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Keywords = sustainable human–machine collaboration

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22 pages, 4826 KB  
Article
The Impact of Neutral Subpopulations on Cooperation in Two-Layer Coupled Networks
by Pan Zhao, Xiaopeng Wan, Jun Feng and Linjiang Yang
Mathematics 2026, 14(13), 2435; https://doi.org/10.3390/math14132435 - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
Sustaining cooperation under severe social dilemmas is a fundamental challenge in complex systems. This paper proposes a two-layer coupled network model integrating three neutral subpopulations, combining an upper human layer (Fermi rule) and a lower agent layer (Bush–Mosteller reinforcement learning). The core scientific [...] Read more.
Sustaining cooperation under severe social dilemmas is a fundamental challenge in complex systems. This paper proposes a two-layer coupled network model integrating three neutral subpopulations, combining an upper human layer (Fermi rule) and a lower agent layer (Bush–Mosteller reinforcement learning). The core scientific contribution is revealing that the three-subpopulation structure induces closed invasion cycles. This cross-subpopulation reciprocal suppression effectively halts the global expansion of defectors. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that under a severe dilemma (b=1.8), optimizing the coupling strength boosts the cooperation persistence probability (PCC) by 91% and reduces defection persistence (PDD) by 55%, stabilizing the global cooperation rate at approximately 50%. Furthermore, for b>1.26, this model consistently outperforms the canonical BM model. Practically, these findings provide a theoretical foundation and a quantitative reference for designing cooperative mechanisms in human–machine collaboration and public governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section D2: Operations Research and Fuzzy Decision Making)
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28 pages, 1744 KB  
Article
A Shift Toward Industry 5.0: A Practical Assessment Framework for Human-Centric, Sustainable, and Resilient Industry
by Anna Rita Graziani, Giacomo Cantini, Fabio Pini, Mauro Dell’Amico and Alberto Vergnano
Sustainability 2026, 18(12), 6330; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126330 - 20 Jun 2026
Viewed by 478
Abstract
This study aims to address the need to operationalize Industry 5.0 (I5.0) by developing a comprehensive Assessment Framework for the adoption of the Human Centricity, Environmental Sustainability, and Industrial Resilience pillars. While existing models largely focus on technological maturity, they fail to provide [...] Read more.
This study aims to address the need to operationalize Industry 5.0 (I5.0) by developing a comprehensive Assessment Framework for the adoption of the Human Centricity, Environmental Sustainability, and Industrial Resilience pillars. While existing models largely focus on technological maturity, they fail to provide measurable tools for evaluating I5.0 adoption. To bridge this gap, the paper proposes an Assessment Framework based on a structured set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) developed within the EU-funded PROSPECTS 5.0 project. The methodology combines an extensive literature review, a workshop with relevant stakeholders, a Delphi survey with experts, and empirical refinement conducted through workshops involving 14 companies across multiple sectors and of varying sizes. The results highlight that organizations predominantly measure traditional indicators such as health and safety, energy consumption, and supply chain robustness, while underestimating emerging dimensions such as human empowerment, social inclusion, circularity, and advanced human–machine collaboration. The framework introduces a set of KPIs for each of the I5.0 pillars, supporting structured assessment across different industrial contexts while allowing sector-specific adaptation. The findings reveal a gap between the perceived importance of several sustainability and human-centric metrics and their actual implementation. This framework allows organizations to self-assess their practices, guide strategic decisions, and align technological growth with societal and environmental goals. Full article
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14 pages, 411 KB  
Review
Design of the Digital Pathology Workspace for Artificial Intelligence Integration
by Elena Guerini-Rocco, Chiara Frascarelli, Joana Sorino, Francesca Maria Porta, Mariacristina Ghioni, Anna Candiani, Silvio Capizzi, Annarosa Farina, Alessio Figini, Giuseppe Curigliano, Antonio Marra, Luigi Orlando Molendini, Francesca Pavan, Anna Paola Scala, Giuseppe Renne, Konstantinos Venetis and Nicola Fusco
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(12), 6021; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16126021 - 14 Jun 2026
Viewed by 774
Abstract
Designing an optimal digital pathology workspace is essential to ensure diagnostic accuracy and safeguard the long-term well-being of pathologists. While digital pathology improves reproducibility, facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration, and supports data-driven precision medicine, its clinical effectiveness depends not only on computational performance but also [...] Read more.
Designing an optimal digital pathology workspace is essential to ensure diagnostic accuracy and safeguard the long-term well-being of pathologists. While digital pathology improves reproducibility, facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration, and supports data-driven precision medicine, its clinical effectiveness depends not only on computational performance but also on the physical and ergonomic environment in which pathologists operate. Inadequate workstation design may impair visual perception, increase cognitive and musculoskeletal strain, and potentially affect diagnostic consistency. Moreover, the progressive integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into routine diagnostics introduces additional requirements related to display performance, visualization interfaces, and human–machine interaction. Despite the rapid global adoption of digital pathology systems, standardized recommendations addressing ergonomic, environmental, and technological aspects of the digital workspace remain limited. In this work, we propose a clinically oriented framework for the design of digital pathology workspaces suitable for AI-assisted diagnostics. Key elements include the selection and calibration of medical-grade displays, ergonomic furniture and input devices, optimized ambient lighting conditions, and institutional quality assurance procedures. Emerging developments, such as intelligent ergonomic monitoring, advanced visualization interfaces, and adaptive AI-assisted workflows, may further support safe, sustainable, and high-performance digital diagnostic environments. Full article
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61 pages, 7242 KB  
Review
Agricultural AI Agents: Architecture Design, Business Processes, Key Technologies, and Future Challenges
by Xuehua Song, Li Han, Yi Zhu, Qianxiang Wei, Zijun Yang and Xiaoming Jiang
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(11), 5389; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16115389 - 28 May 2026
Viewed by 530
Abstract
Agricultural AI agents play a crucial role in the evolution of smart agriculture, from single-point automated applications to intelligent systems driven by tasks, collaborative decision-making, and closed-loop execution. However, their practical implementation still faces key challenges, such as heterogeneous agricultural data processing, insufficient [...] Read more.
Agricultural AI agents play a crucial role in the evolution of smart agriculture, from single-point automated applications to intelligent systems driven by tasks, collaborative decision-making, and closed-loop execution. However, their practical implementation still faces key challenges, such as heterogeneous agricultural data processing, insufficient cross-scenario generalization ability, complexity of multi-agent collaboration, difficulties in integrating software and hardware, and insufficient security and trust guarantees in real agricultural environments. This paper presents a systematic review of the architecture design, business processes, key technologies, and future challenges of agricultural AI agents. Agricultural AI agents are classified into two types: virtual agricultural AI agents and embodied agricultural AI agents. The paper summarizes a four-layer system architecture consisting of the infrastructure layer, agent management layer, agent collaboration layer, and application layer. The paper also analyzes the model capabilities required by agricultural AI agents from four typical business dimensions: perception and state understanding, knowledge memory and experience management, reasoning decision-making and task planning, and collaborative execution and resource scheduling. This research shows that technologies such as multimodal perception, knowledge graphs, retrieval-enhanced generation, digital twins, reinforcement learning, and multi-agent collaboration can provide important support for agricultural AI agents to enhance their environmental understanding, knowledge reuse, autonomous decision-making, and physical execution capabilities. Future research should focus on robust perception in open environments, long-term memory and knowledge evolution, reliable multi-agent collaboration, edge-cloud collaborative deployment, and secure and trustworthy human–machine collaboration. Integrating agricultural domain knowledge with intelligent agent technology is an important direction for promoting the large-scale, adaptive, and sustainable application of agricultural AI agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Science and Technology)
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57 pages, 9973 KB  
Review
Digital Twin- and AI-Enabled Intelligent Optimisation Design of Agricultural Machinery: A Review
by Pengsheng Ding and Jianmin Gao
Agronomy 2026, 16(11), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111038 - 24 May 2026
Viewed by 960
Abstract
The optimisation design of agricultural machinery is shifting from offline, experience-driven engineering towards adaptive, data-driven, and closed-loop intelligent optimisation. Conventional approaches based on computer-aided engineering (CAE), empirical testing, mathematical modelling, and static multi-objective optimisation have provided an important engineering foundation, but they remain [...] Read more.
The optimisation design of agricultural machinery is shifting from offline, experience-driven engineering towards adaptive, data-driven, and closed-loop intelligent optimisation. Conventional approaches based on computer-aided engineering (CAE), empirical testing, mathematical modelling, and static multi-objective optimisation have provided an important engineering foundation, but they remain limited under unstructured field conditions involving soil heterogeneity, crop variability, climatic disturbance, and nonlinear machinery–environment interactions. This review systematically examines the evolution of intelligent optimisation design for agricultural machinery from conventional simulation-based methods to artificial intelligence (AI)- and digital twin (DT)-enabled paradigms. First, mathematical modelling, response surface methodology, discrete element method (DEM), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multi-body dynamics (MBD), heuristic algorithms, and early AI-assisted surrogate optimisation are reviewed to clarify their contributions and limitations. Second, frontier enabling technologies are analysed, including agriculture-specific large models, generative AI, lightweight edge intelligence, deep reinforcement learning (DRL), embodied AI, federated learning (FL), and privacy-preserving computing. Third, system-level applications integrating DT and AI are discussed, with emphasis on full-lifecycle machinery optimisation, device–edge–cloud collaborative control, multi-agent fleet coordination, predictive maintenance, and Agriculture 5.0-oriented intelligent equipment systems. Key deployment bottlenecks are further identified, including sim-to-real inconsistency, virtual–physical mismatch in DTs, edge-side trade-offs among accuracy, latency, energy consumption, and cost, insufficient validation standards, and economic adoption barriers. Finally, a 2025–2030 roadmap is proposed, highlighting large-model–DT closed loops, control biomimetics, green low-carbon optimisation, and trustworthy human–machine symbiosis for sustainable Agriculture 5.0. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twin and AI-Enhanced Simulation in Agricultural Systems)
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28 pages, 5673 KB  
Review
Digital Twins as an Emerging Solution in AI-Driven Modeling and Metrology of Industry 5.0/6.0 Production Systems
by Izabela Rojek and Dariusz Mikołajewski
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4942; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104942 - 15 May 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 384
Abstract
Article discusses Digital Twins (DTs) as a solution for artificial intelligence (AI)-based modeling and metrology in Industry 5.0 and Industry 6.0 manufacturing systems. DTs enable the creation of real-time virtual replicas of physical assets, processes, and systems, increasing transparency, prediction, and optimization in [...] Read more.
Article discusses Digital Twins (DTs) as a solution for artificial intelligence (AI)-based modeling and metrology in Industry 5.0 and Industry 6.0 manufacturing systems. DTs enable the creation of real-time virtual replicas of physical assets, processes, and systems, increasing transparency, prediction, and optimization in manufacturing environments. By integrating AI, machine learning (ML), and advanced sensor data, DT support adaptive, self-learning production models capable of responding to dynamic operating conditions. In metrology, DTs improve measurement accuracy, traceability, and quality assurance by continuously synchronizing data between the physical and virtual domains. This technology improves process simulation, predictive maintenance, and fault detection, reducing downtime and operating costs. Furthermore, DTs facilitate human-centric production by enabling collaborative decision-making between intelligent systems and skilled workers. Their role in sustainable production is significant, supporting energy optimization, waste reduction, and lifecycle performance analysis. In Industry 6.0, DTs go beyond cyber-physical integration to encompass cognitive intelligence, ethical automation, and autonomous optimization. However, challenges remain in data interoperability, cybersecurity, model scalability, and real-time computational performance. DTs represent a revolutionary framework for the development of intelligent, resilient, and precise manufacturing ecosystems in next-generation industrial systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Challenges in Manufacturing Metrology)
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31 pages, 1896 KB  
Review
Quantum Computing as a Disruptive Technology: Implications for Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 5.0
by Ganiyat Salawu and Bright Glen
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4856; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104856 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 479
Abstract
Quantum computing is increasingly seen as a disruptive technology capable of expanding the computational limits of advanced manufacturing systems within the emerging Industry 5.0 framework. By utilizing quantum mechanical principles such as superposition, entanglement, and quantum parallelism, quantum computation enables new approaches to [...] Read more.
Quantum computing is increasingly seen as a disruptive technology capable of expanding the computational limits of advanced manufacturing systems within the emerging Industry 5.0 framework. By utilizing quantum mechanical principles such as superposition, entanglement, and quantum parallelism, quantum computation enables new approaches to solving complex optimization, simulation, and data-intensive problems that are challenging or impractical for classical computers. This paper offers a comprehensive and critical review of the potential impacts of quantum computing on advanced manufacturing, focusing on intelligent production planning, supply chain optimization, materials discovery, predictive maintenance, and human–machine collaboration, key aspects of Industry 5.0. The originality of this review lies in its integrated analysis of quantum computing alongside artificial intelligence, digital twins, and cyber–physical systems, highlighting how these technologies, when combined, improve decision-making speed, process efficiency, and sustainability. Despite these opportunities, the integration of quantum computing into Industry 5.0 systems faces critical challenges, including hardware limitations, algorithm scalability, data security concerns, workforce readiness, and the complexity of integrating quantum solutions with existing industrial infrastructures. The role of hybrid quantum-classical architectures is examined as a feasible and transitional approach for near-term manufacturing applications. By critically assessing both technological strengths and practical constraints, this review positions quantum computing as a promising enabler of resilient, human-centered, and sustainable manufacturing ecosystems. The insights aim to assist researchers, industry players, and policymakers in strategically managing the integration of quantum technologies as manufacturing systems advance toward Industry 5.0. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Quantum Science and Technology)
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21 pages, 1432 KB  
Article
The Role of Artificial Intelligence, Learning Analytics, and Sustainability for Future-Ready Universities
by Ioseb Gabelaia
Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4884; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104884 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 502
Abstract
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are rapidly developing to meet Industry 5.0 demands, highlighting human–machine collaboration, sustainability, and institutional resilience. Existing literature primarily explores artificial intelligence (AI), learning analytics (LA), and sustainability as discrete components within HEI. Limited studies examine how these disciplines intersect [...] Read more.
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are rapidly developing to meet Industry 5.0 demands, highlighting human–machine collaboration, sustainability, and institutional resilience. Existing literature primarily explores artificial intelligence (AI), learning analytics (LA), and sustainability as discrete components within HEI. Limited studies examine how these disciplines intersect to impact institutional developments, especially from the perspective of strategic decision-making. Hence, this research explores how HEI leaders perceive the integration of artificial intelligence, learning analytics, and sustainability within strategic planning. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 leaders from diverse HEIs using the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) theory frameworks. Thematic analysis demonstrated that AI and LA improve efficiency and decision-making but face ethical and cultural obstacles, while sustainability is often fragmented despite its reputational value. The results highlight a lack of holistic integration across domains. This research suggests theoretical and practical insights for aligning innovation and sustainable principles to build agile, ethically grounded, and future-ready universities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Management)
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26 pages, 2723 KB  
Article
Beyond Prediction: Interpretable Evidence on Sustainable School Management Across Countries from PISA 2022
by Dönüş Şengür and Abdul Hafeez-Baig
Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4665; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104665 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 413
Abstract
The phenomenon of sustainability, which has been identified in the context of prominence over the past century, has the potential to significantly influence education and its components, as it has been successfully established in other areas of human activity. One of these components [...] Read more.
The phenomenon of sustainability, which has been identified in the context of prominence over the past century, has the potential to significantly influence education and its components, as it has been successfully established in other areas of human activity. One of these components is the managerial aspect of education, which directly impacts the quality of education. In this respect, sustainable school management will probably be seen as one of the critical factors associated with the performance of the school of the twenty-first century. Sustainable school management does not simply imply the school’s capacity to meet its immediate needs but also its capacity to function in an uninterrupted and effective manner over the long term to achieve its goals. Some of the aspects included in this regard are planned use of resources, the continued effectiveness of decision processes, and the development of a school climate that promotes cooperation among teachers for school improvement. The main goal of this study is to develop the Sustainable School Management Index (SSMI), a measure of schools’ long-term organizational sustainability management capacity, using PISA 2022 school principal survey data. To support this goal, the study pursues two specific objectives: (1) to identify the main managerial factors associated with the SSMI, and (2) to examine how these factors relate to sustainable school management across countries. Using a quantitative correlational survey design, the study relies on the PISA 2022 school questionnaire data collected from 80 countries and economies. After data cleaning and missing data management, the analysis was conducted on a sample of 21,629 schools and 431 variables. To explore the factors of the SSMI, an ensemble learning approach based on decision trees was developed. The model performance was evaluated through cross-validation, and the variable importance was measured through a permutation test. Moreover, to describe the sustainable management school profiles, a cluster analysis was carried out based on the index factors, and a four-cluster classification of schools was identified. To validate the machine learning findings and to understand the direction of the relationships, a linear regression analysis technique was also used. The SSMI is a multidimensional composite index, which is based on six dimensions, informed by theory: positive school climate, institutional structure and support, resource adequacy, planning and technology preparation, management independence, and teacher collaboration. In the first predictive model, school leadership and institutional pressure have been considered as independent variables, explaining the variance in SSMI. According to the results, the institutional pressure factor shows the most pronounced negative correlation with the SSMI; meanwhile, the school leadership variable shows a smaller but still positive correlation with the same index. Moreover, according to PCA outcomes, the structure of the index as a multidimensional composite measure seems to be consistent. Therefore, the SSMI created during this research can be seen as a metric for the evaluation of schools concerning their sustainable management ability. Full article
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23 pages, 1806 KB  
Article
Human-Centric Zero Trust Identity Architecture for the Fifth Industrial Revolution: A JEPA-Driven Approach to Adaptive Identity Governance
by Jovita T. Nsoh
Electronics 2026, 15(9), 1878; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15091878 - 29 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 666
Abstract
The Fifth Industrial Revolution (Industry 5.0) foregrounds human–machine collaboration, sustainability, and resilience as organizing principles for next-generation cyber-physical systems. Yet the identity and access management (IAM) architectures inherited from Industry 4.0 remain perimeter-centric, policy-static, and blind to the behavioral dynamics of human–AI teaming. [...] Read more.
The Fifth Industrial Revolution (Industry 5.0) foregrounds human–machine collaboration, sustainability, and resilience as organizing principles for next-generation cyber-physical systems. Yet the identity and access management (IAM) architectures inherited from Industry 4.0 remain perimeter-centric, policy-static, and blind to the behavioral dynamics of human–AI teaming. This paper introduces the Human-Centric Zero Trust Identity Architecture (HC-ZTIA), a novel framework that repositions identity as the adaptive control plane for Industry 5.0 environments. HC-ZTIA integrates three mutually reinforcing innovations: (1) a Joint Embedding Predictive Architecture (JEPA)-driven Behavioral Identity Assurance Engine (BIAE) that learns abstract world models of operator and machine-agent behavior to perform continuous, context-aware identity verification without relying on raw biometric surveillance; (2) a Privacy-Preserving Adaptive Authorization Protocol (PP-AAP) employing zero-knowledge proofs and federated policy evaluation to enforce least-privilege access across human, non-human, and hybrid identity classes while satisfying data-minimization mandates; and (3) a Resilience-Oriented Trust Degradation Model (RO-TDM) that provides formally verified fail-safe identity governance under adversarial, degraded, or disconnected operating conditions characteristic of operational technology (OT) and critical infrastructure. The framework is grounded in the Agile-Infused Design Science Research Methodology (A-DSRM) and formally extends National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-207 and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Zero Trust Maturity Model by addressing five identified gaps in human-centric identity governance. Simulation results, validated through Monte Carlo trials with 95% confidence intervals, provide preliminary evidence that HC-ZTIA reduces identity-related breach exposure by 73.2% (±4.1%) while maintaining sub-200 ms authorization latency under the simulated conditions, offering a principled bridge between Zero Trust rigor and Industry 5.0 human-centricity. Full article
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36 pages, 1285 KB  
Entry
Human-Centric, Sustainable and Resilient Smart Cities in Industry 5.0
by Athanasios Tsipis, Vasileios Komianos and Georgios Tsoumanis
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(4), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6040087 - 10 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1294
Definition
The concept of “human-centric, sustainable and resilient smart cities” in Industry 5.0 (I5.0) refers to urban socio-technical ecosystems in which digital infrastructures and services are explicitly oriented toward human well-being, ecological stewardship, and systemic resilience rather than purely technological optimization or automation. Grounded [...] Read more.
The concept of “human-centric, sustainable and resilient smart cities” in Industry 5.0 (I5.0) refers to urban socio-technical ecosystems in which digital infrastructures and services are explicitly oriented toward human well-being, ecological stewardship, and systemic resilience rather than purely technological optimization or automation. Grounded in the I5.0 framework, which promotes human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience as equally important pillars, this paradigm repositions smart cities as value-driven environments that integrate enabling technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Extended Reality (XR), and related digital infrastructures within participatory, transparent, ethical, and accountable governance structures. From this perspective, technologies function as means through which cities develop higher-order capabilities for sensing, decision support, coordination, interaction, and adaptive service delivery. At the same time, they address digital divides and include measures that promote and protect inclusion, trust, and long-term socio-environmental viability. This entry synthesizes the conceptual foundations, technological enablers, capability-oriented architecture, governance implications, and emerging challenges that influence the transformation of smart cities into human-centric, sustainable, and resilient innovation systems in the I5.0 era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City)
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28 pages, 2962 KB  
Systematic Review
Path Analysis of Digital Twin Functions for Carbon Reduction in the Construction Industry in Hebei Province, China: A PLS-SEM and Machine Learning Approach
by Jiachen Sun, Atasya Osmadi, Shan Liu and Hengbing Yin
Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3637; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073637 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 571
Abstract
As a significant source of global carbon emissions, the construction industry (CI) urgently needs to promote green transformation with the help of digital twin (DT) against the backdrop of human–machine collaboration and sustainable development advocated by CI 5.0. However, there is still a [...] Read more.
As a significant source of global carbon emissions, the construction industry (CI) urgently needs to promote green transformation with the help of digital twin (DT) against the backdrop of human–machine collaboration and sustainable development advocated by CI 5.0. However, there is still a lack of systematic research on its specific driving mechanism and carbon reduction path. This study uses a systematic literature review (SLR) to explore how five key DT-enabled capabilities, namely, resource management (RM), process optimization (PO), real-time monitoring (R-Tm), sustainable design (SD), and predictive maintenance (PM), influence three performance indicators: efficiency improvement (EI), energy optimization (EO), and cost control (CC). Data from 490 companies were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) with Shapley additive explanation (SHAP). The results show that the PLS-SEM and MLP models showed consistent patterns, with EO exhibiting the strongest predictive performance (Q2 = 0.372; R2 = 0.3666), followed by EI (Q2 = 0.307; R2 = 0.3109) and CC (Q2 = 0.305; R2 = 0.2609); the SHAP results further indicated that RM contributed most to EI (0.242), while PO was the most important driver for both EO (0.304) and CC (0.259). Academically, it introduces a quantitative approach combining PLS-SEM and machine learning. Practically, it highlights the priority of key technologies with cross-dimensional effects and offers guidance for governments to optimize digital resource allocation and carbon performance evaluation, as well as for enterprises to apply DT more effectively. Full article
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22 pages, 2152 KB  
Article
HCEA: A Multi-Agent Framework for Sustainable Human-Centered Entrepreneurship Based on a Large Language Model
by Yu Gao, Yanji Piao and Dongzhe Xuan
Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3554; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073554 - 4 Apr 2026
Viewed by 644
Abstract
Human-centered entrepreneurship considers employee well-being and uses the Sustainable Development Goals as its fundamental pillars. However, existing research predominantly focuses on institutional interventions and fails to provide integrated intelligent solutions for tackling human–machine collaboration issues in the context of digital transformation. Large language [...] Read more.
Human-centered entrepreneurship considers employee well-being and uses the Sustainable Development Goals as its fundamental pillars. However, existing research predominantly focuses on institutional interventions and fails to provide integrated intelligent solutions for tackling human–machine collaboration issues in the context of digital transformation. Large language models (LLMs) offer potential for affective computing and personalized support, but face critical gaps in ethical governance, privacy protection, and real-time risk intervention in sensitive entrepreneurial contexts. Our proposed Human-Centered Entrepreneurial Intelligent Agent (HCEA) framework achieves the unified optimization of task utility, empathetic expression, and ethical security by integrating a large language model core fine-tuned via a multi-objective hybrid loss function and a cluster of task-specialized intelligent agents. HCEA integrates retrieval-enhanced generation to ensure suggestion accuracy, a hierarchical data governance system for sensitivity-based privacy protection, and an independent risk detection module for real-time intervention and referral. We build the framework by constructing a hybrid entrepreneurial dataset, design the multi-agent architecture of decision support, emotion understanding and ethical risk tracking, and empirically evaluate both comparisons and ablation experiments. The results demonstrate that HCEA outperforms five baseline models across six key metrics, including entrepreneurship guidance relevance, emotion recognition, and high-risk recall. This study contributes to the intersection of digital transformation and sustainable entrepreneurship by providing a technically feasible, ethically grounded intelligent framework that empowers enterprises to reconcile efficiency with human-centric values, advancing SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure). Full article
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23 pages, 1846 KB  
Review
Evolution of Human Factor Risks from Traditional Ships to Autonomous Ships: A Comprehensive Review and Prospective Directions
by Zengyun Gao, Zhiming Wang, Yanmin Lu, Hailong Feng, Chunxu Li and Ke Zhang
Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3199; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073199 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 766
Abstract
Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) are progressing from proof-of-concept to engineering test and initial application phases due to advancements in intelligent sensing, automatic control, and communication technologies. However, numerous studies have shown that the improvement of automation level does not linearly reduce human [...] Read more.
Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) are progressing from proof-of-concept to engineering test and initial application phases due to advancements in intelligent sensing, automatic control, and communication technologies. However, numerous studies have shown that the improvement of automation level does not linearly reduce human factor risks. Instead, it exhibits more complex evolutionary characteristics at the medium automation level. In particular, MASS Level 2 (MASS L2) features a “system-dominated, human-supervised” operational mode, and its human factor risks have become one of the key factors restricting the safe operation, large-scale application and sustainable long-term deployment of autonomous ships. This study employs a systematic literature review to analyze 89 core articles (2020–2025) and summarizes the theoretical basis, risk characteristics, and evolutionary trends of human factor risk research in MASS L2. The review results indicate that the current research consensus has gradually shifted from the traditional “human error”-centered explanatory paradigm to a systematic understanding of “information mismatches, opacity, and coupling failures in the human-machine-shore collaborative system”. Typical human factor risks in MASS L2 are mainly manifested as the degradation of supervisory cognition and situation awareness, imbalance in trust in automation, vulnerability in mode switching and takeover, skill degradation, and structural risks in ship-shore collaboration. Based on these findings, this study constructs a classification system and a comprehensive analysis framework for human factor risks in MASS L2, reveals the interaction relationships and dynamic evolution mechanisms among different risk types from a system-level perspective, and further discusses the limitations of existing research in terms of methods, data, and engineering applicability. Finally, considering the development trends of autonomous ship technology, this study proposes future research directions in human factor theoretical modeling, dynamic risk assessment, system design, and operation management. This study aims to provide a systematic knowledge framework for human factor risk research in MASS L2 and offer references for the safety design, safety management, and development of higher-level automation of autonomous ships, while supporting the sustainable and safe advancement of the global intelligent shipping industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation: 2nd Edition)
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38 pages, 2678 KB  
Systematic Review
Integration of Artificial Intelligence into Human Resource Management in Manufacturing Enterprises: A Systematic Literature Review of Challenges, Approaches, and Evolution (2000–2025)
by Qunwei Wu, Xudong Gao and Anastassiya Lipovka
Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2618; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052618 - 7 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2166
Abstract
With the advancement of digital technology and Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually embedded in human resource management and has become an important digital foundation to support the sustainable transformation of enterprises. However, the research in the manufacturing context, particularly through the [...] Read more.
With the advancement of digital technology and Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually embedded in human resource management and has become an important digital foundation to support the sustainable transformation of enterprises. However, the research in the manufacturing context, particularly through the challenge perspective at different levels, remains fragmented. This work represents a systematic review of 347 articles from Scopus and Web of Science from 2000 to 2025 and employs a dual-method analysis strategy embracing metrics and in-depth coding on 100 core publications. Excel, Bibliometrix, CiteSpace, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), and VOSviewer were utilized for quantitative analysis, while open–axial–selective coding of the Grounded theory approach was applied to generate qualitative results. The findings revealed six key challenges in integrating AI-HRM within manufacturing and six approaches to solve the identified issues. The Challenge–Approach Matching Matrix was constructed, illustrating the suitability of different pathways for addressing specific challenges. Analysis of thematic evolution in AI-HRM research resulted in the identification of three distinctive phases and demonstrated a consistent shift from technology-centric approaches towards human–machine collaboration. The primary contribution of this research lies in proposing a Multi-Level Embedded Framework providing a complex view of AI-HRM in a manufacturing sector at micro, meso, and macro levels. The absence of sustainable HR transformation through AI integration was identified as the critical challenge at the macro level. This research provides theoretical and practical implications for designing the sustainable HRM system based on ESG principles and favors the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 12. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainability Goals Through Artificial Intelligence)
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