Sustainability

11 pages, 1792 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Retreat of Major European Tree Species Distribution under Climate Change—Minor Natives to the Rescue?

by Olef Koch, Angela Luciana de Avila, Henry Heinen and Axel Tim Albrecht

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5213; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095213 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3423

Climate change is projected to trigger strong declines in the potential distribution of major tree species in Europe. While minor natives have moved into the spotlight as alternatives, their ecology is often poorly understood. We use an ensemble species distribution modelling approach on [...] Read more.

Climate change is projected to trigger strong declines in the potential distribution of major tree species in Europe. While minor natives have moved into the spotlight as alternatives, their ecology is often poorly understood. We use an ensemble species distribution modelling approach on a set of promising native tree species to gain insights into their distribution potential under different climate change scenarios. Moreover, we identify the urgency and potential of altered species distributions in favor of minor natives by comparing the niche dynamics of five major native tree species with the set of six minor natives in a case study. Our models project stark range contractions and range shifts among major tree species, strongly amplified under high emission scenarios. Abies alba, Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica are affected the strongest. While also experiencing range shifts, the minor European natives Castanea sativa, Sorbus torminalis, and Ulmus laevis all considerably expand their range potential across climate change scenarios. Accompanied by Carpinus betulus, with a stable range size, they hold the potential to substantially contribute to sustainably adapting European forest to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selecting Climate Resilient Tree Species for Forest Restoration – What Is Necessary and What Is Possible?)

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19 pages, 1249 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Social Impact Assessment Comparison of Composite and Concrete Bridge Alternatives

by David Martínez-Muñoz, Jose V. Martí and Víctor Yepes

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5186; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095186 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3210

Abstract

The definition of sustainability includes three fundamental pillars: economic, environmental, and social. Studies of the economic impact on civil engineering infrastructures have been focused on cost reduction. It is not necessarily in line with economic sustainability due to the lack of other economic [...] Read more.

The definition of sustainability includes three fundamental pillars: economic, environmental, and social. Studies of the economic impact on civil engineering infrastructures have been focused on cost reduction. It is not necessarily in line with economic sustainability due to the lack of other economic factors. Moreover, the social pillar assessment has been weakly developed compared to the economic and the environmental ones. It is essential to focus on the social pillar and evaluate clear indicators that allow researchers to compare alternatives. Furthermore, bridge life cycle assessment studies have been focused on concrete options. This has resulted in a lack of analysis of the impact of composite bridge alternatives. This study is conducted in two stages. The first part of the study makes a cradle-to-grave social and environmental sustainability evaluation with the SOCA v2 and ecoinvent v3.7.1 databases. This assessment is carried out on four concrete and composite bridge alternatives with span lengths between 15 and 40 m. The social impact weighting method and recipe have been used to obtain the social and environmental indicators. The second part of the study compares the results obtained from the social and environmental assessment of the concrete and the composite alternatives varying the steel recycling rate. The bridge alternatives are prestressed concrete solid slab, prestressed concrete lightened slab, prestressed concrete box-girder, and steel–concrete composite box-girder. The results show that composite options are the best for environmental impact, but the concrete box girder solutions are better for social impact. Furthermore, an increase in the steel recycling rate increases the social impact and decreases the environmental one. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementing Innovative and Modern Methods of Construction for Achieving Triple-Bottom-Line of Sustainability)

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29 pages, 15062 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Enhancing Resilience of Cultural Heritage in Historical Areas: A Collection of Good Practices

by Angela Santangelo, Eleonora Melandri, Giulia Marzani, Simona Tondelli and Andrea Ugolini

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5171; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095171 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4034

Abstract

Although the need to protect and draw upon the various benefits of heritage as an asset for resilience is nowadays more clearly highlighted than in the past, policies to protect heritage from disaster risk remain fragmented, while the importance of learning from heritage [...] Read more.

Although the need to protect and draw upon the various benefits of heritage as an asset for resilience is nowadays more clearly highlighted than in the past, policies to protect heritage from disaster risk remain fragmented, while the importance of learning from heritage and existing knowledge for building resilience is underestimated. The aim of this study is to provide an insight on good practices dealing with cultural heritage when it comes to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, aiming at increasing cultural heritage resilience of historical areas. To this aim, the paper applies the best practice research methodology for investigating cultural heritage resilience in historical areas through the codification and analysis of good practices collected from EU-funded projects. The results consist of more than 90 good practices reviewed and analyzed according to a set of criteria. The research findings, organized according to three main categories (i.e., institutional, structural/physical, social), contribute to emphasizing the importance of improving knowledge from already available good practices. Two main approaches have been highlighted in the discussion, according to the key role assigned to stakeholders, education, data, and technology. The results allow to take advantage of existing knowledge to support communities to increase resilience of cultural heritage in historical areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and the Built Environment: Towards Sustainable Development and Resilience)

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30 pages, 3604 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Classifications of Sustainable Factors in Blockchain Adoption: A Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

by Ammar AL-Ashmori, Shuib Bin Basri, P. D. D. Dominic, Luiz Fernando Capretz, Amgad Muneer, Abdullateef Oluwagbemiga Balogun, Abdul Rehman Gilal and Rao Faizan Ali

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5176; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095176 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4515

Abstract

Blockchain is a cutting-edge technology that is transforming and reshaping many industries. Hence, the adoption of Blockchain is becoming an increasingly significant topic. The number of publications discussing the potential of Blockchain adoption has been expanding significantly. In addition, not enough attention has [...] Read more.

Blockchain is a cutting-edge technology that is transforming and reshaping many industries. Hence, the adoption of Blockchain is becoming an increasingly significant topic. The number of publications discussing the potential of Blockchain adoption has been expanding significantly. In addition, not enough attention has been given to Blockchain adoption in the software development industry. As a result, a systematic overview to investigate the research trends in this area is needed. This study uses a Scientometric analysis and critical review to examine the evolution of Blockchain adoption research on the Web of Science Principal Collection. In addition, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify gaps in Blockchain adoption research and the top reasons for adopting Blockchain with the intention of proposing a sustainable adoption framework. This study extends the body of knowledge by discussing the most influential countries, authors, organizations, publication themes, and most cited publications on Blockchain adoption research. Additionally, this study identifies the 30 relevant studies from the Web of Science and Scopus, including their industries, countries, methods, and respondent sample size, and the top 18 adoption factors among them. Consequently, this study proposes a suitable Blockchain adoption framework based on these top 18 factors. Finally, this study’s aim and unique contribution is to serve as an initial launching point for upcoming Blockchain adoption in software development industry research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Blockchain Technology)

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16 pages, 4447 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Dynamic Scheduling Method for Job-Shop Manufacturing Systems by Deep Reinforcement Learning with Proximal Policy Optimization

by Ming Zhang, Yang Lu, Youxi Hu, Nasser Amaitik and Yuchun Xu

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5177; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095177 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5261

Abstract

With the rapid development of Industrial 4.0, the modern manufacturing system has been experiencing profoundly digital transformation. The development of new technologies helps to improve the efficiency of production and the quality of products. However, for the increasingly complex production systems, operational decision [...] Read more.

With the rapid development of Industrial 4.0, the modern manufacturing system has been experiencing profoundly digital transformation. The development of new technologies helps to improve the efficiency of production and the quality of products. However, for the increasingly complex production systems, operational decision making encounters more challenges in terms of having sustainable manufacturing to satisfy customers and markets’ rapidly changing demands. Nowadays, rule-based heuristic approaches are widely used for scheduling management in production systems, which, however, significantly depends on the expert domain knowledge. In this way, the efficiency of decision making could not be guaranteed nor meet the dynamic scheduling requirement in the job-shop manufacturing environment. In this study, we propose using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) methods to tackle the dynamic scheduling problem in the job-shop manufacturing system with unexpected machine failure. The proximal policy optimization (PPO) algorithm was used in the DRL framework to accelerate the learning process and improve performance. The proposed method was testified within a real-world dynamic production environment, and it performs better compared with the state-of-the-art methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 Impacts on Lean Production Systems: Sustainable Practices)

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19 pages, 4556 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Economic and Environmental Potential of Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing

by Manuel Dias, João P. M. Pragana, Bruna Ferreira, Inês Ribeiro and Carlos M. A. Silva

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5197; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095197 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3574

Abstract

Since its creation, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has experienced a tremendous growth particularly over the last decade due to the industrial paradigm shift intended for improving conventional manufacturing procedures. This work is focused on an emerging AM process known as Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing ( [...] Read more.

Since its creation, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has experienced a tremendous growth particularly over the last decade due to the industrial paradigm shift intended for improving conventional manufacturing procedures. This work is focused on an emerging AM process known as Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) to assess its potential for further applications involving metallic costumer-oriented parts. Contrary to most AM processes, WAAM allows deposition of material layer-by-layer to be accomplished under high deposition rates, low production times and near 100% material efficiency using accessible equipment. The work stems from evaluating the economic viability in the production of parts by WAAM as an alternative for conventional processes such as those used in traditional subtractive approaches. For that purpose, a process-based cost model (PBCM) was developed for estimating production costs using a strong technological approach. The PBCM was tested with the production of a case study part by WAAM and its environmental impact was further assessed through life cycle assessment (LCA). Results show that WAAM can be economically and environmentally viable within specific industrial contexts. Moreover, further developments and optimizations of process variables and equipment will allow this technology to mature into tackling novel production challenges in a time and cost-effective manner. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Resources and Sustainable Utilization)

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20 pages, 2188 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

A Brief Review on the Development of Alginate Extraction Process and Its Sustainability

by Sijin Saji, Andrew Hebden, Parikshit Goswami and Chenyu Du

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5181; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095181 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 12515

Abstract

Alginate is an attractive marine resource-based biopolymer, which has been widely used in pharmaceutical, food and textile industries. This paper reviewed the latest development of the conventional and alternative processes for alginate extraction from brown seaweed. To improve extraction yield and product quality, [...] Read more.

Alginate is an attractive marine resource-based biopolymer, which has been widely used in pharmaceutical, food and textile industries. This paper reviewed the latest development of the conventional and alternative processes for alginate extraction from brown seaweed. To improve extraction yield and product quality, various studies have been carried out to optimize the operation condition. Based on literature survey, the most commonly used protocol is soaking milled seaweed in 2% (w/v) formaldehyde, overnight, solid loading ratio of 1:10–20 (dry weight biomass to solution), then collecting the solid for acid pre-treatment with HCl 0.2–2% (w/v), 40–60 °C, 1:10–30 ratio for 2–4 h. Next, the solid residue from the acid pre-treatment is extracted using Na₂CO₃ at 2–4% (w/v), 40–60 °C, 2–3 h, 1:10–30 ratio. Then the liquid portion is precipitated by ethanol (95%+) with a ratio of 1:1 (v/v). Finally, the solid output is dried in oven at 50–60 °C. Novel extraction methods using ultrasound, microwave, enzymes and extrusion improved the extraction yield and alginate properties, but the financial benefits have not been fully justified yet. To improve the sustainable production of alginate, it is required to promote seaweed cultivation, reduce water footprint, decrease organic solvent usage and co-produce alginate with other value-added products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Industrial Systems—from Theory to Practice)

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16 pages, 1594 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Bottlenose Dolphin Responses to Boat Traffic Affected by Boat Characteristics and Degree of Compliance to Code of Conduct

by Aleksandra Koroza and Peter G. H. Evans

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5185; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095185 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4328

Abstract

Levels of boat traffic in coastal seas have been steadily increasing in many parts of the world, introducing pressures on marine wildlife through disturbance. The appropriate management of human activities is important not only to preserve wildlife, but also for the local communities [...] Read more.

Levels of boat traffic in coastal seas have been steadily increasing in many parts of the world, introducing pressures on marine wildlife through disturbance. The appropriate management of human activities is important not only to preserve wildlife, but also for the local communities that depend on ecotourism for employment and their economy. This study presents further insight into bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) responses to boats in New Quay Bay (West Wales) within the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation. This region is heavily dependent on wildlife tourism, and marine traffic is regulated through a long-standing Code of Conduct. Based on a long-term dataset spanning the months of April to October and the years 2010–2018, the study found that compliance to a code of human behaviour increased dolphin positive responses towards boats. Dolphin responses to individual named boats and to different boat types were examined in greater detail. Speed boats, small motorboats, and kayaks were found to break the code most often, resulting in higher rates of negative response by dolphins. Visitor passenger boats formed the majority of boat traffic in the area, and showed greater compliance than other general recreational crafts. Suggestions are made for the better protection of the coastal dolphin population, as well as the role that citizen science can play to help achieve this goal through working directly with wildlife trip boats and the recruitment of local observers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environment through Sustainability Science — Environmental Studies in the Era of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030))

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13 pages, 1416 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Adapting Open Innovation Practices for the Creation of a Traceability System in a Meat-Producing Industry in Northwest Greece

by Agapi Dima, Eleni Arvaniti, Chrysostomos Stylios, Dimitrios Kafetzopoulos and Dimitris Skalkos

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5111; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095111 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2367

Abstract

Traceability is becoming an essential tool for both the industry and consumers to confirm the characteristics of food products, leading industries to implement traceability to their merchandise. In order for the Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus” (CTI) to help small and medium-sized [...] Read more.

Traceability is becoming an essential tool for both the industry and consumers to confirm the characteristics of food products, leading industries to implement traceability to their merchandise. In order for the Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus” (CTI) to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) implement traceability systems based on open innovation, principles were introduced. This paper presents market research that was carried out in order to determine the significant concerns of the Greek consumers about pork meat and pork products, their opinion on traceability information, and their preferences regarding how they would like to receive this information. The survey was conducted online and took place from mid-February to mid-March 2021 on a sample of 224 participants. The market research showed a very high interest concerning traceability, especially on the expiry date of the meat (87.9%), while the way and conditions of transport of the meat products follow (79%). Furthermore, consumers showed that they believe that the quality and safety of pork products would be improved with traceability (70.1%) and (79%) would prefer to buy traceable compared with untraceable pork, signifying the importance of traceability for consumers. Additionally, it was found that consumers and SMEs have common concerns regarding traceability. The information gathered from this market research will be used to adapt the traceability system to consumers’ needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Agrifood Supply Chain in the Post-COVID 19 Era)

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14 pages, 1189 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Characteristics of Some Wild Olive Phenotypes (Oleaster) Selected from the Western Mountains of Syria

by Reem Abdul Hamid, Hussam Hag Husein and Rupert Bäumler

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5151; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095151 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3735

Abstract

This study presents the evaluation of some technological and production specifications of 20 selected wild olive (oleaster) phenotypes from Hama Province, western–central Syria. The analyses of oil quantity showed that the olive oil (OO) extracted ranged from 10.43 to 29.3%. The fatty acid [...] Read more.

This study presents the evaluation of some technological and production specifications of 20 selected wild olive (oleaster) phenotypes from Hama Province, western–central Syria. The analyses of oil quantity showed that the olive oil (OO) extracted ranged from 10.43 to 29.3%. The fatty acid composition determined by gas chromatography (m/m%, methyl esters), conforming to commercial standards, showed the percentages of palmitic (ranged 13.2–15.06%), stearic (2.27–4.2%), arachidic (0.42–0.7%), palmitoleic (0.73–1.25%), oleic (64.29–73.17%), linoleic (8.96–16.45%), and linolenic (0.23–1.6%). Our results suggest that, despite being in a harsh environment and lacking agricultural service, two wild olive phenotypes (WA4, WA6) are interesting since their fruits showed high-quality properties (fruit weight 2.16, 3.24 g; flesh 75.83, 86.2, respectively), high content of OO% (29.27, 29.01, respectively), and better fatty acid composition (oleic % 68.45, 66.74, respectively). This enables them to be a very promising introductory feature in olive genetic improvement processes. Thus, both phenotypes were adopted tentatively as inputs, the first for oil purposes and the second for dual purposes (oil and table olives). It will be important to further evaluate these promising phenotypes in terms of their OO minor compounds, as well as their ability to resist biotic and abiotic stresses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agrobiodiversity and Sustainable Food Systems)

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13 pages, 258 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Ethics of AI-Powered Climate Nudging—How Much AI Should We Use to Save the Planet?

by Marius Bartmann

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5153; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095153 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4800

Abstract

The number of areas in which artificial intelligence (AI) technology is being employed increases continually, and climate change is no exception. There are already growing efforts to encourage people to engage more actively in sustainable environmental behavior, so-called “green nudging”. Nudging in general [...] Read more.

The number of areas in which artificial intelligence (AI) technology is being employed increases continually, and climate change is no exception. There are already growing efforts to encourage people to engage more actively in sustainable environmental behavior, so-called “green nudging”. Nudging in general is a widespread policymaking tool designed to influence people’s behavior while preserving their freedom of choice. Given the enormous challenges humanity is facing in fighting climate change, the question naturally arises: Why not combine the power of AI and the effectiveness of nudging to get people to behave in more climate-friendly ways? However, nudging has been highly controversial from the very beginning because critics fear it undermines autonomy and democracy. In this article I investigate the ethics of AI-powered climate nudging and address the question whether implementing corresponding policies may represent hidden and unacceptable costs of AI in the form of a substantive damage to autonomy and democracy. I will argue that, although there are perfectly legitimate concerns and objections against certain forms of nudging, AI-powered climate nudging can be ethically permissible under certain conditions, namely if the nudging practice takes the form of what I will call “self-governance”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Sustainability of AI; Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Investigate the Hidden Costs of AI)

13 pages, 2758 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Successive Cyclones Attacked the World’s Largest Mangrove Forest Located in the Bay of Bengal under Pandemic

by Sahadev Sharma, Rempei Suwa, Raghab Ray and Mohammad Shamim Hasan Mandal

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5130; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095130 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4253

Abstract

Despite the global focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, the promise of impact to tropical coastlines and stochasticity of destruction caused by tropical cyclones remains unaltered, forcing human societies to adapt to new unadaptable scenarios. Super Cyclone Amphan’s landfall—the third cyclone of the season [...] Read more.

Despite the global focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, the promise of impact to tropical coastlines and stochasticity of destruction caused by tropical cyclones remains unaltered, forcing human societies to adapt to new unadaptable scenarios. Super Cyclone Amphan’s landfall—the third cyclone of the season within the world’s largest mangrove forest—brought a new uncertainty to this undeveloped region of South Asia. How do vulnerable people deal with multiple disasters that limit necessary humanitarian response while still maintaining the natural environmental integrity of a system harboring critical wildlife populations and protecting people from further disaster? We explored this reality for the Sundarbans region using a remote sensing technique and found that the western part of Sundarbans mangroves was severely damaged by Amphan, suggesting that rapid remote sensing techniques can help direct resources, and recognize the eventuality that response will be a best effort for now. If 2020 is a window, multiple disaster management scenarios may become more common in the future. Yet, society’s obligation for maintaining environmental integrity remains unchanged. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mangrove Ecosystem Ecology, Conservation and Sustainability)

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27 pages, 6876 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Mechanism of Green Innovation in China

by Weisong Mi, Kaixu Zhao and Pei Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5121; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095121 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2381

Abstract

Sustainable development has become a global consensus, and green innovation is the key to promoting transition to sustainable development. The study on green innovation contributes to develop and implement green innovation policies. This paper investigates the spatio-temporal characteristics and driving mechanism of green [...] Read more.

Sustainable development has become a global consensus, and green innovation is the key to promoting transition to sustainable development. The study on green innovation contributes to develop and implement green innovation policies. This paper investigates the spatio-temporal characteristics and driving mechanism of green innovation 2009–2019 in China from the perspective of economic geography based on a variety of methods such as GIS tools and Geodetector, in two dimensions of green innovation power (GIP) and green innovation growth ability (GIGA). The findings show that (1) The GIP and GIGA in China continue to increase, with obvious decreasing gradient characteristics from eastern to central and western China, extreme polarization, and obvious spatial aggregation, and the high-value regions show a change from coastal and riverine distribution to coastal distribution, with Shandong and Yangtze River Delta as the centers of high-value regions. (2) The power of the 18 driving factors on green innovation varies widely across time, and the 7 factors such as green area in urban completed area and investment in urban environmental infrastructure facilities are super interaction factors. Besides, the 5 variables of innovation input, foreign connection, economic environment, market environment and environmental regulation have different driving forces on green innovation, suggesting that the driving mechanism has changed in different periods. (3) Core factors of GIP were identified as R&D intramural expenditure and R&D personnel equivalent; important factors were identified as 5 factors such as R&D intramural expenditure in high-tech industry and FDI. Core factors of GIGA were identified as R&D intramural expenditure and added value of financial industry; important factors were identified as 4 factors such as R&D intramural expenditure in high-tech industry and GDP. (4) The 31 provinces in China were classified into 4 types of policy areas by BCG model, and proper policy suggestions were put forward. The research methods and conclusions of this paper can provide reference for green innovation policy optimization in China and other countries under similar conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technologies towards Cleaner Production and Sustainable Development)

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23 pages, 9173 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Agricultural Land: Crop Production or Photovoltaic Power Plants

by Valerii Havrysh, Antonina Kalinichenko, Edyta Szafranek and Vasyl Hruban

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5099; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095099 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3730

Abstract

Mitigation of climate change requires a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. It motivates an increase in renewable electricity generation. Farmers can develop renewable energy and increase their profitability by allocating agricultural land to PV power plants. This transition from crop production to electricity [...] Read more.

Mitigation of climate change requires a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. It motivates an increase in renewable electricity generation. Farmers can develop renewable energy and increase their profitability by allocating agricultural land to PV power plants. This transition from crop production to electricity generation needs ecological and economic assessment from alternative land utilization. The novelty of this study is an integrated assessment that links economic and environmental (carbon dioxide emissions) indicators. They were calculated for crop production and solar power generation in a semi-arid zone. The results showed that gross income (crop production) ranges from USD 508/ha to USD 1389/ha. PV plants can generate up to 794 MWh/ha. Their market cost is EUR 82,000, and their production costs are less than wholesale prices in Ukrainian. The profitability index of a PV project ranges from 1.26 (a discount range is 10%) to 3.24 (a discount rate is 0). The sensitivity analysis was carried out for six variables. For each chosen variable, we found its switching value. It was revealed that the most sensitive variable is a feed-in tariff. Operational expenses and investment costs are the most sensitive variables. Carbon dioxide footprints range from 500 to 3200 kgCO₂/ha (depending on the crop). A 618 kW PV plant causes a release of carbon dioxide in the range of 5.2–11.4 gCO₂/kWh. The calculated carbon dioxide payback period varies from 5 to 10 months. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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25 pages, 4391 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Local Perceptions and Scientific Knowledge of Climate Change: Perspectives of Informal Dwellers and Institutions in Accra, Ghana

by Ishmael Adams, Sumita Ghosh, Goran Runeson and Mahsood Shah

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5080; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095080 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4343

Abstract

The extant literature in urban climate studies suggests that the urban poor are the most vulnerable to climate change. Local perceptions and knowledge of climate change are also generally viewed as crucial for sustainable adaptation planning in developing countries. Yet the extent to [...] Read more.

The extant literature in urban climate studies suggests that the urban poor are the most vulnerable to climate change. Local perceptions and knowledge of climate change are also generally viewed as crucial for sustainable adaptation planning in developing countries. Yet the extent to which perceptions of climate change are influenced by the context of informal urbanisation in the Global South remains unexamined. This paper aimed to examine the extent to which the context of residents of informal settlements influences their perceptions and the congruence of these perceptions with scientific knowledge of climate change in an African city. Using Accra, Ghana as a case, 582 household surveys, 25 institutional key informant interviews and 14 focus group discussions were conducted and analysed. Results show two main findings: (1) respondents mainly perceived changes in climate change related-phenomena which were in synergy with scientific sources but their claims of increases in flooding were not supported by scientific data; and (2) while the literacy levels of the respondents were unrelated to their perception about climate change, heir perceptions were also discordant with city authorities’ perceptions on the causes of flooding as a hazard. The study suggests the integration of local perceptions and knowledge of climate change in adaptation planning in Accra and similar contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air, Climate Change and Sustainability)

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9 pages, 578 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Pre- and Post-Activity Anxiety for Sustainable Rafting

by João Faria, Luis Quaresma, Stefania Cataldi, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Valerio Bonavolontà, Georgian Badicu, Gianpiero Greco, António Brandão, Michele De Candia, Roberta Frontini, Francesca Latino and Francesco Fischetti

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5075; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095075 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1805

Abstract

This study aimed to (i) analyze the levels of state-anxiety of rafting customers, before and after the activity; and (ii) characterize the levels of trait-anxiety and the amount of physical activity performed weekly by clients of a rafting activity. The sample had 100 [...] Read more.

This study aimed to (i) analyze the levels of state-anxiety of rafting customers, before and after the activity; and (ii) characterize the levels of trait-anxiety and the amount of physical activity performed weekly by clients of a rafting activity. The sample had 100 subjects of a nature sports company, in the rafting activity, with a mean age of 33.27 ± 10.10 years, with 44% female and 56% male participants. They were evaluated in two moments M1 (pre-activity) and M2 (post-activity). In M1, the STAI—State-Anxiety questionnaire and the IPAQ—International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version) were applied. In M2, the STAI Form 1 State-Anxiety questionnaire was applied again, followed by the STAI trait-anxiety. The results showed no correlation between the amount of weekly physical activity and levels of trait-anxiety (rho(100) = −0.144; p-value = 0.152), thus not corroborating with the existing literature. Regarding state-anxiety, we found that in 55% of cases, it decreased with the practice of rafting, which suggests that the practice may have an anxiolytic effect and promote the well-being and relaxation of participants promoting, in this way, the sustainability of the rafting activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity in Outdoor Context: from education to psycho-physical well-being)

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28 pages, 608 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Advances in Technological Research for Online and In Situ Water Quality Monitoring—A Review

by Gabriel Marinho e Silva, Daiane Ferreira Campos, José Artur Teixeira Brasil, Marcel Tremblay, Eduardo Mario Mendiondo and Filippo Ghiglieno

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5059; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095059 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 7129

Abstract

Monitoring water quality is an essential tool for the control of pollutants and pathogens that can cause damage to the environment and human health. However, water quality analysis is usually performed in laboratory environments, often with the use of high-cost equipment and qualified [...] Read more.

Monitoring water quality is an essential tool for the control of pollutants and pathogens that can cause damage to the environment and human health. However, water quality analysis is usually performed in laboratory environments, often with the use of high-cost equipment and qualified professionals. With the progress of nanotechnology and the advance in engineering materials, several studies have shown, in recent years, the development of technologies aimed at monitoring water quality, with the ability to reduce the costs of analysis and accelerate the achievement of results for management and decision-making. In this work, a review was carried out on several low-cost developed technologies and applied in situ for water quality monitoring. Thus, new alternative technologies for the main physical (color, temperature, and turbidity), chemical (chlorine, fluorine, phosphorus, metals, nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, pH, and oxidation–reduction potential), and biological (total coliforms, Escherichia coli, algae, and cyanobacteria) water quality parameters were described. It was observed that there has been an increase in the number of publications related to the topic in recent years, mainly since 2012, with 641 studies being published in 2021. The main new technologies developed are based on optical or electrochemical sensors, however, due to the recent development of these technologies, more robust analyses and evaluations in real conditions are essential to guarantee the precision and repeatability of the methods, especially when it is desirable to compare the values with government regulatory standards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technologies for Urban Water Management)

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33 pages, 6943 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Application of GIS and Machine Learning to Predict Flood Areas in Nigeria

by Eseosa Halima Ighile, Hiroaki Shirakawa and Hiroki Tanikawa

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5039; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095039 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 9402

Abstract

Floods are one of the most devastating forces in nature. Several approaches for identifying flood-prone locations have been developed to reduce the overall harmful impacts on humans and the environment. However, due to the increased frequency of flooding and related disasters, coupled with [...] Read more.

Floods are one of the most devastating forces in nature. Several approaches for identifying flood-prone locations have been developed to reduce the overall harmful impacts on humans and the environment. However, due to the increased frequency of flooding and related disasters, coupled with the continuous changes in natural and social-economic conditions, it has become vital to predict areas with the highest probability of flooding to ensure effective measures to mitigate impending disasters. This study predicted the flood susceptible areas in Nigeria based on historical flood records from 1985~2020 and various conditioning factors. To evaluate the link between flood incidence and the fifteen (15) explanatory variables, which include climatic, topographic, land use and proximity information, the artificial neural network (ANN) and logistic regression (LR) models were trained and tested to develop a flood susceptibility map. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate both model accuracies. The results show that both techniques can model and predict flood-prone areas. However, the ANN model produced a higher performance and prediction rate than the LR model, 76.4% and 62.5%, respectively. In addition, both models highlighted that those areas with the highest susceptibility to flood are the low-lying regions in the southern extremities and around water areas. From the study, we can establish that machine learning techniques can effectively map and predict flood-prone areas and serve as a tool for developing flood mitigation policies and plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flood Risk Assessment Using Deep Learning and State-of-the-Art Machine Learning)

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17 pages, 6537 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Benchmarking City Layouts—A Methodological Approach and an Accessibility Comparison between a Real City and the Garden City

by João Monteiro, Nuno Sousa, Eduardo Natividade-Jesus and João Coutinho-Rodrigues

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5029; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095029 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3960

Abstract

This article presents a comparative accessibility study between a real city and its redraft as a Garden City. The benchmarking methodology involves defining and evaluating a location-based accessibility indicator in a GIS environment for the city of Coimbra, Portugal, and for the same [...] Read more.

This article presents a comparative accessibility study between a real city and its redraft as a Garden City. The benchmarking methodology involves defining and evaluating a location-based accessibility indicator in a GIS environment for the city of Coimbra, Portugal, and for the same city laid out as a Garden City, with the same number of inhabitants, jobs, and similar number of urban facilities. The results are derived as maps and weighted average distances per inhabitant to the facilities and jobs, and show that, for the Garden City, average distances drop to around 500 m for urban facilities and 1500 m for the combination of facilities and jobs, making much of the city accessible by walking and practically the whole of it accessible by cycling, with positive impact on transport sustainability and accessibility equity. The methodology can be extended to other benchmarking indicators and city layouts, and the quantitative results it yields make a valuable contribution to the debate on the ideal layout of cities. Moreover, it gives directions on how to improve real cities to address current and future sustainability concerns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial Planning and Analysis in Urban Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1432 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Livelihood Capitals, Income Inequality, and the Perception of Climate Change: A Case Study of Small-Scale Cattle Farmers in the Ecuadorian Andes

by Bolier Torres, Jhenny Cayambe, Susana Paz, Kelly Ayerve, Marco Heredia-R, Emma Torres, Marcelo Luna, Theofilos Toulkeridis and Antón García

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5028; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095028 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3319

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 2015 identify poverty, growth, and inequality as three key areas of intervention towards the UN 2030 Agenda for human well-being and sustainability. Herein, the predominant objectives are: (a) To determine the poverty groups by quintiles through the [...] Read more.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 2015 identify poverty, growth, and inequality as three key areas of intervention towards the UN 2030 Agenda for human well-being and sustainability. Herein, the predominant objectives are: (a) To determine the poverty groups by quintiles through the cattle income in households of small milk producers; (b) To characterize rural livelihoods by using capital theory; and (c) To assess the perception of climate change (CC) and the willingness to accept adaptation as well as mitigation measures. The current study was performed in communities that are located in the Ecuadorian Andes, where some 178 surveys were conducted with indigenous Kichwa and mestizo heads of households. From the total net income determined, five groups were organized. The Lorenz curve was applied as a general indicator of the relative inequality, as well as the Gini coefficient (G). On the basis of the theory of capital, the human, social, natural, physical, and financial characteristics were determined, and seven variables were considered to evaluate the perception and willingness to accept mitigation and adaptation actions of the given quintiles. The result of the Gini coefficient was 0.52, which indicates that the poorest 20% of the population only receives 3.40% of the income, while the richest 20% of the quintile obtain about 54% of the total income. It is evident that most producers know little about CC, but that they are willing to receive strengthening programs. Therefore, it is essential to establish strategic guidelines from public policy in order to reduce inequality and to improve the social welfare of producers, with a transversal axis in the strengthening of the capacities on the impact, mitigation, and adaptation to CC, as well as the provision of several tools, such as access to climate information. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Farmers’ Socioeconomic Factors in Sustainable Production and Livelihoods under Climate Change)

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31 pages, 2479 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Steel Slag and Recycled Concrete Aggregates: Replacing Quarries to Supply Sustainable Materials for the Asphalt Paving Industry

by Carlos D. A. Loureiro, Caroline F. N. Moura, Mafalda Rodrigues, Fernando C. G. Martinho, Hugo M. R. D. Silva and Joel R. M. Oliveira

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5022; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095022 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6779

Abstract

Various researchers are developing efforts to integrate waste and by-products as alternative materials in road construction and maintenance, reducing environmental impacts and promoting a circular economy. Among the alternative materials that several authors have studied regarding their use as partial or total substitutes [...] Read more.

Various researchers are developing efforts to integrate waste and by-products as alternative materials in road construction and maintenance, reducing environmental impacts and promoting a circular economy. Among the alternative materials that several authors have studied regarding their use as partial or total substitutes for natural aggregates in the asphalt paving industry, the steel slag aggregate (SSA) and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) from construction demolition waste (CDW) stand out. This paper reviews and discusses the characteristics and performance of these materials when used as aggregates in asphalt mixtures. Based on the various studies analyzed, it was possible to conclude that incorporating SSA or RCA in asphalt mixtures for road pavements has functional, mechanical, and environmental advantages. However, it is essential to consider some possible drawbacks of these aggregates that are discussed in this paper, to define the acceptable uses of SSA and RCA as sustainable feedstocks for road paving works. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability of Transport Infrastructures)

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31 pages, 7598 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis Framework to Evaluate Urban Physical Resilience against Earthquakes

by Sedigheh Meimandi Parizi, Mohammad Taleai and Ayyoob Sharifi

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5034; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095034 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3956

Abstract

As complex man-made systems that are home to the majority of the world population, cities have always faced a wide range of risks such as earthquakes. As the backbone of urban systems, physical components, including buildings, transportation networks, communication networks, and open and [...] Read more.

As complex man-made systems that are home to the majority of the world population, cities have always faced a wide range of risks such as earthquakes. As the backbone of urban systems, physical components, including buildings, transportation networks, communication networks, and open and green spaces, are also vulnerable to disasters. To enhance the capacity to deal with disaster risks, enhancing urban resilience has recently become an essential priority for cities. This study aims to develop and pilot test a framework to evaluate urban physical resilience based on resilience characteristics and associated physical indicators. Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) was used to determine the relationships between physical indicators, and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods were applied to determine the relative importance of the characteristics. The results showed that the ‘Robustness of Building’, ‘Building Density’, ‘Aspect Ratio’, and ‘Street Width’ are the most important among the twenty physical indicators considered in the proposed framework. Subsequently, the proposed framework was applied to one of the districts of Kerman, a major city located in the southwest, earthquake-prone part of Iran. Overall results indicate low levels of physical resilience. The findings of this study can provide urban planners and decision-makers with more transparent and practical insights into the physical resilience of cities. Results can also be used to design and implement policies and programs to improve the current conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Indicators, Assessment Tools, and Rating Systems for Mainstreaming Sustainability in Urban Planning and Development)

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16 pages, 1547 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Branding Built Heritage through Cultural Urban Festivals: An Instagram Analysis Related to Sustainable Co-Creation, in Budapest

by Bálint Kádár and János Klaniczay

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5020; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095020 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4537

Abstract

Global tourism is posing challenges on the environmental and social sustainability of host communities, while the industry itself has proven to be vulnerable to threats such as a global pandemic. Proximity tourism was demonstrated to be a more sustainable form in every aspect, [...] Read more.

Global tourism is posing challenges on the environmental and social sustainability of host communities, while the industry itself has proven to be vulnerable to threats such as a global pandemic. Proximity tourism was demonstrated to be a more sustainable form in every aspect, especially when locals can co-create the experience and develop place attachment in urban environments through placemaking practices valuing previously underused urban heritage. An alternative urban festival in Budapest focusing on the built environment attracts locals annually to visit open houses providing visitors with genuine experiences. Residents are actively involved in the cultural placemaking practices of the event. As visitors documented the festival and the architectural heritage and uploaded hundreds of photos of their experience to social media platforms such as Instagram, they contributed to the branding process of the event and to the placemaking process involving less known heritage values. In this study, a dataset of more than ten thousand posts was retrieved by scraping Instagram posts based on hashtags related to the Budapest100 festival and analyzed from a temporal and spatial aspect. Returning visitors were identified, who contribute substantially to the sustainability of the event and to the branding of the built environment. Results suggest that community-based local urban festivals are a sustainable form of proximity tourism, resilient even to the COVID-19 pandemic. Place branding through urban festivals focusing on the local built heritage can also decrease the growing pressure on city centers in tourist-historic cities dealing with overtourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Tourism, Culture, and Heritage)

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20 pages, 4601 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Predicting the Effects of Land Use Land Cover and Climate Change on Munneru River Basin Using CA-Markov and Soil and Water Assessment Tool

by Kotapati Narayana Loukika, Venkata Reddy Keesara, Eswar Sai Buri and Venkataramana Sridhar

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5000; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095000 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2453

Abstract

It is important to understand how changing climate and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) will impact future spatio-temporal water availability across the Munneru river basin as it aids in effective water management and adaptation strategies. The Munneru river basin is one of the [...] Read more.

It is important to understand how changing climate and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) will impact future spatio-temporal water availability across the Munneru river basin as it aids in effective water management and adaptation strategies. The Munneru river basin is one of the important sub-basins of the Krishna River in India. In this paper, the combined impact of LULC and Climate Change (CC) on Munneru water resources using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is presented. The SWAT model is calibrated and validated for the period 1983–2017 in SWAT-CUP using the SUFI2 algorithm. The correlation coefficient between observed and simulated streamflow is calculated to be 0.92. The top five ranked Regional Climate Models (RCMs) are ensembled at each grid using the Reliable Ensemble Averaging (REA) approach. Predicted LULC maps for the years 2030, 2050 and 2080 using the CA-Markov model revealed increases in built-up and kharif crop areas and decreases in barren lands. The average monthly streamflows are simulated for the baseline period (1983–2005) and for three future periods, namely the near future (2021–2039), mid future (2040–2069) and far future (2070–2099) under Representation Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 climate change scenarios. Streamflows increase in three future periods when only CC and the combined effect of CC and LULC are considered under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. When compared to the CC impact in the RCP 4.5 scenario, the percentage increase in average monthly mean streamflow (July–November) with the combined impact of CC and LULC is 33.9% (near future), 35.8% (mid future), and 45.3% (far future). Similarly, RCP 8.5 increases streamflow by 33.8% (near future), 36.5% (mid future), and 38.8% (far future) when compared to the combined impact of CC and LULC with only CC. When the combined impact of CC and LULC is considered, water balance components such as surface runoff and evapotranspiration increase while aquifer recharge decreases in both scenarios over the three future periods. The findings of this study can be used to plan and develop integrated water management strategies for the basin with projected LULC under climate change scenarios. This methodology can be applied to other basins in similar physiographic regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Water Management)

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24 pages, 694 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Life Cycle Analysis Challenges through Building Rating Schemes within the European Framework

by Borja Izaola, Ortzi Akizu-Gardoki and Xabat Oregi

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5009; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095009 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3230

Abstract

The decarbonisation of buildings is a crucial milestone if European cities mean to reach their mitigation targets. The construction sector was responsible for 38% of the GHG emissions in 2020. From these emissions, 11% is calculated to be currently embodied in building materials. [...] Read more.

The decarbonisation of buildings is a crucial milestone if European cities mean to reach their mitigation targets. The construction sector was responsible for 38% of the GHG emissions in 2020. From these emissions, 11% is calculated to be currently embodied in building materials. In this context, an evaluation from a life cycle perspective is becoming increasingly necessary to achieve the objectives set. Currently, there are different building rating systems (BRS) at European level that allow the evaluation of the degree of sustainability of buildings. During this study, the authors have evaluated to what extent and how the most extended five BRS (NF Habitat HQE, VERDE, DGNB, BREEAM, and HPI systems) in the European framework have integrated the life cycle methodology during their evaluation process. Four methodologies have been used in the research in order to analyse these five systems: quantitative assessment, multi-level perspective, mapping–gap analysis, and expert interviews. Although each methodology has produced different results, the need to harmonise the evaluation criteria at the European level, the insufficient consistency of data software, and the availability of skilled LCA professionals for wider LCA market penetration, among others, should be highlighted. The quality and harmonised data of construction products is required for LCA to give aggregated and transformative results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Green Building Technologies)

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10 pages, 595 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Environmental Life Cycle Assessments of Chicken Manure Compost Using Tobacco Residue, Mushroom Bran, and Biochar as Additives

by Bangxi Zhang, Tianhong Fu, Chung-Yu Guan, Shihao Cui, Beibei Fan, Yi Tan, Wenhai Luo, Quanquan Wei, Guoxue Li and Yutao Peng

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4976; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094976 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3303

Abstract

As an environmental management method, the (life cycle assessment) LCA method can be used to compare the differences between various waste treatment processes in order to provide an environmentally friendly and economically feasible method for waste management. This study focused on the reutilization [...] Read more.

As an environmental management method, the (life cycle assessment) LCA method can be used to compare the differences between various waste treatment processes in order to provide an environmentally friendly and economically feasible method for waste management. This study focused on the reutilization of typical organic waste to produce organic fertilizer in southwest China and used the life cycle assessment method to evaluate three aerobic chicken manure composting scenarios modified with three additives (biochar, mushroom bran, and tobacco residue) from an environmental and economic perspective. The results show that the total environmental loads of the optimized treatments using mushroom bran and biochar mixed with mushroom bran as additives were reduced by 30.0% and 35.1%, respectively, compared to the control treatment (viz. chicken manure composted with tobacco residue). Compared to the control treatment, the optimized composting treatment modified by mushroom bran with and without biochar improved the profit by 23.9% and 35.4%, respectively. This work reflected that the combined composting mode of chicken manure, tobacco residue, mushroom bran, and biochar is an environmentally friendly and economically feasible composting process, which is more suitable for the resource utilization of the typical organic waste in southwest China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Pollutants in the Environment: Analysis and Treatment)

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15 pages, 6489 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Permeable Pavements for Flood Control in Australia: Spatial Analysis of Pavement Design Considering Rainfall and Soil Data

by Asif Iqbal, Md Mizanur Rahman and Simon Beecham

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4970; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094970 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7897

Abstract

Permeable pavements allow rainfall and surface runoff to infiltrate through their surface, and this reduces urban flooding by increasing water management efficiency. The design of permeable pavements depends heavily on rainfall and soil conditions for a particular area. This study investigates the required [...] Read more.

Permeable pavements allow rainfall and surface runoff to infiltrate through their surface, and this reduces urban flooding by increasing water management efficiency. The design of permeable pavements depends heavily on rainfall and soil conditions for a particular area. This study investigates the required base course thickness in different areas across Australia that can effectively reduce flood intensities. A detailed hydraulic analysis was conducted, considering the pavement materials, soil characteristics and rainfall intensities across Australia. The research also developed a relationship between base course thickness, rainfall intensity and soil classification, which can facilitate reasonable predictions of required design thickness for any location. The results showed a strong relationship between soil characteristics and pavement thickness, with clay soils requiring increased pavement thickness correlated with rainfall intensity. A spatial analysis was conducted, producing a tool for initial screening on the design requirements, before proceeding with a detailed design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Materials for the Circular Economy)

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20 pages, 796 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Towards the Smart Circular Economy Paradigm: A Definition, Conceptualization, and Research Agenda

by Gianmarco Bressanelli, Federico Adrodegari, Daniela C. A. Pigosso and Vinit Parida

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4960; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094960 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 7538

Abstract

The digital age we live in offers companies many opportunities to jointly advance sustainability and competitiveness. New digital technologies can, in fact, support the incorporation of circular economy principles into businesses, enabling new business models and facilitating the redesign of products and value [...] Read more.

The digital age we live in offers companies many opportunities to jointly advance sustainability and competitiveness. New digital technologies can, in fact, support the incorporation of circular economy principles into businesses, enabling new business models and facilitating the redesign of products and value chains. Despite this considerable potential, the convergence between the circular economy and these technologies is still underinvestigated. By reviewing the literature, this paper aims to provide a definition and a conceptual framework, which systematize the smart circular economy paradigm as an industrial system that uses digital technologies during the product life-cycle phases to implement circular strategies and practices aimed at value creation. Following this conceptualization, the classical, underlying circular economy principle, ‘waste equals food’, is reshaped into an equation more fitting for the digital age—that is to say, ‘waste + data = resource’. Lastly, this paper provides promising research directions to further develop this field. To advance knowledge on the smart circular economy paradigm, researchers and practitioners are advised to: (i) develop research from exploratory and descriptive to confirmatory and prescriptive purposes, relying on a wide spectrum of research methodologies; (ii) move the focus from single organizations to the entire ecosystem and value chain of stakeholders; (iii) combine different enabling digital technologies to leverage their synergistic potential; and (iv) assess the environmental impact of digital technologies to prevent potential rebound effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy in the Digital Age)

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27 pages, 5978 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Influence of Rainfall Events and Surface Inclination on Overland and Subsurface Runoff Formation on Low-Permeable Soil

by Andrzej Gruchot, Tymoteusz Zydroń, Andrzej Wałęga, Jana Pařílková and Jacek Stanisz

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4962; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094962 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2100

Abstract

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests that allowed us to determine the effect of the soil surface inclination and its initial moisture content on the formation of overland and subsurface runoff. The experiments were carried out for the soil that is [...] Read more.

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests that allowed us to determine the effect of the soil surface inclination and its initial moisture content on the formation of overland and subsurface runoff. The experiments were carried out for the soil that is commonly present in the southern part of Poland, including the Outer Carpathians. The results of these measurements served as a reference for overland runoff calculations using the Richards model, simplified Green–Ampt model, and the empirical model (MSME). The results of the measurements showed that, for low-permeable soil, overland runoff is the dominant form. It was shown that a slope in the range of 2.5–5.0% does not have a significant effect on the amount of overland runoff, but affects its dynamics. The measurements also showed that the starting time and amount of overland runoff are strictly associated with the initial soil moisture content. High soil moisture content in the period preceding the onset of rainfall causes faster generation and an increase in overland runoff, which is caused by the saturation of the surface layer of the soil. This mechanism was confirmed by the results of calculations using the Richards model and measurements of the electrical resistance of the soil. Theoretical calculations showed that the results of the runoff calculations using the Richards and Green–Ampt models are strongly dependent on the hydraulic properties of the soil adopted for the analysis. It was also demonstrated that the modified MSME model satisfactorily estimates the amount of overland and subsurface runoff, but requires parameter calibration based on existing hydrological data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Management)

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22 pages, 3189 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Systematic Literature Review of Sustainable Packaging in Supply Chain Management

by Jonathan Asher Morashti, Youra An and Hyunmi Jang

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4921; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094921 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 18138

Abstract

This exploratory study utilises quantitative analysis to deliver a systematic literature review of published journal papers from 1993 to 2020 with the aim to identify research trends and present a comprehensive overview of research focus conducted in the sustainable packaging domain within the [...] Read more.

This exploratory study utilises quantitative analysis to deliver a systematic literature review of published journal papers from 1993 to 2020 with the aim to identify research trends and present a comprehensive overview of research focus conducted in the sustainable packaging domain within the scope of supply chain management. This research is conducted with the data mining software, NetMiner 4, utilising the three analytical tools of statistical analysis, keyword network analysis, and topic analysis. The research also utilises the qualitative method of in-depth interviews in order to investigate current trends and perspectives on the future of sustainable packaging and to validate the analysis results. The research findings reveal that research in the field of ‘sustainable packaging in supply chain management’ field has been extremely limited, and this study acts to address this research gap. The results confirm that the vast majority of research focus has been in the fields of engineering and science. Research on the topic has gained momentum and has significantly increased since 2013 with research trends becoming increasingly diversified and gradually aligned with the concept of circular economy, while the topic of operational management has been highlighted as an area requiring additional attention. The keyword frequency analysis reveals the following highest occurring keywords in TF: life cycle; environmental impact; consumer; transportation; and production. The highest occurring keywords in TF-IDF: production; transportation; consumer; food; and environmental impact. Topic modelling revealed the following six topics: consumer behaviour; environmental pollution; circular economy; waste management; resource conservation; and operational management. This study contributes to understanding past, present, and future research agendas, and can be utilised as foundation for research development, as it provides insight to current research status and trends provided by the keyword network analysis highlighting research focus and trends in ‘sustainable packaging in supply chain management’. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability, Innovation and Competition: Emerging Actors and Challenges in Supply Chain Management)

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22 pages, 11799 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Differential Impacts of Climatic and Land Use Changes on Habitat Suitability and Protected Area Adequacy across the Asian Elephant’s Range

by Wei Yang, Yuanxu Ma, Linhai Jing, Siyuan Wang, Zhongchang Sun, Yunwei Tang and Hui Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4933; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094933 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3811

Abstract

Climate change and human activities have caused dramatic impacts on biodiversity. Although a number of international agreements or initiatives have been launched to mitigate the biodiversity loss, the erosion of terrestrial biome habitats is inevitable. Consequently, the identification of potential suitable habitats under [...] Read more.

Climate change and human activities have caused dramatic impacts on biodiversity. Although a number of international agreements or initiatives have been launched to mitigate the biodiversity loss, the erosion of terrestrial biome habitats is inevitable. Consequently, the identification of potential suitable habitats under climate change and human disturbance has become an urgent task of biodiversity conservation. In this study, we used the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to identify the current and potential future habitats of Asian elephants in South and Southeast Asia. We performed analyses for future projections with 17 scenarios using the present results as baseline. To optimize the modelling results, we delineated the core habitats by using the Core Mapper Tool and compared them with existing protected areas (PAs) through gap analysis. The results showed that the current total area of core habitats is 491,455 km² in size and will be reduced to 332,544 km² by 2090 under SSP585 (the shared socioeconomic pathway). The projection analysis under differential scenarios suggested that most of the core habitats in the current protected areas would remain stable and suitable for elephants in the future. However, the remaining 75.17% of the core habitats lay outside the current PAs, and finally we mapped approximately 219,545 km² of suitable habitats as priority protected areas in the future. Although our model did not perform well in some regions, our analyses and findings still could provide useful references to the planning of protected areas and conservation of Asian elephant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Terrestrial Ecosystems)

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21 pages, 1417 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Realising the Potential of Renewable Energy as a Tool for Energy Security in Small Island Developing States

by Walter Leal Filho, Abdul-Lateef Balogun, Dinesh Surroop, Amanda Lange Salvia, Kapil Narula, Chunlan Li, Julian David Hunt, Andrea Gatto, Ayyoob Sharifi, Haibo Feng, Stella Tsani and Hossein Azadi

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4965; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094965 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4782

Abstract

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are heavily dependent on the use of imported fossil fuels to address their energy needs. This has a negative impact on the environment, SIDS budgets, and energy security. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of renewable [...] Read more.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are heavily dependent on the use of imported fossil fuels to address their energy needs. This has a negative impact on the environment, SIDS budgets, and energy security. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of renewable energy (RE) as a tool for energy security in SIDS. In this regard, using VOSviewer, a widely known software tool, two bibliometric analyses were performed with a focus on the literature that explores two intertwined issues: (i) the links between RE and energy security; and (ii) the implications of RE and energy security in SIDS. The results from the study show that RE can help SIDS enhance their energy security and assure long-term energy sustainability. In addition, the results show that with the reduction in the cost of batteries in the future, they will eventually replace diesel generators. Moreover, the study showed that renewable energy may assist SIDS in their long-term efforts to achieve food security. The analysis discusses the major obstacles and the potential solutions for the integration of RES into the energy generation of SIDS. The paper concludes with useful recommendations to help island nations reduce their carbon footprint. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers and Best Practices in Bio, Circular, and Green Growth and Eco-Innovation)

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10 pages, 618 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Gender and Age Influence in Pre-Competitive and Post-Competitive Anxiety in Young Tennis Players

by Rafael Martínez-Gallego, Santos Villafaina, Miguel Crespo and Juan Pedro Fuentes-García

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4966; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094966 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3178

Abstract

To study the influence of age and gender on pre-competitive and post-competitive anxiety and self-confidence in young tennis players. A total of 42 U’12 to U’18 category tennis players, 12 females and 30 males, participated in this cross-sectional study. The players had a [...] Read more.

To study the influence of age and gender on pre-competitive and post-competitive anxiety and self-confidence in young tennis players. A total of 42 U’12 to U’18 category tennis players, 12 females and 30 males, participated in this cross-sectional study. The players had a mean age of 13.74 (2.07) years old and a national competitive experience of 4.00 (2.14) years. The pre-competitive anxiety of the participants was assessed using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory–2R (CSAI-2R) and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-E) before and after an official tournament’s match. Results showed that younger players showed lower trait anxiety (r = 0.333; p < 0.05), lower pre-match state anxiety (r = 0.501; p < 0.01) and lower pre-match somatic anxiety (r = 0.313; p < 0.05). Furthermore, girls exhibited higher values of state anxiety (r = 0.445; p < 0.01) and somatic anxiety (r = 0.440; p < 0.01) than boys before the match. However, differences were not observed in the trait anxiety measured by STAI-E (r = 0.203; p = 0.213), cognitive anxiety (r = 0.140; p = 0.363), and self-confidence measured by the CSAI questionnaire (r = 0.150; p = 0.333), before the match. Therefore, coaches and sport psychologists should implement adequate on- and off-court individualized interventions to manage anxiety, specifically in girls and players over 14 years old. Although anxiety levels were similar to those before the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the influence of the pandemic on mental health, results might be taken with caution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Health: Fitness and Sports after COVID Pandemic)

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15 pages, 483 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Back and Forth on Sustainable Development: A Focus on Healthcare Organisations

by Caterina Cavicchi, Chiara Oppi and Emidia Vagnoni

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4958; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094958 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2815

Abstract

The sustainability of healthcare systems represents a relevant target of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda. Nevertheless, academic research has neglected to study healthcare systems when focusing on the transition toward sustainable healthcare. This study addresses this gap by investigating the implementation of [...] Read more.

The sustainability of healthcare systems represents a relevant target of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda. Nevertheless, academic research has neglected to study healthcare systems when focusing on the transition toward sustainable healthcare. This study addresses this gap by investigating the implementation of the sustainable development (SD) principle in the Italian healthcare system, in light of international and national institutional discourses on SD. A questionnaire-based survey has been directed to the General Directors (GDs) of government-funded healthcare orgsanisations to investigate their perceptions about the SD principle applied to healthcare, their strategic planning for SD, their implemented projects for sustainability and the intellectual capital factors that influence the latter’s implementation. The study was conducted in two waves: a first survey was administered in 2016, with a second one in 2021. We used content analysis to identify the potential differences emerging over time in GDs’ perceptions in light of the changes in the institutional discourse; we then assessed the differences over time in the perceived contribution of intellectual capital factors to the implementation of sustainability actions. Results show a substantial decrease in strategic planning for sustainability, as well as in the volume of sustainability projects implemented, as organisations were found to be less involved in implementing SD strategies and projects in 2021 than in 2016. Policies at the country level have mainly focused on balancing cost containment with quality targets, leaving the environmental dimension of sustainability and its connection with healthcare with limited guidelines. Regarding intellectual capital factors, organisational culture and technologies are increasingly perceived as enablers of SD; nevertheless, further studies are needed to deepen their effective contribution to sustainable healthcare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Management in the Healthcare Sector)

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19 pages, 1220 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Cooling the City? A Scientometric Study on Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure and Climate Change-Induced Public Health Effects

by Leo Capari, Harald Wilfing, Andreas Exner, Thomas Höflehner and Daniela Haluza

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4929; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094929 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5086

Abstract

Climate change causes global effects on multiple levels. The anthropogenic input of greenhouse gases increases the atmospheric mean temperature. It furthermore leads to a higher probability of extreme weather events (e.g., heat waves, floods) and thus strongly impacts the habitats of humans, animals, [...] Read more.

Climate change causes global effects on multiple levels. The anthropogenic input of greenhouse gases increases the atmospheric mean temperature. It furthermore leads to a higher probability of extreme weather events (e.g., heat waves, floods) and thus strongly impacts the habitats of humans, animals, and plants. Against this background, research and innovation activities are increasingly focusing on potential health-related aspects and feasible adaptation and mitigation strategies. Progressing urbanization and demographic change paired with the climate change-induced heat island effect exposes humans living in urban habitats to increasing health risks. By employing scientometric methods, this scoping study provides a systematic bird’s eye view on the epistemic landscapes of climate change, its health-related effects, and possible technological and nature-based interventions and strategies in order to make urban areas climate proof. Based on a literature corpus consisting of 2614 research articles collected in SCOPUS, we applied network-based analysis and visualization techniques to map the different scientific communities, discourses and their interrelations. From a public health perspective, the results demonstrate the range of either direct or indirect health effects of climate change. Furthermore, the results indicate that a public health-related scientific discourse is converging with an urban planning and building science driven discourse oriented towards urban blue and green infrastructure. We conclude that this development might mirror the socio-political demand to tackle emerging climate change-induced challenges by transgressing disciplinary boundaries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Urban Green Infrastructure for Climate-Proof and Healthy Cities)

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21 pages, 1175 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Importance of Individual Actor Characteristics and Contextual Aspects for Promoting Industrial Symbiosis Networks

by Lovisa Harfeldt-Berg, Sarah Broberg and Karin Ericsson

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4927; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094927 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2176

Abstract

Factors that affect and influence industrial symbiosis (IS) collaborations have been researched extensively in the literature, where they are mostly reported at a network level or for IS in general, and lack the individual actor’s perspective. This review article contributes to and expands [...] Read more.

Factors that affect and influence industrial symbiosis (IS) collaborations have been researched extensively in the literature, where they are mostly reported at a network level or for IS in general, and lack the individual actor’s perspective. This review article contributes to and expands knowledge of influencing factors and their effect on the individual actor. In a systematic review, guided by the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this study reviews 53 scientific papers examining planned or existing IS networks. It examines literature from 1 January 2000 to 28 March 2022, and it identifies drivers, barriers, and enablers influencing actors to participate in IS. It explores whether and how the perception and impact of these factors differs depending on the characteristics of individual actors and their specific context. The main findings of this study reveal that an actor’s specific characteristics and the network’s context have a significant impact on decision making and how actors both perceive and are affected by factors influencing collaboration. Furthermore, an additional novel contribution to this field of research is that the study identifies three underlying and recurring considerations that actors appear to find critical, namely, perceived business opportunities/risks, regulatory and political setting, and potential inequalities in the network. The results show that an actor’s take on these critical considerations determines whether the actor is willing to engage in IS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Industrial Symbiosis and Sustainability)

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18 pages, 1793 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Multi-Dimensional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for Prioritizing Railway Station Investments: A General Framework with an Application to the Italian Case Study

by Pierluigi Coppola, Diego Deponte, Alessandro Vacca, Federico Messa and Fulvio Silvestri

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4906; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094906 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2664

Abstract

In recent years, several authors have highlighted the merits of the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA), e.g., compared to Cost-Benefits Analysis (CBA), particularly for small projects appraisal (e.g., revamping or extraordinary maintenance interventions) and when the impacts of the project are difficult to value or [...] Read more.

In recent years, several authors have highlighted the merits of the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA), e.g., compared to Cost-Benefits Analysis (CBA), particularly for small projects appraisal (e.g., revamping or extraordinary maintenance interventions) and when the impacts of the project are difficult to value or quantify in monetary terms. CEA is a quite consolidated technique, typically applied in practice when one specific impact prevails over the others. This research extends the concept of CEA to a multi-dimensional decision-making context, outlining a methodological framework that includes several criteria to assess the impacts of railway station revamping in urban contexts. The proposed method has already been applied for the project appraisals of five railway stations in Italy; this paper presents the application to a case study representing the typical configuration of a medium-sized Italian railway station. Results have shown that the proposed approach is a valid tool for both designers and infrastructure managers for prioritizing railway station investments in the presence of multiple strategic objectives that also conflict with each other. A multi-dimensional CEA can provide, in a communicative, lean, and effective way, the information on investment costs and the impacts that different policies, layouts, and technological solutions would have, creating the basis for a more transparent debate on resource allocation priorities. Finally, results have shown that the CEA is not only a method for project assessment, but also a tool for improving and directing the design towards the identification of interventions that allow the achievement of the key objectives set ex ante. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Rail and Metro Systems)

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10 pages, 250 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting for Stakeholders’ Health and Wellbeing in the Food and Beverage Industry: A Case Study of a Multinational Company

by Gloria Macassa, Mamunur Rashid, Brita Backlund Rambaree and Ehsanul Huda Chowdhury

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4879; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094879 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4964

Abstract

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) used to be seen as a social obligation of businesses to make decisions and take responsible action in accordance with the goals and values of the society. The concept is today understood as the continuing commitment [...] Read more.

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) used to be seen as a social obligation of businesses to make decisions and take responsible action in accordance with the goals and values of the society. The concept is today understood as the continuing commitment by businesses to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as the local community and society at large. This study aimed to apply Chowdhury and co-authors’ framework to the Unilever Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Content Index 2020 to explore the feasibility of the framework as well as identify potential challenges related to its use in the field of public health. Findings show that the framework is suitable for analysing CSR reporting on activities aimed to promote internal and external stakeholders’ health and wellbeing from a public health perspective. A greater number of GRI disclosures reported by Unilever related to external stakeholders’ health and wellbeing than to activities impacting internal stakeholders. Further research should aim at testing the framework in other types of business organizations across other types of industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholders’ Health and Wellbeing)

28 pages, 1882 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Consumer Acceptance and Production of In Vitro Meat: A Review

by Kevin Kantono, Nazimah Hamid, Maya Murthy Malavalli, Ye Liu, Tingting Liu and Ali Seyfoddin

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4910; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094910 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3550

Abstract

In vitro meat (IVM) is a recent development in the production of sustainable food. The consumer perception of IVM has a strong impact on the commercial success of IVM. Hence this review examines existing studies related to consumer concerns, acceptance and uncertainty of [...] Read more.

In vitro meat (IVM) is a recent development in the production of sustainable food. The consumer perception of IVM has a strong impact on the commercial success of IVM. Hence this review examines existing studies related to consumer concerns, acceptance and uncertainty of IVM. This will help create better marketing strategies for IVM-producing companies in the future. In addition, IVM production is described in terms of the types of cells and culture conditions employed. The applications of self-organising, scaffolding, and 3D printing techniques to produce IVM are also discussed. As the conditions for IVM production are controlled and can be manipulated, it will be feasible to produce a chemically safe and disease-free meat with improved consumer acceptance on a sustainable basis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Food Byproduct Valorisation and Consumer Behaviour)

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19 pages, 1603 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Urban Green Parks for Long-Term Subjective Well-Being: Empirical Relationships between Personal Characteristics, Park Characteristics, Park Use, Sense of Place, and Satisfaction with Life in The Netherlands

by Mayke van Dinter, Mieke Kools, Gamze Dane, Minou Weijs-Perrée, Kynthia Chamilothori, Eveline van Leeuwen, Aloys Borgers and Pauline van den Berg

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4911; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094911 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4686

Abstract

As our living environment is becoming increasingly urbanized, this puts the livability, health, and quality of life in cities under pressure. Due to the urbanization process, urban green spaces are under threat of becoming scarce, while it is recognized that these green spaces [...] Read more.

As our living environment is becoming increasingly urbanized, this puts the livability, health, and quality of life in cities under pressure. Due to the urbanization process, urban green spaces are under threat of becoming scarce, while it is recognized that these green spaces can positively contribute to the subjective well-being of citizens. It is thus important to maximize the use and benefits derived from green spaces by designing them as positively experienced places. The aim of this research is to gain more empirical insights on the relationships between personal and park characteristics, park use behavior, sense of place, and park visitors’ long-term subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction). An online questionnaire was administered to participants in two medium-sized cities in The Netherlands, namely Eindhoven and ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Data were analyzed using a structural equation model. The results of this study show that the appreciation of facilities and the absence of disturbances positively influence the use and sense of place of a park. Furthermore, the findings show that sense of place has a positive influence on life satisfaction. The findings can be used by designers and policy-makers as guidelines to improve existing parks or to design new parks that support the subjective well-being of individuals in The Netherlands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Quality of Public Space—Analysis and Prediction of Individuals’ Perception and Wellbeing)

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20 pages, 4612 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Toxicity and Uptake of CuO Nanoparticles: Evaluation of an Emerging Nanofertilizer on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Plant

by Amany S. Ibrahim, Gomaa A. M. Ali, Amro Hassanein, Ahmed M. Attia and Ezzat R. Marzouk

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4914; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094914 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3611

Abstract

Wet chemistry was used to produce copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). The results indicated that most nanoparticles were bacillus-shaped and relatively uniform in size (less than 30 nm). The effect of synthesized CuO NPs on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germination and growth [...] Read more.

Wet chemistry was used to produce copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). The results indicated that most nanoparticles were bacillus-shaped and relatively uniform in size (less than 30 nm). The effect of synthesized CuO NPs on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germination and growth parameters was studied and compared to bulk Cu. The results showed that no significant difference was obtained in germination rate among all treatments. Bulk Cu additions significantly affect the mean germination rate and mean germination time. On the contrary, germinability was significantly affected by CuO NPs additions. Seed vigor index was calculated to demonstrate the superior treatment in wheat germination parameters, and the results confirmed that 0.1 mg L⁻¹ of CuO NPs could be successfully used to improve wheat seed germination. Moreover, the general average Cu concentrations in the plant tissue were 139 and 103 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight for bulk and CuO NPs, respectively, indicating the dissolution behavior of CuO NPs. The addition of CuO NPs (0.1 mg L⁻¹) promotes chlorophyll formation equal to 0.5 mg L⁻¹ of the bulk Cu addition. This means using nanoparticles as fertilizer could reduce 80% of traditional fertilizers. Nonetheless, Cu additions in both forms (NPs and bulk) reduce root growth substantially compared to control. The effective toxic dose (EC₅₀) for bulk Cu and CuO NPs was 0.37 mg L⁻¹ and 0.94 mg L⁻¹, respectively. The results indicated that approximately 2.5 times CuO NPs concentration is equal to the toxicity dose of bulk Cu due to lowered CuO NPs dissolution. Our study showed that Cu phytotoxicity is a non-nanosized effect and showed that plant-induced changes under environmentally real conditions should be considered when measuring the dissolution of CuO NPs near wheat plant roots. This study implies that using nano-CuO as a micronutrient amendment has a potential benefit rather than the soluble Cu salt for plant growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Contamination with Emerging Contaminants; Associated Health Risks and Remediation Strategies)

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23 pages, 3081 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Bibliometric Analysis of Data Sources and Tools for Shoreline Change Analysis and Detection

by Johnson Ankrah, Ana Monteiro and Helena Madureira

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4895; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094895 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3784

Abstract

The world has a long record of shoreline and related erosion problems due to the impacts of climate change/variability in sea level rise. This has made coastal systems and large inland water environments vulnerable, thereby activating research concern globally. This study is a [...] Read more.

The world has a long record of shoreline and related erosion problems due to the impacts of climate change/variability in sea level rise. This has made coastal systems and large inland water environments vulnerable, thereby activating research concern globally. This study is a bibliometric analysis of the global scientific production of data sources and tools for shoreline change analysis and detection. The bibliometric mapping method (bibliometric R and VOSviewer package) was utilized to analyze 1578 scientific documents (1968–2022) retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases. There is a chance that in the selection process one or more important scientific papers might be omitted due to the selection criteria. Thus, there could be a bias in the present results due to the search criteria here employed. The results revealed that the U.S.A. is the country with the most scientific production (16.9%) on the subject. Again, more country collaborations exist among the developed countries compared with the developing countries. The results further revealed that tools for shoreline change analysis have changed from a simple beach transect (0.1%) to the utilization of geospatial tools such as DSAS (14.6%), ArcGIS/ArcMap (13.8%), and, currently, machine learning (5.1%). Considering the benefits of these geospatial tools, and machine learning in particular, more utilization is essential to the continuous growth of the field. Found research gaps were mostly addressed by the researchers themselves or addressed in other studies, while others have still not been addressed, especially the ones emerged from the recent work. For instance, the one on insights for reef restoration projects focused on erosion mitigation and designing artificial reefs in microtidal sandy beaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modelling for Sustainable Marine Management)

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13 pages, 4523 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sustainable Management of Salt Slag

by Isabel Padilla, Maximina Romero, Sol López-Andrés and Aurora López-Delgado

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4887; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094887 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3015

Abstract

The management of salt slag, a waste from the secondary aluminum industry, is associated with huge environmental concerns due to the risk of atmospheric pollution (emission of toxic gases), groundwater contamination (high salt content that can percolate and cause an increase in salinity) [...] Read more.

The management of salt slag, a waste from the secondary aluminum industry, is associated with huge environmental concerns due to the risk of atmospheric pollution (emission of toxic gases), groundwater contamination (high salt content that can percolate and cause an increase in salinity) and soil unavailability (large extensions required for disposal). Therefore, the development of a sustainable process for its treatment and recovery is of the utmost importance. In this work, a two-step process for the valorization of salt slag was developed that rendered zeolite as the main added-value product and NaCl and NH₃ as byproducts. First, salt slag was hydrolyzed at 90 °C and at a solid/water ratio of 1/3. More than 90% of salt and ~90% of ammonia were recovered. In a second step, the hydrolyzed slag was completely transformed into a NaP zeolite under mild hydrothermal conditions. The zeolite exhibited specific surface area (17 m² g⁻¹), cation exchange capacity (2.12 meq g⁻¹) and zeta potential (−52 mV) values that represent good characteristics for use in the removal of metal ions from aqueous effluents. The transformation of salt slag into zeolite can be considered a sustainable process with a high contribution to the circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Management of Hazardous Wastes)

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12 pages, 496 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Air Conditioning Load Forecasting and Optimal Operation of Water Systems

by Zhijia Huang, Xiaofeng Chen, Kaiwen Wang and Binbin Zhou

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4867; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094867 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2268

Abstract

In order to conduct a data-driven load forecasting modeling and its application in optimal control of air-conditioning system, this study used a hotel’s central air conditioning system as the research object. Based on the data of the hotel energy management system, the load-forecasting [...] Read more.

In order to conduct a data-driven load forecasting modeling and its application in optimal control of air-conditioning system, this study used a hotel’s central air conditioning system as the research object. Based on the data of the hotel energy management system, the load-forecasting model of the central air conditioning system based on support vector regression (SVR) was established by MATLAB. Based on the working principle of a chiller, chilled water pump, cooling water pump, and cooling tower, the energy consumption models were established, respectively. Finally, based on the load-forecasting results and the equipment energy consumption model, the energy consumption optimization objective function of the hotel water system was established, the objective function was solved to optimize the operating parameters of the water system at different load rates, the operation control strategy for each piece of equipment was obtained, and the energy-saving analysis was carried out. The results show that in the range of a load rate of 25~90%, the optimization strategy has an energy-saving effect, and the system’s energy-saving rate is the highest when the load rate is 25.4%. The average energy-saving rate of the system is 12.4%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy, Smart and Interactive Built Environment)

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26 pages, 1633 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Child-Friendly Environments—What, How and by Whom?

by Märit Jansson, Emma Herbert, Alva Zalar and Maria Johansson

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4852; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084852 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 10938

Abstract

The socio-physical qualities of built environments are, in several ways, of imperative importance for children growing up. The Child-Friendly Cities initiative by UNICEF, an implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, has made local governments strive toward child-friendliness. The [...] Read more.

The socio-physical qualities of built environments are, in several ways, of imperative importance for children growing up. The Child-Friendly Cities initiative by UNICEF, an implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, has made local governments strive toward child-friendliness. The participation of children and young people is often the focus of such projects, with a potential for a far broader scope. Besides participation processes, what important socio-physical qualities make environments child-friendly, and how can they be developed? This paper presents a structured literature review of the concept of child-friendly environments, in order to address the full socio-physical spectrum. The results focus on concrete factors that have been filtered through child-friendliness and the associated frameworks, showing an inherent dependence between the social context and the physical environment. The shaping of child-friendliness hinges on the realization of environments that are safe, fair, and with accessible and variable green and open spaces. A multi-stakeholder endeavor including, e.g., planners, designers, and managers requires clearly outlined priorities. This study lays the groundwork for further exploration of how the concept of child-friendly environments can lead to positive changes, also as part of the overall strive toward sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Design Interventions for Improving the Well-Being of Vulnerable Groups)

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20 pages, 3920 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Bio-Based Plastics Production, Impact and End of Life: A Literature Review and Content Analysis

by Halayit Abrha, Jonnathan Cabrera, Yexin Dai, Muhammad Irfan, Abrham Toma, Shipu Jiao and Xianhua Liu

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4855; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084855 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 7232

Abstract

The accumulation of plastic wastes is one of the most widely spread problems affecting the environment. The reality that plastics can be made from renewable resources and degrade naturally has prompted academics to think outside the box to develop “better for the environment” [...] Read more.

The accumulation of plastic wastes is one of the most widely spread problems affecting the environment. The reality that plastics can be made from renewable resources and degrade naturally has prompted academics to think outside the box to develop “better for the environment” items. In this paper, a bibliometric analysis of the scholarly publications related to bio-based plastics within the last 20 years is presented. Annual progression, geographic and research area distribution, and keyword co-occurrence were all examined. Six distinct clusters emerged from keyword analysis, which were further categorized into three directions: production to marketing; impact on the environment, economy, and society; and end-of-life (EoL) options. The major focus was on how to counter the weaknesses and challenges of bio-based plastics and take opportunities using the inherent advantages of bio-based plastics. Comprehensive studies regarding the impact of bio-based plastics on the environment, economy and social sustainability are still deficient. Although there are many promising innovations in this area, most of them are at the research stage. The benefits of bio-based plastics and better EoL options can be enjoyed only after increased production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Materials for Sustainability and Innovations)

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13 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Eco-Friendly Clothing Market: A Study of Willingness to Purchase Organic Cotton Clothing in Bangladesh

by Md Mehedi Hasan, Liling Cai, Xiaofen Ji and Francisca Margarita Ocran

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4827; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084827 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8782

Abstract

This research study aims to achieve a developing country’s sustainable development in the clothing industry by exploring consumer behavior to a willingness to purchase organic cotton clothing (OCC) and apparel retailers’ responsibilities. Organic cotton clothing development in the fashion industry could play an [...] Read more.

This research study aims to achieve a developing country’s sustainable development in the clothing industry by exploring consumer behavior to a willingness to purchase organic cotton clothing (OCC) and apparel retailers’ responsibilities. Organic cotton clothing development in the fashion industry could play an important role in textile and environmental pollution and create new business opportunities for green clothes. Survey data was collected from top cities in Bangladesh, and 303 useable responses were collected (81.5% male and 18.5% female). In our survey, 60.7% of the participant was employed. This research model was inspired by the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and added some new variable that influences purchase willingness under OCC fashion in developing countries like Bangladesh. The findings of this study stated that consumer environmental concerns and consumer attitudes positively impact the OCC purchase willingness of Bangladeshi consumers. Also, the authenticity and fashionable of OCC products have a significant impact on Bangladeshi consumer purchase intention. Product Performance found an indirect effect on Bangladeshi consumers’ intention. Furthermore, this study will find that the Bangladeshi market is already very aware of the sustainability movement and concerned about environmental issues. Retailers should focus more on environmental awareness of OCC textile and authentic OCC items. Also, this study will update previous research findings on consumer attitudes toward OCC fashion in the Bangladesh market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Textile Marketing)

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23 pages, 579 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sense of Place, Biocultural Heritage, and Sustainable Knowledge and Practices in Three Italian Rural Regeneration Processes

by Letizia Bindi, Mauro Conti and Angelo Belliggiano

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4858; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084858 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3660

Abstract

This paper addresses sustainable development processes based on biocultural heritage, sense of place, and socio-cultural innovation and inclusiveness in the rural context, particularly focusing different scales of endogenous/neo-endogenous rural regeneration processes. Ethnographic and grounded case studies allow a critical analysis of different forms [...] Read more.

This paper addresses sustainable development processes based on biocultural heritage, sense of place, and socio-cultural innovation and inclusiveness in the rural context, particularly focusing different scales of endogenous/neo-endogenous rural regeneration processes. Ethnographic and grounded case studies allow a critical analysis of different forms of rural development from a multidisciplinary perspective based on old and new rurality, rural and local communities’ participation, resilience and regeneration processes, sense of place, belongingness, and “restanza”. The three cases are situated in three areas of Italy: the ecomuseum of pastoralism in Pontebernardo in the northern region of Piedmont as a driver of local shared development pathways; the municipality of Castel del Giudice, in the Central-Southern region of Molise, enabling different and integrated local regeneration actions; and the Association “Casa delle AgriCulture”/Green Night Festival in Castiglione d’Otranto in the Southern region of Puglia as a performative opportunity to define innovative and transversal as well as community-oriented activities. In these contexts, different local regeneration programs were applied in order to provide a critical evaluation of the knowledge and practices of sustainability in terms of their entanglements with biocultural heritage and socio-cultural innovation. The present analysis insists on the impact of biocultural heritage in regeneration processes in rural regions and endogenous/neo-endogenous factors in rural sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivating the Ecological Transition: Knowledge and Practices of Sustainability, Neo-Endogenous Development and Participatory Processes)

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27 pages, 667 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Impact of RDP Measures on the Rural Development: The Case of Romania

by Ramona Pîrvu, Laurențiu Dragomir, Bogdan Budică, Răducu-Ștefan Bratu, Sorin Dinulescu and Lili Țenea

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4857; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084857 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2531

Abstract

The goal of this study is to analyze the development of rural areas in Romania on the basis of the absorption of both the European non-reimbursable funds and the national funds for the modernization of the infrastructure of villages and communes. The aim [...] Read more.

The goal of this study is to analyze the development of rural areas in Romania on the basis of the absorption of both the European non-reimbursable funds and the national funds for the modernization of the infrastructure of villages and communes. The aim of the article is to carry out thorough empirical research on the process of rural development in Romania as a facet of the EU’s overall rural development. Thus, in order to obtain relevant results in connection with the pursued goal, we will be using hierarchical cluster analysis to observe the effects of the expenses financed through the National Rural Development Program (NRDP) on the development of rural areas. In accordance with the methodological approach of research, our goal is to give a picture of the way in which Romania’s counties (NUTS 3) were clustered at the beginning of the multi-annual planning (2014) as well as at the end of the planning period, in 2020, and to point out a series of practical and concrete aspects generated by the opportunities that the rural areas have had in terms of attracting structural funds. Based on the conducted analysis, we can say that a series of positive aspects can be put in the spotlight as a result of the existence of the European irredeemable funds, which engender positive direct and indirect effects on both the economy and the population’s standard of living. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development and Land Use Planning)

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11 pages, 229 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Our New Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure: Becoming Locked into an Unsustainable Future

by Scott Robbins and Aimee van Wynsberghe

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4829; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084829 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8050

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important for the infrastructures that support many of society’s functions. Transportation, security, energy, education, the workplace, the government have all incorporated AI into their infrastructures for enhancement and/or protection. In this paper, we argue that not only [...] Read more.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important for the infrastructures that support many of society’s functions. Transportation, security, energy, education, the workplace, the government have all incorporated AI into their infrastructures for enhancement and/or protection. In this paper, we argue that not only is AI seen as a tool for augmenting existing infrastructures, but AI itself is becoming an infrastructure that many services of today and tomorrow will depend upon. Considering the vast environmental consequences associated with the development and use of AI, of which the world is only starting to learn, the necessity of addressing AI alongside the concept of infrastructure points toward the phenomenon of carbon lock-in. Carbon lock-in refers to society’s constrained ability to reduce carbon emissions technologically, economically, politically, and socially. These constraints are due to the inherent inertia created by entrenched technological, institutional, and behavioral norms. That is, the drive for AI adoption in virtually every sector of society will create dependencies and interdependencies from which it will be hard to escape. The crux of this paper boils down to this: in conceptualizing AI as infrastructure we can recognize the risk of lock-in, not just carbon lock-in but lock-in as it relates to all the physical needs to achieve the infrastructure of AI. This does not exclude the possibility of solutions arising with the rise of these technologies; however, given these points, it is of the utmost importance that we ask inconvenient questions regarding these environmental costs before becoming locked into this new AI infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Sustainability of AI; Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Investigate the Hidden Costs of AI)

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