Metrics-Based Sustainability Evaluation of Manufacturing Technologies: Surface Coating Case Study

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Z. Yang ◽  
B. H. Chua
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Sustainable Manufacturing ◽  
Powder Coating ◽  
Sustainability Evaluation ◽  
Environmental Evaluation ◽  
Manufacturing Technologies ◽  
Sustainability Assessments ◽  
Selection Of

Sustainability evaluation of manufacturing technologies is a vital part of decision process in sustainable manufacturing, particularly for decisions on transfer/adoption of new sustainable manufacturing innovations. This paper highlights a study on metrics-based sustainability evaluation of technologies in manufacturing, with emphasis on the technical, economical and environmental sustainability assessments. On the basis of three types of sustainability evaluation metrics proposed in this paper, our study integrates technology assessment, cost analysis and environmental evaluation to support decision-making for selection of sustainable manufacturing processes. Case studies about sol-gel coating and powder coating are explored in the paper to test the proposed sustainability evaluation methods and metrics. The assessment results provide quantitative justifications used in technology transfer of the new sol-gel coating innovations. The results also help potential technology adopters to reduce their implementation risks of the sol-gel coating process in automotive decorative applications.

scholarly journals The Ecological Footprint Accounting of Products: When Larger Is Not Worse

Resources ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicoletta Patrizi ◽  
Valentina Niccolucci ◽  
Riccardo Pulselli ◽  
Elena Neri ◽  
Simone Bastianoni
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Product System ◽  
Sustainability Evaluation ◽  
Competitive Systems ◽  
The Status ◽  
Resource Accounting ◽  
Selection Of

One of the main goals of any (sustainability) indicator should be the communication of a clear, unambiguous, and simplified message about the status of the analyzed system. The selected indicator is expected to declare explicitly how its numerical value depicts a situation, for example, positive or negative, sustainable or unsustainable, especially when a comparison among similar or competitive systems is performed. This aspect should be a primary and discriminating issue when the selection of a set of opportune indicators is operated. The Ecological Footprint (EF) has become one of the most popular and widely used sustainability indicators. It is a resource accounting method with an area based metric in which the units of measure are global hectares or hectares with world average bio-productivity. Its main goal is to underline the link between the (un)sustainability level of a product, a system, an activity or a population life style, with the land demand for providing goods, energy, and ecological services needed to sustain that product, system, activity, or population. Therefore, the traditional rationale behind the message of EF is: the larger EF value, the larger environmental impact in terms of resources use, the lower position in the sustainability rank. The aim of this paper was to investigate if this rationale is everywhere opportune and unambiguous, or if sometimes its use requires paying a special attention. Then, a three-dimensional modification of the classical EF framework for the sustainability evaluation of a product has been proposed following a previous work by Niccolucci and co-authors (2009). Finally, the potentialities of the model have been tested by using a case study from the agricultural context.

scholarly journals Strategies for the Development of Smart Cities: The Case of Kalampaka-Greece

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Christos Stamopoulos ◽  
Eleni Theodoropoulou
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Construction Strategies ◽  
The City ◽  
Simple Selection ◽  
Selection Of

The present paper investigates the characteristics and best construction strategies of smart cities around the world, as well as the determining factors of the satisfaction of the quality of life and the importance of the value of environmental sustainability. A case study of the city of Kalampaka and its residents was examined. The survey was conducted between July 2016 and August 2016. The selection of the sample was done by using the method of simple selection and includes a random sample of N=150 individuals. Statistical analysis showed that resident’s knowledge about smart cities was fairly good (48% of sample knew the phrase “smart cities”). Furthermore, they believe that the appearance of the city of Kalampaka needs improvement (75% of sample is disappointed with the current appearance of the city). Regression analysis showed that the value of environmental sustainability is greatly influenced by the energy saving, as well as, innovation has an impact on the level of quality of life. Older people seem to be satisfied with administration’s efforts.

scholarly journals Sustainability Evaluation of Non-Toxic Jatropha curcas in Rural Marginal Soil for Obtaining Biodiesel Using Life-Cycle Assessment

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2746
Author(s):  
Guadalupe Pérez ◽  
Jorge M. Islas-Samperio
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Jatropha Curcas ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Sustainability Evaluation ◽  
Solid Biofuels ◽  
Energy Products ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Marginal Soil

Using information from an experimental planting of non-toxic Jatropha curcas (NTJC) with minimal water and fertilization resources on rural marginal soil the objective of this article is to determine the sustainability of this raw material for producing biodiesel and the possibilities for improving it through life-cycle assessment (LCA). Three production scenarios were studied: minimal resources (MR), which focuses on the obtaining of biodiesel; minimal resources and utilization of sub-products (MRUS), which includes the utilization of the residual products in order to produce food and solid biofuels, as well as biodiesel; and utilization of biofertilizers, flood irrigation, and sub-products (UBIS), which incorporates the use of bio-fertilizers and irrigation in the production system. This study includes the selection of six sustainability indicators, as well as indicators by means of LCA methodology Finally, a sustainability index (SI) for each scenario was determined on the basis of an index of environmental sustainability of energy products (IESEP). Our results indicated that the MR scenario yielded the lowest SI 0.673, while the MRUS scenario had the highest SI 0.956. It concludes that sustainability is greater when it utilizes minimal water and fertilization resources during the raw material production stage, and the residual products are used for food and energy products made possible by the non-toxic properties of Jatropha curcas.

scholarly journals Viability and Sustainability Assessment of Bioenergy Value Chains on Underutilised Lands in the EU and Ukraine

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1566
Author(s):  
Cosette Khawaja ◽  
Rainer Janssen ◽  
Rita Mergner ◽  
Dominik Rutz ◽  
Marco Colangeli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
A Value ◽  
Sustainability Assessments ◽  
Selection Of

Bioenergy represents the highest share of renewable energies consumed in the European Union and is still expected to grow. This could be possible by exploring bioenergy production on Marginal, Underutilised, and Contaminated lands (MUC) that are not used for agricultural purposes and therefore, present no competition with food/feed production. In this paper, the viability and sustainability of bioenergy value chains on these lands is investigated and measures for market uptake were developed. Using three case study areas in Italy, Ukraine, and Germany, a screening of MUC lands was conducted, then an agronomic assessment was performed to determine the most promising crops. Then, techno-economic assessments followed by sustainability assessments were performed on selected value chains. This concept was then automated and expanded through the development of a webGIS tool. The tool is an online platform that allows users to locate MUC lands in Europe, to define a value chain through the selection of bioenergy crops and pathways, and to conduct sustainability assessments measuring a set of environmental, social, and economic sustainability indicators. The findings showed positive results in terms of profitability and greenhouse gas emissions for bioethanol production from willow in Ukraine, heat and power production from miscanthus, and biogas and chemicals production from grass in Germany. The webGIS tool is considered an important decision-making tool for stakeholders, which gives first insights on the viability and sustainability of bioenergy value chains.

scholarly journals Environmental Evaluation of Building Materials of 5 Slovak Buildings

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-102
Author(s):  
Milan Porhincak ◽  
Adriana Estokova
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Mineral Wool ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Environmental Evaluation ◽  
Operational Phase ◽  
Negative Environmental Impact ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Building activity has recently led to the deterioration of environment and has become unsustainable. Several strategies have been introduced in order to minimize consumption of energy and resulting CO2 emissions having their origin in the operational phase. But also other stages of Life Cycle should are important to identify the overall environmental impact of construction sector. In this paper 5 similar Slovak buildings (family houses) were analyzed in terms of environmental performance of building materials used for their structures. Evaluation included the weight of used materials, embodied energy and embodied CO2 and SO2 emissions. Analysis has proven that the selection of building materials is an important factor which influences the environmental profile. Findings of the case study indicated that materials like concrete, ceramic or thermal insulation materials based on polystyrene and mineral wool are ones with the most negative environmental impact.

SELECTING RELOCATION OF LAND USE IN HOT MUD DISASTER AREA BY APPLYING GEO-ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION. CASE STUDY: SIDOARJO, EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doni Prakasa Eka Putra ◽  
Syauqi Syauqi ◽  
Juwarso Juwarso ◽  
Agus Hendratno ◽  
Handoko Teguh Wibowo
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Environmental Evaluation ◽  
Difference Map ◽  
Disaster Area ◽  
West Part ◽  
Rating Method

Since May 29, 2006, a sea of hot mud has been gushing from the ground in Sidoarjo, East Java, 35 kilometers south of Indonesia’s second largest city, Surabaya. Due to this disaster, approximately thousand of people have been forced from their homes because 600 ha of land and villages were submerged, farmland was ruined, businesses and schools closed as the mud inundated the surrounding area. Relocation of the land uses and supporting infrastructures are become important to support the human survivability and environmental sustainability in this disaster area. In order to select the suitable location for land uses and infrastructures, aspect of environmental geology must be concerned. Geo-Environmental parameters such as geological hazards and geological resources are used to select the suitable relocation area. Evaluation of the suitable land uses is conducted by applying simple overlay rating method. Result of this evaluation shows that the relocation of the land uses can be differentiated into three categories; (i) high risk land use/infrastructure, moderate risk land use/infrastructure and low risk land use/infrastructure. Each of these categories have difference map of relocation suitability, however all maps indicate that the suitable relocation area is in the west-part from the hot mud disaster area. Keywords: Hot mud blast, relocation of land uses, geo-environmental evaluation

Hybrid Model for Evaluation of Manufacturing Sustainability Using Axiomatic Design Principles: A Case of Machining Processes

2014 ◽  
Vol 554 ◽  
pp. 546-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Guang Beng ◽  
Badrul Omar
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid Model ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Sustainable Manufacturing ◽  
Axiomatic Design ◽  
Machining Processes ◽  
Sustainable Product ◽  
Sustainability Principles ◽  
Product Realization ◽  
Selection Of

Despite being a manufacturing technique that consumes energy and material, machining is often regarded as an important process due to the fact that it is flexible and is able to produce economic parts. However, to gain more cost-saving and enhanced environmental performance, sustainability principles have to be incorporated into machining technologies. This paper presents a case study that applies both crisp and fuzzy axiomatic design approach to construct a hybrid model with the purpose of facilitating the selection of sustainable manufacturing process. By converting numerical terms and linguistic factors into quantifiable score (in the form of information content), the proposed approach is able to produce indicative results and is capable of identifying the most sustainable process among three alternatives. Potentially, such information can be helpful for product development companies which strive to achieve sustainable product realization.

Environmental Soil and Ground Water Assessment Using High Resolution Passive Soil-Gas Samplers - Petrex Method: Methodology and Results of a Case Study Performed in Brazil

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 161-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Gomes ◽  
M. Alarsa ◽  
M. C. Salvador ◽  
C. Kupferschmid
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Site Investigation ◽  
Soil Gas ◽  
Environmental Evaluation ◽  
Direct Sampling ◽  
Selection Of

The PETREX Passive Soil Gas Technique - applied successfully to environmental projects for 10 years - is the ideal primary investigative tool for soil and groundwater contaminations, since it is rapid, easy to apply and covers large areas. It is more sensitive and cost effective than other methods (e.g. active soil gas techniques). Passive collectors combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry permit direct mid reliable identification of over 9,000 volatile (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). PETREX is capable of providing comprehensive problem delineation during the initial stages of the site investigation, allowing for greater cost effectiveness in the planning of remediation programs and in the selection of appropriate monitoring well locations and other methodologies which may be needed to complete the environmental evaluation. PETREX therefore finds wide use in the investigation of contaminants, in the determination of pollution sources, as well as in audits connected to real estate transactions. This paper describes a case-study developed in Brazil, showing PETREX's usefulness and its correlation with soil and groundwater contamination plumes established from traditional direct sampling methods.

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