Internet of Things for Future Smart City Using 5G Networks

The future of cities lies in blending new technologies with existing infrastructure to tackle tangible, pressing issues such as environmental sustainability and economic opportunities. The enormous pressure towards efficient city initiatives by both government and private sector businesses to invest in Information and Communication Technologies to find sustainable solutions to diverse opportunities and challenges (e.g., waste management). Future smart cities are the key to fulfill the ever growing demands of citizens. Successful smart cities will build a strong, flexible, digital infrastructure that integrates new technology into existing structures. The main goal of a smart city is to optimize city functions and promote economic growth while also improving the quality of life for citizens by using smart technologies and data analysis. According to a new report from @NavigantRSRCH, there are more than 250 smart city projects from178 cities around the world, and the majority focus on government and energy, initiatives, followed by transportation. Keywords: 5G network, Internet of things (IOT), Smart Waste Management System, Safety and Security, Sustainable

Sustainability Enhancement Through Information Technology in Higher Education

The quick evolution and development of digital technologies contribute to changes and turning points in every aspect of the modern society. Managing these the digital changes and turning them into long-term sustainable solutions for higher education could be a real challenge. Technology offers immeasurable opportunities to the learning environment and higher education is rapidly integrating information and communication technology (ICT). This paper is discussing the concept of enhanced sustainability in education through learning technologies like applications, electronic resources, and teaching methods for educational development. Technology in higher education is particularly important, therefore it is important to assess the quality that it can provide and the impact on sustainable education. The educational system has been also harshly affected by the latest pandemic situation, which brought significant consequences on the social, economic, and cultural life worldwide. This paper aims to contribute with insights to the literature in the field, by emphasizing that the latest situation around the world could be a great opportunity for further implementation and development of digital technologies for sustainable learning. The methodology used for fulfilling the study goal is a qualitative one, particularly the technique used is data analysis from secondary sources. The results of this analysis lead to the conclusion that there is need and room for improvement of digital sustainable resources in higher education, which includes the challenges that the academic environment face and need to overcome if their goal is to stay relevant on the education market.

Barriers for Renewable Energy Technologies Diffusion: Empirical Evidence from Finland and Poland

A harmful impact of climate change and global warming has concerned various sectors of the international community. Numerous energy policies aiming at climate change mitigation have been implemented on a national and global scale. Renewable energy technologies (RETs) play a critical role in enhancing sustainable solutions that significantly limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such innovative technologies can facilitate energy transition through providing, e.g., energy security, sustainable development, and effective usage of indigenous resources. However, the commercialization of RETs is extremely challenging. The barriers can be of a different nature, although this study focused on socioeconomic and regulatory issues. There is ample evidence that energy policies play a central role in supporting adoption of renewables. It is also claimed that RETs require the whole ecosystem to support their successful diffusion. In this study, we explored multifarious barriers for widespread RET diffusion in two European Union countries, Finland and Poland, indicating the most common barriers existing in the literature as well as analyzing major bottlenecks from the viewpoint of renewable energy companies’ executives. We also present statistics of the most commonly used RETs in these countries in order to express the diffusion issues more appropriately. The research shows that inflexible, ineffective, and excessive regulatory frameworks; limited financing options; as well as an insufficient level of societal awareness have been seen as the main bottlenecks for RET diffusion in both countries. The outcomes of this study provide useful insights for the researchers in the energy transition field as well as practical managerial and regulatory implications aimed at overcoming these challenges.

Study of Knowledge of Breastfeeding Practices in Infants from 0 to 6 Months

The rate of exclusive breastfeeding from 0 to 6 months in Côte d'Ivoire was 16.67 % in 2014. The objective of this study is to identify the difficulties related to the practice of exclusive breastfeeding of infants from birth to 6 months with a view to finding sustainable solutions for its implementation. A survey study was carried out on a sample of 200 women in the municipality of Bingerville from 7 October 2020 to 7 February 2021. After analysis, the results of the survey show that in the Bingerville locality of Côte d'Ivoire, the difficulties relating to the decline in exclusive breastfeeding are largely linked to the insufficient production of breast milk. The results have made it possible to record some species of food plants. They undoubtedly possess lactogenic properties, which make it possible to cope with the insufficient production of milk in the udder. Thus, after 24 hours, these food plants have made it possible to increase the production of breast milk in the udders intended for infants. The registered food plants will help to ensure the food security of the infant through the improvement of milk production in breastfeeding mothers.

Ionic Conductive Polymers for Electrochemical Devices

Increasing levels of pollution (especially in large cities), the rising cost of oil, and climate change are pushing the scientific community towards more sustainable solutions for the conversion and storage of energy [...]

A disruptive model for delivering higher education programs within the context of entrepreneurship education

PurposeThe purpose of this practitioner paper is to explore whether the principles of Design Thinking and the Lean Startup could be employed in developing a disruptive model for delivering educational programs within higher education in a way that attempts to eliminate the multitude of problems facing this industry, while simultaneously adhering to the principles of frugal innovation and meeting relevant sustainability goals.Design/methodology/approachThe authors followed a design thinking approach, employing tools such as empathy mapping, customer journey, value proposition and semi-structured interviews to obtain a deep level of understanding of the problems educators and students within the context of entrepreneurship education are facing. Throughout the process they drew on the practice of emergent inquiry and customer co-creation to help guide decision making.FindingsThe authors successfully derived a conceptual solution in the form of a Minimum Viable Product of which the features were tested against the multitude of user needs and requirements. It was possible to demonstrate how the solution meets all nine of the requirements for frugal innovations while simultaneously adhering to applicable sustainability principles.Practical implicationsThe proposed solution offers a potential opportunity to first-movers in chosen academic disciplines to become leaders in online education.Originality/valueEven in an industry such as higher education there is a dire need for frugality and finding sustainable solutions for educators and students in both developed and developing markets. With this paper the authors succeed in presenting innovative combinations of digital artefacts, platforms and infrastructure to arrive at a novel crowd-sourced solution that is unique in its design.

Towards Sustainable Shifts to Healthy Diets and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa with Climate-Resilient Crops in Bread-Type Products: A Food System Analysis

Massive urbanization and increasing disposable incomes favor a rapid transition in diets and lifestyle in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). As a result, the SSA population is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the double burden of malnutrition and obesity. This, combined with the increasing pressure to produce sufficient food and provide employment for this growing population together with the threat of climate change-induced declining crop yields, requires urgent sustainable solutions. Can an increase in the cultivation of climate-resilient crops (CRCs) and their utilization to produce attractive, convenient and nutritious bread products contribute to climate change adaptation and healthy and sustainable diets? A food system analysis of the bread food value chain in SSA indicates that replacement of refined, mostly imported, wheat in attractive bread products could (1) improve food and nutrition security, (2) bring about a shift to more nutritionally balanced diets, (3) increase economic inclusiveness and equitable benefits, and (4) improve sustainability and resilience of the food system. The food system analysis also provided systematic insight into the challenges and hurdles that need to be overcome to increase the availability, affordability and uptake of CRCs. Proposed interventions include improving the agronomic yield of CRCs, food product technology, raising consumer awareness and directing policies. Overall, integrated programs involving all stakeholders in the food system are needed.

The Transformation of Dorćol Power Plant: Triggering a Sustainable Urban Regeneration or Selling the Heritage?

The power plant “Power and Light” (1932, Belgrade) was the first one to generate alternating current in Serbia. Situated along the Danube river, it represented a part of an industrial area positioned in the Dorćol neighborhood, close to the urban core. Since 2005, the whole area has been exposed to a significant transformation into a luxurious residential and commercial complex, triggered by the intentions of private investors and directed by the ideas of changing city authorities. Considering the unpredictable local context created by the dominant post-socialist transitional economy, the article focuses on the sensitive relationship between the social sustainability of the ongoing urban regeneration plans and the emerging neoliberal forces targeting the areas of industrial heritage. Consequently, the case of the Dorćol ex-power plant and the anticipated changes in its urban surrounding are analyzed according to the selected principles of social sustainability. Revealing numerous controversies, both on the level of preferred urban policies and their questionable application, this case addresses the problems of heritage (re)use and regeneration in an environment of fast-shifting governmental priorities and financial flows, with reduced receptivity to sustainable solutions.

Wooden Facade Renovation and Additional Floor Construction for Suburban Development in Finland

Finnish urban settlements are in the age of restoration, and the suburbs need improvements in Finland. In this sense, wooden facade renovation and additional floor construction are viable and sustainable solutions for this development in the Finnish context. This chapter focuses on these important applications from the Finnish residents’ perspective as ecologically sound engineering solutions through a survey. In doing so, the challenges of facade renovation, as well as the benefits of additional floor construction, were presented. The main purpose of the survey was to get the opinions of the residents, find out which variables are important, make inferences for the planning and improvement of such areas, and determine what will be emphasized in the sustainable suburban development of the future. Therefore, the results were based on this empirical approach—survey—but further research such as energy analysis, wood-based facade renovation, and additional floor solutions will be done as part of other studies. It is believed that this study will contribute to the use of sustainable materials and decarbonization of buildings as well as zero energy building (nZEB) to overcome the challenges posed by climate change by the diffusion of wood in the renovation of buildings.

Main Factors That Explain the Use of Fertilisers on Farms in the European Union

A deeper assessment of the main determinants associated with the use of fertilisers, for example, in the European Union farms may bring relevant insights about the respective frameworks and support to find more sustainable solutions. In this context, the main objective of this study is to identify factors that influence the use of fertilisers in the agricultural sector of the European Union regions. To achieve this objective, statistical information, at farm level, from the European Farm Accountancy Data Network was considered. These data were first analysed through exploratory approaches and after assessed with classification and regression tree methodologies. The results obtained provide interesting insights to promote a more sustainable development in the European farms, namely supporting the policymakers to design more adjusted measures and instruments. In addition, the fertilisers costs on the European Union farms are mainly explained by crop output, costs with inputs, current subsidies, utilised agricultural area, and gross investment.