scholarly journals An indicator-based sustainability assessment method for indigenous communities: a case study from Mexico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Molina Maturano ◽  
Luz A. García Serrano ◽  
Juan A. Carmona García ◽  
Mayela A. García de Alva Magos ◽  
Anna M. Hersperger
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Complementary Approach ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
Development Plans ◽  
Regional Projects ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

AbstractIndigenous and Western communities are faced with increasing issues of sustainability compromising their natural resources and cultural heritage, for example, a cross-pollination/complementary approach in relation to their current knowledge systems and discourses on sustainability. There is a need for methods that integrate different discourses relating to sustainability to identify the most pressing needs in terms of sustainability. Sustainability assessments are a type of impact assessment that focus on enhanced sustainability both now and in the future; however, the literature on indigenous sustainability assessment methods, is scarce. To address this gap, we have developed a novel Sustainability Assessment method for Indigenous Communities (SAIC). The SAIC method combines Western and indigenous sustainability objectives and principles, in order to extend the range of options for action to address sustainability. The SAIC method consists of two sections (i) values and considerations and (ii) procedure. The “values and considerations” section establishes the fundamental participatory and ethical considerations for conducting sustainability assessments in indigenous communities, and the “procedure” section establishes a set of 55 indicators in eight categories. The method was tested in a Zapotec, indigenous community in México. Results show that this community was rated highly in all eight categories. However, indicators for family planning and access to health services were rated poorly. The identified issues can be used as guidelines for decision making in future regional projects and development plans. The results reveal further areas for improvement, such as strengthening the links to national or international networks and increasing the use of renewable energies. The method presented in this paper provides an assessment approach based on Western and indigenous sustainability discourses, which is suitable for assessing indigenous communities.

scholarly journals Sustainability Assessment of Public Transport, Part I—A Multi-Criteria Assessment Method to Compare Different Bus Technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 825
Author(s):  
Jonas Ammenberg ◽  
Sofia Dahlgren
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
County Level ◽  
Participatory Process ◽  
Problem Context ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

This article departs from the perspective of Swedish regional transport authorities and focuses on the public procurement of bus transports. Many of these public organizations on the county level have the ambition to contribute to a transition involving the continued marginalization of fossil fuels and improved sustainability performance. However, there are several renewable bus technologies to choose between and it can be difficult to know what alternative (or combination) is preferable. Prior research and the authors’ experiences indicate a need for improved knowledge and supportive methods on how sustainability assessments can support public procurement processes. The purpose of this article is to develop a multi-criteria assessment (MCA) method to support assessments of public bus technologies’ sustainability. The method, which was established in an iterative and participatory process, consists of four key areas and 12 indicators. The article introduces the problem context and reviews selected prior research of relevance dealing with green or sustainable public procurement and sustainability assessments. Further on, the process and MCA method are presented and discussed based on advice for effective and efficient sustainability assessments. In the companion article (Part II), the MCA method is applied to assess several bus technologies involving biodiesel, biomethane, diesel, electricity, ethanol and natural gas.

scholarly journals Sustainability Assessment of Public Transport, Part II—Applying a Multi-Criteria Assessment Method to Compare Different Bus Technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1273
Author(s):  
Sofia Dahlgren ◽  
Jonas Ammenberg
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Total Cost Of Ownership ◽  
Cost Of Ownership ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

Many Swedish regional transport authorities want bus fleets driven on renewable fuels. However, it may be difficult to know what technology, or combination of technologies, to choose. There is a need for improved knowledge and supportive methods for sustainability assessments that can support public procurement processes. In the companion article (Part I), a multi-criteria assessment (MCA) method for assessments of public bus technologies’ sustainability was established, consisting of four key areas and 12 indicators. In this article, the purpose is to apply the method established in part I on different bus technologies by looking at a general Swedish case and assessing buses driven on diesel, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), ethanol, natural gas, biomethane and electricity. Each technology is assessed on a scale from Very Poor to Very Good according to the indicators: technical maturity, daily operational availability, total cost of ownership, need for investments in infrastructure, cost stability, non-renewable primary energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emission savings, air pollution, noise, local/regional impact on land and aquatic environments, energy security and sociotechnical systems services. The results show the strengths and weaknesses of each technology, which are later discussed. We also critically reflect upon the usefulness and accuracy of the MCA method.

scholarly journals Application of Lifecycle Measures for an Integrated Method of Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Radio Frequency Identification and Wireless Sensor Networks

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2794
Author(s):  
Aldona Kluczek ◽  
Bartlomiej Gladysz ◽  
Krzysztof Ejsmont
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Radio Frequency Identification ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Integrated Method ◽  
Frequency Identification ◽  
Low Degrees ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

Internet of Things (IoT) technology has advanced in recent years, leading to improvements of manufacturing processes. As a result of such improvements, environmental sustainability assessments for technologies have been requested by international control agencies. Although various assessment approaches are widely applied, IoT technology requires effective assessment methods to support the decision-making process and that incorporate qualitative measures to create quantifiable values. In this paper, a new environmental sustainability assessment method is developed to assess radio frequency identification (RFID) and wireless sensors networks (WSN). This integrated assessment method incorporates a modified and redesigned conceptual methodology based on technical project evaluation (IMATOV) and an extension of conventional lifecycle measures. The results shows the most and least important metrics. The most important metrics are the categories “electronic devices disposed of completely” and “decrease in stocks”, with the greatest GWFs (20% and 19%, respectively) and IAVs (127% and 117%, respectively) and moderate consolidated degrees of fulfillment. Relatively low degrees of fulfillment are achieved by categories such as “decrease in numbers of assets”, “supply chain echelons benefiting RFID”, and “tag lifecycle duration”, with IAVs below 10%. This study promotes an integrated method to support decision-making processes in the context of environmental sustainability assessments based on lifecycle measures.

scholarly journals Correction: Optimal sustainability assessment method selection: a practitioner perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Koppiahraj ◽  
S. Bathrinath ◽  
V. G. Venkatesh ◽  
Venkatesh Mani ◽  
Yangyan Shi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Method Selection

scholarly journals PASTORALISM IN THE MAGHREB: A REVIEW ON ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIO-CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ASPECTS

AGROFOR ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid EL BILALI ◽  
Gianluigi CARDONE ◽  
Francesco BOTTALICO ◽  
Giovanni OTTOMANO PALMISANO ◽  
Roberto CAPONE
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Marginal Lands ◽  
Cultural Economic ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Pastoral Communities ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Land Degradation And Desertification ◽  
Regional Projects

Pastoralism is a livelihood system based on extensive production of livestock (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, camels) mainly on marginal lands. It is a traditional activity in the Mediterranean in general and the Maghreb (viz. Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) in particular. This review casts light on research regarding pastoralism in the Maghreb. In particular, the paper analyses the benefits of pastoralism as well as the challenges faced by pastoralists in the region from the environmental, sociocultural, economic and political points of views. A search performed in July 2020 on the Web of Science yielded 113 documents and 68 of them were included in the systematic review. The analysed literature emphasizes the negative impacts of pastoralism and the challenges faced by pastoral communities in the Maghreb. These include climate change, land degradation and desertification, poverty and livelihood vulnerability as well as the ongoing erosion of pastoral culture and traditions. Doing so, scholars question the future of pastoralism in the region and highlight the need for its adaptation and transformation through, among others, moving towards agro-pastoral systems. There is a dearth of articles that highlight the positive impacts and benefits of pastoralism in the Maghreb. However, the literature shows that pastoralism has a long tradition and is an integral part of the Maghrebi culture and history, and values the traditional knowledge of pastoralists as well as their adaptive capacity. The review shows that there is a gap in research on pastoralism in the Maghreb especially regarding economics. In this context, regional projects such as PACTORES (Pastoral ACTORs, Ecosystem services and Society as key elements of agro-pastoral systems in the Mediterranean) result crucial to bridge the current knowledge gap and foster the sustainable development of pastoralism in the Maghreb and the Mediterranean at large.

scholarly journals Regular Physical Activity and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (08) ◽  
pp. 765-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sigrid Brækkan ◽  
John-Bjarne Hansen ◽  
Line Evensen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dependent Manner

AbstractVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a complex multifactorial disease that represents a growing public health concern. Identification of modifiable risk factors at the population level may provide a measure to reduce the burden of VTE. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the role of physical activity on the risk of VTE and VTE-related complications. We also discuss methodological challenges related to research on physical activity, and put forward plausible mechanisms for an association between physical activity and VTE. Up to now, published studies have reported diverging results on the relationship between physical activity and VTE, and a complex picture has emerged. However, the available evidence appears to be balanced toward a small beneficial effect of physical activity on the risk of incident VTE, but not in a dose-dependent manner. Still, the lack of an operational definition and standardized assessment method for physical activity, as well as several sources of bias, impairs the interpretation of the available literature. Additional work is necessary to understand the role and how to apply physical activity in the VTE setting. Future research should utilize objective assessment strategies of physical activity and physical fitness, account for the fluctuating nature in habitual activity levels, and explore the role of physical activity in the areas of secondary prevention and VTE-related complications.

scholarly journals Financial Ratios as Indicators of Economic Sustainability: A Quantitative Analysis for Swiss Dairy Farms

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Zorn ◽  
Michele Esteves ◽  
Ivo Baur ◽  
Markus Lips
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
North American ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Financial Ratios ◽  
Economic Sustainability ◽  
Financial Indicators ◽  
Farm Accountancy Data Network ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

In agriculture, a rising number of sustainability assessments are available that also comprise financial ratios. In a literature review of farm management textbooks, taking account of the differences between European and North American practices and considering prevalent sustainability assessment approaches, we identified frequently used financial ratios. Five ratios relate to the indicator profitability and four to the indicator liquidity. Another eight financial indicators refer to the indicators financial efficiency, stability, solvency and repayment capacity. Based on more than 14,000 accountancies of dairy farms from the Swiss Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), we carried out a Spearman correlation analysis for normalised and harmonised financial ratios. The correlation analysis revealed mostly positive correlations. To assess the implementation of a quantitative economic sustainability assessment we compare an aggregated indicator compound of all 17 ratios with two selections of financial ratios–first, a compound European and, second, a compound North American economic sustainability indicator. The correlation between the complete and the reduced sets of indicators suggest that both aggregate economic indicators can be reasonably applied to estimate the economic sustainability for Swiss dairy farms.

scholarly journals USING MICROSOFT TEAMS TO SUPPORT COLLABORATIVE KNOWLEDGE BUILDING IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Buchal ◽  
Emmanuel Songsore
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Knowledge Building ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Group Project ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Student Collaboration ◽  
The Past ◽  
Collaborative Knowledge Building ◽  
Collaborative Knowledge ◽  
Better Than

The current study investigates students’ use of Microsoft Teams as a collaborative knowledge building platform for a group sustainability assessment project. Ashby’s sustainability assessment method was used to provide scaffolding. Surveys (n=16) were administered to assess the nature of student collaboration, including students’ experiences using collaboration tools in the past, the activities students engaged in while working on the group project in MS Teams, self-assessment of collaborative abilities, comfort with giving, receiving and sharing comments and feedback, assessment of the effectiveness of Ashby’s sustainability assessment method in developing these abilities, and their overall assessment of MS Teams as a collaborative knowledge building tool. Students rated their collaborative abilities to be good to excellent and felt that the project was effective in developing those abilities. They are comfortable providing and receiving feedback and sharing their contributions openly. They found MS Teams to be extremely useful, and better than alternative platforms for key tasks including messaging, file sharing and collaborative authoring.

scholarly journals Safety Assessment of Casting Workshop by Cloud Model and Cause and Effect–LOPA to Protect Employee Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingwei Xu ◽  
Kaili Xu ◽  
Fang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Safety Assessment ◽  
Cloud Model ◽  
Least Square Method ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Entropy Weight ◽  
Safety Level ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
Assessment Approach

Safety assessment of a casting workshop will provide a clearer understanding of the important safety level required for a foundry. The main purpose of this study was to construct a composite safety assessment method to protect employee health using the cloud model and cause and effect–Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA). In this study, the weights of evaluation indicators were determined using the subjective analytic hierarchy process and objective entropy weight method respectively. Then, to obtain the preference coefficient of the integrated weight more precisely, a new algorithm was proposed based on the least square method. Next, the safety level of the casting workshop was presented based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the cloud model, which realized the uncertainty conversion between qualitative concepts and their corresponding quantitative values, as well as taking the fuzziness and randomness into account; the validity of cloud model evaluation was validated by grey relational analysis. In addition, cause and effect was used to proactively identify factors that may lead to accidents. LOPA was used to correlate corresponding safety measures to the identified risk factors. 6 causes and 19 sub-causes that may contribute to accidents were identified, and 18 potential remedies, or independent protection layers (IPLs), were described as ways to protect employee health in foundry operations. A mechanical manufacturing business in Hunan, China was considered as a case study to demonstrate the applicability and benefits of the proposed safety assessment approach.

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