scholarly journals Ecological Design and Construction Strategies through Life Cycle Assessment of Carbon Budget for Urban Parks in Korea

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1399
Author(s):  
Hye-Mi Park ◽  
Hyun-Kil Jo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Budget ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Urban Parks ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
Ecological Design ◽  
Carbon Uptake ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Construction Strategies ◽  
Design And Construction

Although urban parks sequester carbon by vegetation growth, they emit carbon due to materials production, transport, construction, management, demolition, and disposal throughout their life cycle. This study estimated the carbon budget of urban parks over their life cycle according to land cover type and explored ecological design and construction strategies to maximize carbon reduction. After setting up the scope of the life cycle, the energy and material used for each stage were analyzed on the basis of field survey, design and construction details, and literature review of 30 study parks. The net carbon uptake per unit of park area averaged 8.51 kg/m2, with urban parks playing an important role as a source of carbon uptake to mitigate the climate change. This study suggested ecological design and construction strategies including the expansion of tree planting spaces through the minimization of grass and impervious areas, the minimization of changes to existing topography, and the utilization of local materials. As a result of applying these strategies to study parks, the net carbon uptake increased approximately 9.2 times. These study results are expected to be useful as information for the implementation of carbon-neutral policies and greenspace establishment projects.

scholarly journals Environmental Product Declarations for plants and soils: how to quantify carbon uptake in landscape design and construction?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Kuittinen ◽  
Ranja Hautamäki ◽  
Eeva-Maria Tuhkanen ◽  
Anu Riikonen ◽  
Mari Ariluoma
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Landscape Design ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Mitigation Potential ◽  
Environmental Product Declarations ◽  
Construction Products ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Change Mitigation ◽  
Design And Construction

Abstract Purpose Currently, no clear guidance exists for ISO and EN standards of calculating, verifying, and reporting the climate impacts of plants, mulches, and soils used in landscape design and construction. In order to optimise the potential of ecosystem services in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment, we unequivocally propose their inclusion when assessing sustainability. Methods We analysed the life cycle phases of plants, soils, and mulches from the viewpoint of compiling standard-based Environmental Product Declarations. In comparison to other construction products, the differences of both mass and carbon flows were identified in these products. Results Living and organic products of green infrastructure require an LCA approach of their own. Most importantly, if conventional life cycle guidance for Environmental Product Declarations were to be followed, over time, the asymmetric mass and carbon flows would lead to skewed conclusions. Moreover, the ability of plants to reproduce raises additional questions for allocating environmental impacts. Conclusions We present a set of recommendations that are required for compiling Environmental Product Declarations for the studied products of green infrastructure. In order to enable the quantification of the climate change mitigation potential of these products, it is essential that work for further development of LCA guidance be mandated.

scholarly journals Advances of 2nd Life Applications for Lithium Ion Batteries from Electric Vehicles Based on Energy Demand

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5726
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Wewer ◽  
Pinar Bilge ◽  
Franz Dietrich
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Lithium Ion Batteries ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact

Electromobility is a new approach to the reduction of CO2 emissions and the deceleration of global warming. Its environmental impacts are often compared to traditional mobility solutions based on gasoline or diesel engines. The comparison pertains mostly to the single life cycle of a battery. The impact of multiple life cycles remains an important, and yet unanswered, question. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate advances of 2nd life applications for lithium ion batteries from electric vehicles based on their energy demand. Therefore, it highlights the limitations of a conventional life cycle analysis (LCA) and presents a supplementary method of analysis by providing the design and results of a meta study on the environmental impact of lithium ion batteries. The study focuses on energy demand, and investigates its total impact for different cases considering 2nd life applications such as (C1) material recycling, (C2) repurposing and (C3) reuse. Required reprocessing methods such as remanufacturing of batteries lie at the basis of these 2nd life applications. Batteries are used in their 2nd lives for stationary energy storage (C2, repurpose) and electric vehicles (C3, reuse). The study results confirm that both of these 2nd life applications require less energy than the recycling of batteries at the end of their first life and the production of new batteries. The paper concludes by identifying future research areas in order to generate precise forecasts for 2nd life applications and their industrial dissemination.

scholarly journals BIM-Based Tools for Managing Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW): A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8427
Author(s):  
Bahareh Nikmehr ◽  
M. Reza Hosseini ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Nicholas Chileshe ◽  
Raufdeen Rameezdeen
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Construction And Demolition Waste ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Demolition Waste ◽  
Scant Attention ◽  
Intellectual Deficiencies ◽  
Whole Life Cycle ◽  
Point Of Reference ◽  
Design And Construction

This article provides a picture of the latest developments in providing BIM-based tools for construction and demolition waste (CDW) management. The coverage and breadth of the literature on offering BIM-based tools and technologies for dealing with CDW throughout the whole life cycle of construction are investigated, and gaps are identified. Findings reveal that, although various BIM-based technologies are closely associated with CDW, much of the existing research on this area has focused on the design and construction phase; indeed, the problem of CDW in post-construction stages has received scant attention. Besides, the now available tools and technologies are lacking in cross-phase insights into project waste aspects and are weak in theoretical rigor. This article contributes to the field by identifying the intellectual deficiencies in offering BIM-based tools and technologies when dealing with CDW. So, too, it points to major priorities for future research on the topic. For practitioners, the study provides a point of reference and raises awareness in the field about the most advanced available BIM-based technologies for dealing with CDW problems.

scholarly journals Impacts of Nanosilver-Based Textile Products Using a Life Cycle Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3436
Author(s):  
Hani A. Abu-Qdais ◽  
Muna A. Abu-Dalo ◽  
Yazan Y. Hajeer
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Environmental Burdens ◽  
Manufacturing Stage ◽  
Textile Products

Due to their properties, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in consumer products. The widespread use of these products leads to the release of such nanoparticles into the environment, during manufacturing, use, and disposal stages. Currently there is a high margin of uncertainty about the impacts of nano products on the environment and human health. Therefore, different approaches including life cycle assessment (LCA) are being used to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of these products. In this paper, a comparison between four different AgNP synthesis methods was conducted. In addition, four textile products that contain AgNPs were subjected to comparison using LCA analysis to assess their environmental and public health impacts using SimaPro modeling platform. Study results indicate that using alternative methods (green) to AgNPs synthesis will not necessarily reduce the environmental impacts of the synthesizing process. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has compared and assessed the environmental burdens associated with different nanosilver-based textile products at different disposal scenarios. The synthesis of 1 kg of AgNPs using modified Tollens’ method resulted in 580 kg CO2 eq, while 531 kg CO2 eq resulted from the chemical approach. Furthermore, the manufacturing stage had the highest overall impacts as compared to other processes during the life cycle of the product, while the product utilization and disposal stages had the highest impacts on ecotoxicity. Sensitivity analysis revealed that under the two disposal scenarios of incineration and landfilling, the impacts were sensitive to the amount of AgNPs.

scholarly journals Worries about memory loss and knowledge on Alzheimer's disease in community-dwelling elderly from Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Niures P.S. Matioli ◽  
Arnaldo Etzel ◽  
João A.G.G. Prats ◽  
Wares F. de O. Medeiros ◽  
Taiguara R. Monteiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Memory Screening

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Efforts to determine risk factors for the development of AD are important for risk stratification and early diagnosis. Furthermore, there are no standardized practices for memory screening. Lack of knowledge on AD, perception of memory loss as part of normal aging, and poor socioeconomic conditions may also be implicated in the current situation of dementia. Objective: To evaluate knowledge of AD in a literate population of elders and correlate these findings with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A descriptive survey design study enrolled 994 volunteers from September 2007 to May 2008 in the city of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, to answer a brief questionnaire consisting of 8 simple questions about knowledge of AD and worries about memory loss. Results: Greater knowledge about AD was associated with eight or more years of education, female gender and age between 60 and 70 years. Also, 52.8% of responders (95% CI - 49.5-56.0%) answered that memory loss is part of normal aging and 77.5% (95% CI - 74.7-80.1%) had never sought a doctor to evaluate their memories. Conclusion: Our study results reinforced that the first line of preventing late diagnosis of dementia is to act in health promotion, especially by targeting subjects older than 70 years of male gender and with lower educational level. It also provided evidence that strategies to promote physician initiative in treating memory problems are also paramount.

Relationship between Tobacco Smoking And Dental Fear Among Adolescents of 15-18 Year Age in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1210-1212
Author(s):  
G. Amin ◽  
M.. S. Nawaz ◽  
A. M. Ikram ◽  
G. M. Shaikh ◽  
J. I. Afridi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Dental Fear ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Adolescent Male ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Smoke Tobacco

Aim: To assess the relationship between dental fear and smoking among adolescents of 15-18 year of age in Pakistan Method: This study was a prospective crossectional survey design which was conducted in Lahore. After taking permission from the school’s head, data was collected from the male students of grade 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th using questionnaire and later on one of their parents was approached to fill the questionnaire. For this purpose, only one school was targeted. Sample size was of 200 participants whereas parents of all the student participants participated in the study. Results: The results of chi-square revealed that dental fear was quite high among male students, occasional use of tobacco, and use of mouthwash minimum thrice a day. It was also found that students of those parents whose occupational level was low reported higher dental fear. Conclusion: It was found that adolescent male students were found to have more dental fear who smoke tobacco as compared to those who do not smoke. It is important to ask about smoking habits as well as dental fear when examining oral health maintenance of adolescents. Keywords: Smoking, Tobacco, Adolescents, Dental fear

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