Search Results (18,564)

Digitalisation is transforming organisational practices, making digital readiness essential for strategic planning. However, customised digital maturity tools for the Irish Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) sector remain limited. This paper presents the development and validation of a Digital Maturity Gap Analysis Toolkit (DMGAT) for the Irish AECO sector. The toolkit assesses digital maturity across three dimensions—people, process and culture; technology; and policy and governance—covering 16 sub-dimensions and 69 assessment questions. Unlike existing tools such as the BIM Maturity Matrix, VDC BIM Scorecard, and Maturity Scan, the DMGAT uniquely integrates ISO 19650 maturity stages with a comprehensive maturity level matrix across three key dimensions, offering a customised, industry-specific assessment for the Irish AECO sector that combines structured benchmarking with actionable gap analysis. The toolkit supports gap analysis by comparing an organisation’s current maturity profile with the detailed descriptors of higher maturity levels (maturity level matrix), thereby enabling prioritised and context-specific improvement planning rather than pursuit of a uniform maximum level. The study uses a mixed-methods approach within a Design Science Research (DSR) framework, developing the tool across six phases: literature review, defining dimensions and key performance indicators (KPIs), prototype development, testing, refining and finalisation, and deployment for practical application and empirical evaluation within real organisational contexts in the Irish AECO sector, demonstrating its use as an operational diagnostic and learning tool. Alpha testing by the organisational research team refined structural enhancements including maturity stages, KPIs, and maturity matrix. Beta testing with 20 Irish AECO organisations confirmed the toolkit’s relevance, scope, and coverage. Participants highlighted its clarity and industry alignment, while suggesting minor improvements in wording, visuals, and support materials. This study concludes that DMGAT is a useful resource for informed decision-making and digital innovation in the Irish AECO sector. Full article

This systematic review examines how digital technologies enable circular economy (CE) transitions across sectors and value chains. Analysing 266 peer-reviewed publications (2016–2025), we develop a comprehensive taxonomy of digital enablers—including IoT, AI, blockchain, cloud computing, additive manufacturing, and digital platforms—and map their applications to circular strategies such as reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling. Our findings reveal that data-driven technologies dominate CE implementation, with 89% of studies involving data collection, storage, analysis, or sharing functions. IoT emerges as the foundational technology for real-time tracking and monitoring, while AI and big data analytics optimise circular processes and predict maintenance needs. Blockchain ensures traceability and trust in circular supply chains, and cloud computing provides scalable infrastructure for collaboration. Manufacturing (41%) and construction (15.5%) are the most studied sectors, with strong European research leadership reflecting policy drivers such as Digital Product Passports. We identify three impact types: enabling (process optimisation), disruptive (business model innovation), and facilitating (ecosystem collaboration). Key barriers include technical complexity, organisational resistance, high implementation costs, and regulatory gaps. The review concludes with recommendations for integrated, multi-stakeholder approaches to realise a digitally enabled circular economy. Full article

Hybrid renewable energy integration (HREI) in rural regions has received limited scholarly attention due to heterogeneous resource endowments, complex development conditions, and multiple coordination challenges. To better understand the factors affecting HREI implementation in rural China, this study develops a stakeholder-oriented analytical framework and applies an integrated DEMATEL–ISM approach. This study identifies 13 critical factors and groups them into four dimensions: complexity of the system, benefit coordination, efficiency coordination, and information coupling. An integrated DEMATEL-ISM approach is employed to examine the causal relationships among these factors and to construct their hierarchical structure. The analysis is informed by a six-member expert panel and a four-round Delphi process. The results show that five factors belong to the cause group and seven to the effect group, while one factor remains balanced. In terms of relative importance, the three highest-weighted factors are synergy degree among multiple agents (CS1, 0.111), information coupling mechanism (IC1, 0.096), and coordinated management of key resources (EC3, 0.093). In terms of net causal influence, complicated rural environment (CS4, R − C = 1.00) is the strongest driving factor, whereas construction and O&M costs (BC3, R − C = −0.77) is the most dependent effect factor. The proposed five-level hierarchical model further indicates that the complicated rural environment, the sustainability of government subsidy policies, and the supervision and service constitute the foundational layer of HREI development. This study provides stakeholder-oriented insights for understanding and promoting HREI in rural China. Full article

The role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in advancing economic, social, and environmental well-being has been increasingly acknowledged in the broader context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For instance, CSR in Saudi Arabia is increasingly framed as a mechanism to support Vision 2030—a national strategy aimed at transforming Saudi Arabia to a sustainable economy. However, evidence on how financial institutions disclose and prioritize CSR at the country level remains fragmented. This study examines the extent and patterns of CSR disclosure across the Saudi banking sector by analyzing publicly available documents, e.g., annual reports and ESG/CSR reports (n = 36) from 10 banks (4 Islamic and 6 commercial). Findings indicate that CSR disclosures were primarily clustered into four macro themes—society, economic contribution, internal stakeholders, and environment—with a strong thematic emphasis on philanthropic activities, financial donations, disability support, and financing for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Environmental initiatives were disclosed less frequently and were generally narrower in scope, focusing on resource efficiency, recycling, and selective green financing. In addition, a comparative analysis between Commercial and Islamic banks revealed that the latter focused on values-based CSR, while commercial ones emphasized governance-oriented CSR. Full article

The implementation of a green hospital reduces negative impacts and contributes ensures sustainability, but Indonesia does not yet have a comprehensive model for assessing its status. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the sustainability status of hospitals, considering current conditions and future scenarios. The Multi-Aspect Sustainability (MSA) framework was used to assess sustainability status based on the implementation of a green hospital, integrating Triple Bottom Line (TBL), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and GGHH concepts across institutional, environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with five members of the green team and observations at R Syamsudin SH Regional General Hospital in Sukabumi. The institutional dimension was the highest, with current and future sustainability scores of 94.05 and 50.66, respectively. Meanwhile, the social dimension was the lowest, with current and future sustainability scores of 47.33 and 57.33, respectively. The findings presented in this study indicate an imbalance among the dimensions. This study highlights the scenarios of each leverage factor for each stakeholder. Further research is recommended to involve more hospitals in terms of ownership, type, and region. Full article

The agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in global economies, and optimizing its perishable food supply chain (PFSC) is vital to ensuring food security and transparency. The purpose of the study is to develop a blockchain-based smart contract to secure and provide transparency about perishable goods in the PFSC while delivering the goods between the stakeholders, such as farmers, mandis, and wholesalers. The study enhances collaboration between stakeholders by implementing smart contracts. The delivery status and the transactions have been safely recorded and verified by the stakeholder in the PFSC to ensure data integrity all the way through. The blockchain application has reduced fraud and streamlined the flow of goods and information. Moreover, this study emphasizes providing farmers with a straightforward route to the market to empower them. The benefits for the stakeholders are optimizing inventory control and developing appropriate decision-making skills. A three-echelon PFSC can become more resilient and is able to meet changing market demands by implementing blockchain-based smart contracts. Finally, the study employs blockchain technology to establish a decentralized and efficient PFSC, confirming a tamper-resistant system and enhancing stakeholder trust and collaboration. Full article

In karstic environments, water supply wells are vulnerable to rapid sediment transfer during intense rainfall events, often generating turbidity peaks that disrupt water-treatment operations. In Normandy (France), the high density of sinkholes and the complexity of transport processes in karsts complicate the identification and prioritization of sinkholes requiring mitigation to reduce sediment fluxes at water supply wells. This study aims to quantify the time-lagged impact of each sinkhole on turbidity peaks at a supply well using a cascade modeling approach that couples numerical surface erosion–runoff simulations with deep learning models representing hydrosedimentary responses through the karst network. Surface erosion–runoff was simulated using WaterSed. Hydroclimatic time series and WaterSed model outputs were used as inputs for our deep learning models. Several deep learning architectures were compared and optimized across multiple rounds to identify a best-performing model, which was then interpreted using interpretability methods. Interpretability analyses show that turbidity is primarily controlled by seasonal conditions and short-term rainfall accumulation, while multiple sinkholes contribute jointly to short time lags. Temporal attributions reveal rapid karst response followed by attenuation, consistent with reactive karst behavior. The contribution of each sinkhole to turbidity peaks allows us to identify the most important sinkholes requiring mitigation by stakeholders. Full article

This research examines the potential of Battlefield Tourism as a strategic tool for rural development, focusing on the cultural heritage of Extremadura, Spain. Given the specific nature of the regional tourism offer, this paper is presented as a case study to analyze how military historical resources can be integrated into sustainable tourism models. The study employs a mixed-methodology approach, combining a quantitative cross-sectional survey with complementary qualitative analysis of open-ended responses. A sample of 149 municipal managers was analyzed to evaluate their institutional perceptions of military cultural tourism and its potential integration into regional strategic initiatives. Results, supported by χ² tests and Cronbach’s α reliability analysis, suggest that the use of specific terminology associated with cultural heritage, rather than ‘war’ or ‘dark’ tourism, is perceived by local stakeholders as more socially and politically acceptable for rural development plans. Given the sample size and self-selection bias, these perception-based findings highlight the importance of terminological sensitivity for local leaders exploring new tourism offerings. The study concludes that, from an institutional standpoint, framing Battlefield Tourism through professional heritage protocols may facilitate its acceptance as a potential tool for economic diversification in inland destinations facing challenges of depopulation. Full article

Background: Polysubstance use, particularly the combination of opioids and stimulants, represents a growing public health concern due to its high risk of severe multisystem complications and mortality. Here, we present a case illustrating the lethal synergy of opioid–stimulant co-use. Methods: A 37-year-old male with chronic Hepatitis C and documented polysubstance use reported recent use of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and cannabis. He presented with generalized weakness, left lower limb pain, tense edema, and anuria. Clinical assessment included monitoring of vital signs, physical examination, capillary blood gas analysis, extended laboratory panels (muscle and cardiac enzymes, electrolytes, and coagulation parameters), urinalysis, and Doppler imaging. Management over five days included intravenous hydration, diuretics, urinary alkalinization, electrolyte correction, anticoagulation, metabolic and vitamin therapy, hemodialysis, and comprehensive supportive care. Results: Laboratory evaluation revealed massive rhabdomyolysis (peak CK 161,050 U/L), severe hyperkalemia (K⁺ 8.4 mmol/L), metabolic acidosis, acute kidney injury with oligoanuria, and left-sided deep vein thrombosis. Despite intensive multidisciplinary interventions, the patient’s repeated refusal of ongoing treatment critically contributed to a fatal outcome. Conclusions: This case underscores the high mortality risk associated with opioid–stimulant co-use and the crucial impact of treatment refusal. Clinicians and public health stakeholders should recognize the rapid progression of multisystem dysfunction in polysubstance users and prioritize early, aggressive interventions combined with patient engagement strategies to mitigate fatal outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children and young people (CYP) with a learning disability are at higher risk of living with overweight and obesity and may consume fewer fruits and vegetables compared to the general paediatric population. They are more likely to experience eating and drinking difficulties, restrictive eating, and mealtime behavioural challenges. The school environment is considered an ideal setting to improve CYP’s dietary intakes. The primary objective was to identify existing interventions to support healthier food choices for CYP attending specialist schools. Secondary objectives considered intervention development, fidelity and outcomes. Methods: A scoping review and narrative synthesis. Eligible studies were identified from bibliographic databases (e.g., Medline, Embase, PsychInfo) and grey literature (e.g., Clinicaltrials.gov, the Cochrane Library). A two-stage screening process was used. Intervention components were mapped according to the TIDieR-PHP and AACTT frameworks. Results: Seven studies, reported in ten records, were included. Interventions included modifications to the dining environment, sensory exploration, health promotion and social reinforcement. Interventions were implemented across the school day: lunchtime (n = 2), breaktime (n = 3) and other times (n = 2). Studies mainly focused on adolescents. There was some mixed evidence of increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and water. Due to small sample sizes and heterogeneity, definitive conclusions are limited. A key finding is the lack of interventions to improve CYP’s food choices in specialist schools. Conclusions: This review highlights a crucial need for the development of multi-component interventions co-produced with stakeholders to promote healthy food choices and improve the dietary intakes of CYP attending specialist schools. Full article

As pioneers in the reform of higher education in China, China’s new-type universities, often referred to as the fourth generation of universities, play a crucial role in driving the iteration of educational concepts and innovation in planning and design through their campus construction. As an emerging campus type, existing research largely focuses on planning and design schemes and the static form of campus space, lacking a systematic exploration of its historical dynamic evolution and core influencing factors. This study uses Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), which is a typical example of this new type of university, as a case study to analyze its spatial evolution characteristics, core driving factors, and spatial shaping mechanisms, considering the interactions among multiple stakeholders from the perspective of dynamic campus spatial development. It comprehensively utilizes literature and archive analysis, drawing and image comparison, and field research to systematically trace the entire lifecycle of SUSTech’s campus planning and construction. By combining cognitive maps and questionnaire surveys, it can explore the spatial imagery characteristics of the completed campus, analyze the key influencing factors of its spatial evolution, and propose critical thinking on related issues. It finds that SUSTech’s campus spatial form gradually took shape through a game of radical and eclectic ideas, exhibiting a dual characteristic of innovative pursuit and practical adaptation in terms of site attitude, innovative educational concepts, and planning and design concepts. Spatial evolution is the result of the combined effects of the demands of multiple stakeholders, changes in educational concepts, and the urban development context. This also reflects problems such as an imperfect consultation mechanism, inconsistent planning concepts, and insufficient functional adaptability of architectural images, which hinder the effective implementation of strategies for optimizing campus spaces in the context of China’s higher education transformation. This study reveals the inherent laws governing the dynamic evolution of new university campus spaces during the historical stage of China’s higher education transformation, providing theoretical and practical support for the planning, construction, and operational optimization of similar campuses. Full article

Background: ESG activities are increasingly regarded as a critical prerequisite for the long-term survival of humanity. Global and regional efforts have been undertaken to develop and control ESG activities; however, national differences (institutional and social schemes, level of economic development) are still considered to account for most of the variance in ESG performance. On this basis, a research gap was identified and verified to determine whether legal regulations have an impact on the quality of ESG reporting in Poland. The study was further extended by investigating whether taxonomic disclosures affect the quality of ESG reporting. Methods: The CATI and CAVI methods were applied, resulting in the collection of 325 valid responses. In the first stage of the research, the diversity of respondents’ answers was analyzed, according to their sector of activity, using a one-factor analysis of ANOVA variance with Welch and Brown–Forsythe corrections. In the second stage, the Games–Howell Test was employed to determine which sectoral responses differed significantly. The third stage was focused on diagnosing the impact of the sector of activity on respondents’ answers by calculating the eta-squared ratio. Results: The existence of a positive impact of ESG regulatory development on the quality of reporting disclosures was confirmed; nevertheless, this impact was assessed as moderate or weak. When more detailed taxonomic disclosures were considered, no significant influence on the quality of ESG disclosures was identified. An analysis of responses across sectors led to the conclusion that the sectoral perspective does not exert a meaningful influence on stakeholders’ opinions. Conclusions: The presented results are useful at the regulatory level, both internationally and nationally, as they partly legitimize the simplifications and exemptions currently being introduced in ESG reporting. At the same time, while highlighting the potential of the regulations under review, they point to the need for additional efforts to strengthen their impact by enhancing communication and, based on informing and promoting new solutions, emphasizing their potential positive effects and benefits, as well as considering the scope of reporting through selective application. The findings presented are also useful for educational purposes and to other researchers for comparative purposes, providing a basis for research into other determinants of ESG reporting quality. Full article

The Hybrid Smart Energy Community (HySEC) model is an integrated framework for optimizing hybrid renewable energy systems, unifying BIM, IoT, and data-driven modeling, as an innovative approach for the energy transition. A Revit—Twinmotion BIM model, enriched with topographic, CAD, and real-image data, enhances spatial accuracy and stakeholder communication, while a digital–physical architecture linking sensors, gateways, edge devices, and cloud platforms enables decentralized peer-to-peer communication and real-time monitoring. The framework is applied to a smart energy community composed of a hydropower–wind–solar PV system serving six buildings (48.8 MWh/year), supported by high-resolution hourly Open-Meteo data. A NARX neural network trained on 8760 hourly observations achieves an MSE of 2.346 at epoch 16, providing advanced predictive capability. Benchmarking against HOMER demonstrates clear advantages in grid exports (15,130 vs. 8274 kWh/year), battery cycling (445 vs. 9181 kWh/year), LCOE (€0.09 vs. €0.180/kWh), IRR (9% vs. 6%), payback (8.7 vs. 10.5 years), and CO₂ emissions (−9.4 vs. 101 tons). These results confirm HySEC as a conceptually flexible solution that strengthens energy autonomy, supports heritage site rehabilitation, and promotes sustainable rural development. Full article

With the increasing prevalence of digital technology, the inherent influencing mechanisms by which digital empowerment fosters rural environmental governance remain a critical area of inquiry. However, existing research neglects the dual effects of digital technology on rural environmental governance from the aspect of stakeholders’ engagement. To address this gap, this study develops an integrated framework to investigate not only the direct impact of digital empowerment on rural environmental governance but also the mediating roles of stakeholders’ engagement and governance mechanisms, alongside the moderating role of perceived technology anxiety. Grounded in theoretical frameworks and extensive literature reviews, this study analyzes data from Jiangsu province in 2025 using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model. The baseline regression results reveal that digital empowerment significantly promotes rural environmental governance, even after endogeneity analysis. Moreover, the results of the mediation effect show that digital empowerment enhances the level of rural environmental governance by accelerating stakeholders’ engagement and improving governance mechanisms. Furthermore, the moderating effect results imply that perceived technology anxiety may inhibit the negative effect of digital empowerment on rural environmental governance. Additionally, regional disparities exist in the influences of digital empowerment on rural environmental governance, with rural areas in Southern Jiangsu exhibiting a more pronounced effect compared to other regions. Full article

This study examines retailers’ information sharing aimed at enhancing product greenness within green supply chains, with consumer participation as a pivotal factor and the overarching goal of advancing the sustainable development of the whole supply chain ecosystem. Each supply chain comprises a green product supplier and a retailer with uncertain demand information. A tripartite evolutionary game model involving manufacturers, retailers, and consumers is constructed to analyze the factors influencing information sharing behavior, which serves as a critical pathway to achieve environmental and economic sustainability in green supply chain operations. The findings highlight two key insights: First, strong consumer willingness to purchase green products may inhibit retailers’ inclination towards information sharing, a counterintuitive outcome that needs to be addressed to align individual stakeholder behaviors with long-term sustainable development goals. Second, lower information sharing costs can motivate retailers to share information with manufacturers; otherwise, manufacturers must adopt technological measures to assist retailers in reducing information sharing-related costs, thereby achieving win–win outcomes across the supply chain and fostering a sustainable and collaborative green supply chain system that balances ecological benefits, economic gains, and social value co-creation. Full article