into the now well-established corporate responsibility to respect human rights as authoritatively elaborated in the UNGPs. Finally, it explains how such normative standard applies to banks and unpacks the key elements that a bank’s climate due diligence process should include. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Business, Human Rights and the Environment)

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