Sustainability

16 pages, 1018 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Environmental and Economic Benefits from the Phase-out of Residential Oil Heating: A Study from the Aosta Valley Region (Italy)

by Alessandro Casasso, Pietro Capodaglio, Fulvio Simonetto and Rajandrea Sethi

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3633; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133633 - 2 Jul 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3346

Abstract

Although its use is declining, oil heating is still used in areas not covered by the methane grid. Oil heating is becoming more and more expensive, requires frequent tank refill operations, and has high emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutants such [...] Read more.

Although its use is declining, oil heating is still used in areas not covered by the methane grid. Oil heating is becoming more and more expensive, requires frequent tank refill operations, and has high emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutants such as SOx. In addition, spills from oil underground storage tanks (USTs) represent a serious environmental threat to soil and groundwater quality. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis on technical alternatives to oil heating with reference to the Aosta Valley (NW Italy), where this fuel is still often used and numerous UST spills have been reported in the last 20 years. We assess operational issues, GHG and pollutant emissions, and unit costs of the heat produced for several techniques: LPG boilers, wood boilers (logs, chips, pellets) and heat pumps (air-source, geothermal closed-loop and open-loop systems). We examine the investment to implement such solutions in two typical cases, a detached house and a block of flats, deriving payback times of about 3–8 years. Wood log boilers turn out to be the most economically convenient solutions; however, heat pumps provide several benefits from the operational and environmental points of view. In addition, including solar thermal panels for domestic hot water or a photovoltaic plant would have payback times of about 6–9 years. The results highlight the economic feasibility and the multiple benefits of a rapid phase-out of oil heating in Italy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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27 pages, 5063 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Choosing Physical, Physicochemical and Chemical Methods of Pre-Treating Lignocellulosic Wastes to Repurpose into Solid Fuels

by Martin J. Taylor, Hassan A. Alabdrabalameer and Vasiliki Skoulou

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3604; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133604 - 30 Jun 2019

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 6643

Abstract

Various methods of physical, chemical and combined physicochemical pre-treatments for lignocellulosic biomass waste valorisation to value-added feedstock/solid fuels for downstream processes in chemical industries have been reviewed. The relevant literature was scrutinized for lignocellulosic waste applicability in advanced thermochemical treatments for either energy [...] Read more.

Various methods of physical, chemical and combined physicochemical pre-treatments for lignocellulosic biomass waste valorisation to value-added feedstock/solid fuels for downstream processes in chemical industries have been reviewed. The relevant literature was scrutinized for lignocellulosic waste applicability in advanced thermochemical treatments for either energy or liquid fuels. By altering the overall naturally occurring bio-polymeric matrix of lignocellulosic biomass waste, individual components such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin can be accessed for numerous downstream processes such as pyrolysis, gasification and catalytic upgrading to value-added products such as low carbon energy. Assessing the appropriate lignocellulosic pre-treatment technology is critical to suit the downstream process of both small- and large-scale operations. The cost to operate the process (temperature, pressure or energy constraints), the physical and chemical structure of the feedstock after pre-treatment (decomposition/degradation, removal of inorganic components or organic solubilization) or the ability to scale up the pre-treating process must be considered so that the true value in the use of bio-renewable waste can be revealed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofuels–Bioenergy Waste to Value Added Feedstock)

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17 pages, 5419 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatial-Temporal Changes in Soil Organic Carbon and pH in the Liaoning Province of China: A Modeling Analysis Based on Observational Data

by Li Qi, Shuai Wang, Qianlai Zhuang, Zijiao Yang, Shubin Bai, Xinxin Jin and Guangyu Lei

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3569; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133569 - 28 Jun 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3902

Abstract

Quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) and pH, and their spatial variations at regional scales, is a foundation to adequately assess agriculture, pollution control, or environmental health and ecosystem functioning, so as to establish better practices for land use and land management. In [...] Read more.

Quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) and pH, and their spatial variations at regional scales, is a foundation to adequately assess agriculture, pollution control, or environmental health and ecosystem functioning, so as to establish better practices for land use and land management. In this study, we used the random forest (RF) model to map the distribution of SOC and pH in the topsoil (0–20 cm) and estimate SOC and pH changes from 1982 to 2012 in Liaoning Province, Northeast China. A total of 10 covariates (elevation, slope gradient, topographic wetness index (TWI), mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), visible-red band 3 (B3), near-infrared band 4 (B4), short-wave infrared band 5 (B5), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and land-use data) and a set of 806 (in 1982) and 973 (in 2012) soil samples were selected. Cross-validation technology was used to test the performance and uncertainty of the RF model. We found that the prediction R² of SOC and pH was 0.69 and 0.54 for 1982, and 0.63 and 0.48 for 2012, respectively. Elevation, NDVI, and land use are the main environmental variables affecting the spatial variability of SOC in both periods. Correspondingly, the topographic wetness index and mean annual precipitation were the two most critical environmental variables affecting the spatial variation of pH. The mean SOC and pH decreased from 18.6 to 16.9 kg⁻¹ and 6.9 to 6.6, respectively, over a 30-year period. SOC distribution generated using the RF model showed a decreasing SOC trend from east to west across the city in the two periods. In contrast, the spatial distribution of pH showed an opposite trend in both periods. This study provided important information of spatial variations in SOC and pH to agencies and communities in this region, to evaluate soil quality and make decisions on remediation and prevention of soil acidification and salinization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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22 pages, 7537 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Towards a Baseline for Food-Waste Quantification in the Hospitality Sector—Quantities and Data Processing Criteria

by Christopher Malefors, Pieter Callewaert, Per-Anders Hansson, Hanna Hartikainen, Oona Pietiläinen, Ingrid Strid, Christina Strotmann and Mattias Eriksson

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3541; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133541 - 27 Jun 2019

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 8831

Abstract

There is an urgent need for primary data collection on food waste to obtain solid quantification data that can be used as an indicator in the goal of halving food waste by 2030. This study examined how quality baselines for food waste can [...] Read more.

There is an urgent need for primary data collection on food waste to obtain solid quantification data that can be used as an indicator in the goal of halving food waste by 2030. This study examined how quality baselines for food waste can be achieved within the different segments of the hospitality sector, encompassing establishments such as canteens, elderly care units, hospitals, hotels, preschools, primary schools, restaurants, and upper secondary schools. The empirical material comprised food-waste quantification data measured in 1189 kitchens in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Germany for 58,812 quantification days and 23 million portions. All the data were converted to a common format for analysis. According to the findings, around 20% of food served became waste. Waste per portion varied widely between establishments, ranging from 50.1 ± 9.4 g/portion for canteens to 192 ± 30 g/portion for restaurants. To identify the measurement precision needed for tracking changes over time, we suggest statistical measures that could be used in future studies or in different food-waste tracking initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges of Managing Organic Waste)

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13 pages, 706 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Projection of Long-Term Care Costs in China, 2020–2050: Based on the Bayesian Quantile Regression Method

by Xiaocang Xu and Linhong Chen

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3530; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133530 - 27 Jun 2019

Cited by 78 | Viewed by 6574

Abstract

The aging population in China highlights the significance of elderly long-term care (LTC) services. The number of people aged 65 and above increased from 96 million in 2003 to 150 million in 2016, some of whom were disabled due to chronic diseases or [...] Read more.

The aging population in China highlights the significance of elderly long-term care (LTC) services. The number of people aged 65 and above increased from 96 million in 2003 to 150 million in 2016, some of whom were disabled due to chronic diseases or the natural effects of aging on bodily functions. Therefore, the measurement of future LTC costs is of crucial value. Following the basic framework but using different empirical methods from those presented in previous literature, this paper attempts to use the Bayesian quantile regression (BQR) method, which has many advantages over traditional linear regression. Another innovation consists of setting and measuring the high, middle, and low levels of LTC cost prediction for each disability state among the elderly in 2020–2050. Our projections suggest that by 2020, LTC costs will increase to median values of 39.46, 8.98, and 20.25 billion dollars for mild, moderate, and severe disabilities, respectively; these numbers will reach 141.7, 32.28, and 72.78 billion dollars by 2050. The median level of daily life care for mild, moderate, and severe disabilities will increase to 26.23, 6.36, and 27 billion dollars. Our results showed that future LTC cost increases will be enormous, and therefore, the establishment of a reasonable individual-social-government payment mechanism is necessary for the LTC system. The future design of an LTCI system must take into account a variety of factors, including the future elderly population, different care conditions, the financial burden of the government, etc., in order to maintain the sustainable development of the LTC system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aging: Healthcare, Inequalities, Challenges and Trends)

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16 pages, 544 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Environmental Performance

by Zhenghui Li, Hao Dong, Zimei Huang and Pierre Failler

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3538; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133538 - 27 Jun 2019

Cited by 60 | Viewed by 6438

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a study that attempts to investigate the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on environmental performance (EP) by constructing a panel quantile regression model. Based on panel data from 1990 to 2014, this study contributes to evaluate [...] Read more.

The paper presents the results of a study that attempts to investigate the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on environmental performance (EP) by constructing a panel quantile regression model. Based on panel data from 1990 to 2014, this study contributes to evaluate the EP of each of the 40 countries using a directional slack-based model considering undesirable output. Our findings reveal several key conclusions: first, FDI has an insignificant influence on EP for the full sample. Second, the impact of FDI on EP between developed and developing countries exists heterogeneity. Furthermore, there is heterogeneity regarding the effect of FDI on EP at different quantiles of EP in developed countries. Specifically, in the developed countries, the effect is statistically insignificant at the lower quantile of EP, then it turns significantly positive at the middle and high quantile, and the positive effect rises with the increase of quantiles of EP. Finally, based on the conclusions of quantitative analysis, some important policy recommendations are proposed: different governments ought to enact different strategies for the introduction of FDI, according to different development situations of different countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dynamic Relationship between Energy Consumption, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, and Economic Growth)

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25 pages, 4363 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Novel on Transmission Line Tower Big Data Analysis Model Using Altered K-means and ADQL

by Se-Hoon Jung and Jun-Ho Huh

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3499; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133499 - 26 Jun 2019

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3367

Abstract

This study sought to propose a big data analysis and prediction model for transmission line tower outliers to assess when something is wrong with transmission line tower big data based on deep reinforcement learning. The model enables choosing automatic cluster K values based [...] Read more.

This study sought to propose a big data analysis and prediction model for transmission line tower outliers to assess when something is wrong with transmission line tower big data based on deep reinforcement learning. The model enables choosing automatic cluster K values based on non-labeled sensor big data. It also allows measuring the distance of action between data inside a cluster with the Q-value representing network output in the altered transmission line tower big data clustering algorithm containing transmission line tower outliers and old Deep Q Network. Specifically, this study performed principal component analysis to categorize transmission line tower data and proposed an automatic initial central point approach through standard normal distribution. It also proposed the A-Deep Q-Learning algorithm altered from the deep Q-Learning algorithm to explore policies based on the experiences of clustered data learning. It can be used to perform transmission line tower outlier data learning based on the distance of data within a cluster. The performance evaluation results show that the proposed model recorded an approximately 2.29%~4.19% higher prediction rate and around 0.8% ~ 4.3% higher accuracy rate compared to the old transmission line tower big data analysis model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence for Renewable Energy Systems)

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21 pages, 3893 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Impacts of Land-Use Change on Habitat Quality during 1985–2015 in the Taihu Lake Basin

by Liting Xu, Sophia Shuang Chen, Yu Xu, Guangyu Li and Weizhong Su

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3513; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133513 - 26 Jun 2019

Cited by 81 | Viewed by 4962

Abstract

Habitat quality (HQ) is of great significance to regional sustainable development, which is a key link for regional ecological security and human welfare. Assessing the temporal and spatial evolution of HQ caused by land-use change could provide a scientific basis for regional ecological [...] Read more.

Habitat quality (HQ) is of great significance to regional sustainable development, which is a key link for regional ecological security and human welfare. Assessing the temporal and spatial evolution of HQ caused by land-use change could provide a scientific basis for regional ecological protection and land management. Here, based on the ArcGIS platform and the InVEST model, this study quantified the spatial and temporal evolutions of land use, landscape patterns, and HQ from 1985 to 2015, in Taihu Lake Basin (TLB). Hotspot analysis tools were used to identify the spatial agglomeration and evolution characteristics of HQ in TLB. The results showed that, (1) the land use and landscape pattern in TLB experienced dramatic change process during 1985–2015, with the dominating conversion being from farmland to construction land, which led to an increase in landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation. (2) The HQ was generally reduced in the past 30 years. In particular, the decline of HQ was extremely severe in the peripheral area of cities and roads, due to urban sprawl. (3) Regarding the spatial distribution of HQ, the northern and eastern areas were generally higher, while the western and southern areas were generally lower. The hotspots areas were mainly located in the southwestern mountain area and west-central lake area, while the cold spots areas were mainly located in urban areas in the north and the east. (4) The area and degree of habitat degradation were both increased significantly due to land-use change, and the degradation of the Taihu Lake was highlighted. Strengthening the ecological environment management and reducing the threat of urban expansion to the HQ is urgently required. This study could help understand HQ of the TLB and provide a scientific basis for decision-makers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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12 pages, 3552 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sustainable Sewage Sludge Management: From Current Practices to Emerging Nutrient Recovery Technologies

by Sina Shaddel, Hamidreza Bakhtiary-Davijany, Christian Kabbe, Farbod Dadgar and Stein W. Østerhus

Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3435; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123435 - 21 Jun 2019

Cited by 108 | Viewed by 10680

Abstract

Nutrient recovery from secondary resources, such as wastewater, has received increasing attention in recent years. Nutrient cycle sustainability and recycling approaches are important measures under development and considerations. This paper aims to present an overview of routes and technologies for nutrient recovery from [...] Read more.

Nutrient recovery from secondary resources, such as wastewater, has received increasing attention in recent years. Nutrient cycle sustainability and recycling approaches are important measures under development and considerations. This paper aims to present an overview of routes and technologies for nutrient recovery from sewage sludge and measures for improving their sustainability. First, current routes for nutrient recovery from sewage sludge are briefly reviewed. Next, an overview of commercial nutrient recovery technologies, projects, and emerging techniques around the world with the key factors for a successful phosphorus recovery technology is presented. Finally, a proposal for improving the sustainability of these practices is presented. It is concluded that the gap between demand and supply can be a major driver for the shift from ‘removal and treat’ to ‘recovery and reuse’. Moreover, there is not, and will never be, a one-size-fits-all solution. Future strategies and roadmaps need to be adapted to the local economy and geographical context more than ever. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management and Application of the Principles of the Circular Economy)

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11 pages, 2823 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Semi-Continuous Anaerobic Digestion of Orange Peel Waste: Effect of Activated Carbon Addition and Alkaline Pretreatment on the Process

by Paolo S. Calabrò, Filippo Fazzino, Adele Folino, Emilia Paone and Dimitrios Komilis

Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3386; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123386 - 19 Jun 2019

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 3925

Abstract

The valorization of orange peel waste (OPW) is sought worldwide mainly via anaerobic digestion. A common problem encountered during the biological treatment is the seasonality of its production and the presence of d-Limonene. The latter is a typical anti-microbial compound. This work aims [...] Read more.

The valorization of orange peel waste (OPW) is sought worldwide mainly via anaerobic digestion. A common problem encountered during the biological treatment is the seasonality of its production and the presence of d-Limonene. The latter is a typical anti-microbial compound. This work aims to evaluate the effect of the use of granular activated carbon (GAC) combined with alkaline pretreatment to enhance methane generation during semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of OPW. The experimental design consisted of two groups of experiments, A and B. Experiment A was designed to verify the maximum OPW loading and to assess the effect of pH and nutrients on the process. Experiment B was designed to study the effect of alkaline pretreatment alone and of alkaline pretreatment aided by biochar addition to the process. Apart from the methane yields, the d-Limonene contents were measured in all experiments. The preliminary results showed that OPW alkaline pretreatment after the addition of a moderate amount of GAC can render anaerobic digestion of OPW sustainable as long as the organic loading does not exceed 2 gVS·L⁻¹·day⁻¹ and nutrients are supplemented. The experiment in which GAC was added after alkaline pretreatment resulted in the highest methane yield and reactor stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biorefining of Biowaste)

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17 pages, 3622 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Nexus between Socio-Ecological System, Livelihood Resilience, and Migration Decisions: Empirical Evidence from Bangladesh

by Bishawjit Mallick

Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3332; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123332 - 17 Jun 2019

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 6954

Abstract

This research aims to ascertain how, and to what extent, livelihood resilience influences migration decisions (to migrate or not to migrate) of people who live in vulnerable socio-ecological systems (SESs). To do so, first, the characteristics of different SESs are determined; secondly, livelihood [...] Read more.

This research aims to ascertain how, and to what extent, livelihood resilience influences migration decisions (to migrate or not to migrate) of people who live in vulnerable socio-ecological systems (SESs). To do so, first, the characteristics of different SESs are determined; secondly, livelihood resilience across the SESs are analysed; and finally, the influence of livelihood resilience on the ‘migration decision’ (i.e., to migrate or not to migrate) is explained. The explanation of migration is based on the patterns, location, purpose, scope, and extent of migration. This paper addresses these issues based on empirical evidence from five rural coastal communities in Bangladesh. Findings show that resilient people would like to stay put and the decision differs across SESs, for example, the majority of people living in salt-shrimp-dependent SESs intended to migrate in the future, whereas the majority of people living in rain-fed agriculture-dependent SESs preferred to not migrate. Thus, the ability to migrate is therefore not only dependent on economic capability but also on the socio-ecological context of the place in which people live. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainability in Geographic Science)

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21 pages, 286 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Community Supported Agriculture Farmers’ Perceptions of Management Benefits and Drawbacks

by Antonella Samoggia, Chiara Perazzolo, Piroska Kocsis and Margherita Del Prete

Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123262 - 13 Jun 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6656

Abstract

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a direct partnership between producer(s) and a group of consumers/members to share the risks and responsibilities of farming activities. CSA aims at producing and providing environmentally, socially, economically, and nutritionally sustainable food. Past research has focused on CSA [...] Read more.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a direct partnership between producer(s) and a group of consumers/members to share the risks and responsibilities of farming activities. CSA aims at producing and providing environmentally, socially, economically, and nutritionally sustainable food. Past research has focused on CSA members’ motivations. This research aims to gain a better understanding of CSA farmers’ perceived benefits and drawbacks in managing a CSA farm, and whether CSA management perception varies in different countries. The research collected data from 35 farmers that were based in the United States (US) and Hungary (HU). Data elaboration includes a one-way Anova test, Chi-square test, principal component analysis, and multiple multivariate linear regressions. The results support that US and HU farmers have similar positive perceptions of CSA farming management, especially in food quality, nutritional value products, environmental, and community benefits. The main differences concentrate on economic, financial, and management perceptions. CSA success as an alternative agro-food production and distribution system relies on the capability to involve CSA members. Therefore, CSA farmers’ management skills may evolve to ensure the performance of communication and community engaging practices. The main CSA concern is ensuring a fair income and living wage for the farmers and labor force. There is a need for better balancing non-monetary and monetary benefits for the farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Community Supported Agriculture)

22 pages, 3621 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Analysing Stakeholder Consensus for a Sustainable Transport Development Decision by the Fuzzy AHP and Interval AHP

by Sarbast Moslem, Omid Ghorbanzadeh, Thomas Blaschke and Szabolcs Duleba

Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3271; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123271 - 13 Jun 2019

Cited by 87 | Viewed by 5646

Abstract

In any public service development decision, it is essential to reach the stakeholders’ agreement to gain a sustainable result, which is accepted by all involved groups. In case this criterion is violated, the impact of the development will be less than expected due [...] Read more.

In any public service development decision, it is essential to reach the stakeholders’ agreement to gain a sustainable result, which is accepted by all involved groups. In case this criterion is violated, the impact of the development will be less than expected due to the resistance of one group or another. Concerning public urban transport decisions, the lack of consensus might cause lower utilisation of public vehicles, thus more severe environmental damage, traffic problems and negative economic impacts. This paper aims to introduce a decision support procedure (applying the current MCDM techniques; Fuzzy and Interval AHP) which is capable of analysing and creating consensus among different stakeholder participants in a transport development problem. The combined application of FAHP and IAHP ensures that the consensus creation is not only based on an automated computation process (just as in IAHP) but also on the consideration of specific group interests. Thus, the decision makers have the liberty to express their preferences in urban planning, along with the consideration of numerical results. The procedure has been tested in a real public transport improvement decision as a follow-up project, in an emerging city, Mersin, Turkey. Results show that by the application of the proposed techniques, decision-makers can be more aware of the conflicts of interests among the involved groups, and they can pay more attention to possible violations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems for Urban Logistics Planning: Multi-Stakeholder and Participative Approaches)

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14 pages, 860 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Statistical and Electrical Features Evaluation for Electrical Appliances Energy Disaggregation

by Pascal A. Schirmer and Iosif Mporas

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3222; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113222 - 11 Jun 2019

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 4553

Abstract

In this paper we evaluate several well-known and widely used machine learning algorithms for regression in the energy disaggregation task. Specifically, the Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring approach was considered and the K-Nearest-Neighbours, Support Vector Machines, Deep Neural Networks and Random Forest algorithms were evaluated [...] Read more.

In this paper we evaluate several well-known and widely used machine learning algorithms for regression in the energy disaggregation task. Specifically, the Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring approach was considered and the K-Nearest-Neighbours, Support Vector Machines, Deep Neural Networks and Random Forest algorithms were evaluated across five datasets using seven different sets of statistical and electrical features. The experimental results demonstrated the importance of selecting both appropriate features and regression algorithms. Analysis on device level showed that linear devices can be disaggregated using statistical features, while for non-linear devices the use of electrical features significantly improves the disaggregation accuracy, as non-linear appliances have non-sinusoidal current draw and thus cannot be well parametrized only by their active power consumption. The best performance in terms of energy disaggregation accuracy was achieved by the Random Forest regression algorithm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Computational Intelligence for Data Analytics, Modeling, Control and Optimisation of Sustainable Energy Systems)

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16 pages, 1840 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Impacts of Agricultural Management Systems on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Highly Simplified Dryland Landscapes

by Subodh Adhikari, Arjun Adhikari, David K. Weaver, Anton Bekkerman and Fabian D. Menalled

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3223; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113223 - 11 Jun 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6279

Abstract

Covering about 40% of Earth’s land surface and sustaining at least 38% of global population, drylands are key crop and animal production regions with high economic and social values. However, land use changes associated with industrialized agricultural managements are threatening the sustainability of [...] Read more.

Covering about 40% of Earth’s land surface and sustaining at least 38% of global population, drylands are key crop and animal production regions with high economic and social values. However, land use changes associated with industrialized agricultural managements are threatening the sustainability of these systems. While previous studies assessing the impacts of agricultural management systems on biodiversity and their services focused on more diversified mesic landscapes, there is a dearth of such research in highly simplified dryland agroecosystems. In this paper, we 1) summarize previous research on the effects of farm management systems and agricultural expansion on biodiversity and biodiversity-based ecosystem services, 2) present four case studies assessing the impacts of management systems on biodiversity and ecosystem services across highly simplified dryland landscapes of the Northern Great Plains (NGP), USA, 3) discuss approaches to sustain biodiversity-based ecosystem services in drylands, and 4) present a conceptual framework for enhancing agricultural sustainability in the drylands through research, policy, economic valuation, and adaptive management. An analysis of the land use changes due to agricultural expansion within the Golden Triangle, a representative agricultural area in the NGP, indicated that the proportion of land conversion to agriculture area was 84%, 8%, and 7% from grassland, riparian, and shrubland habitats, respectively. Our results showed this simplification was associated with a potential reduction of pollination services. Also, our economic analysis projected that if 30% parasitism could be achieved through better management systems, the estimated potential economic returns to pest regulation services through parasitoids in Montana, USA alone could reach about $11.23 million. Overall, while dryland agroecosystems showed a significant loss of native biodiversity and its services, greater pest incidence, and a decrease in plant pollinator networks, these trends were moderately reversed in organically managed farming systems. In conclusion, although land use changes due to agricultural expansion and industrialized farming threaten the sustainability of dryland agroecosystems, this impact can be partially offset by coupling ecologically-based farming practices with adaptive management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Landscape, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity: New Challenges for Sustainable Development)

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22 pages, 945 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Role of Nutrient-Enriched Biochar as a Soil Amendment during Maize Growth: Exploring Practical Alternatives to Recycle Agricultural Residuals and to Reduce Chemical Fertilizer Demand

by Simon Kizito, Hongzhen Luo, Jiaxin Lu, Hamidou Bah, Renjie Dong and Shubiao Wu

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3211; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113211 - 10 Jun 2019

Cited by 170 | Viewed by 9515

Abstract

Recycling and value-added utilization of agricultural residues through combining technologies such as anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis could double the recoverable energy, close the nutrient recycle loop, and ensure cleaner agricultural production. This study assessed the beneficial application of biochar to soil to recycle [...] Read more.

Recycling and value-added utilization of agricultural residues through combining technologies such as anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis could double the recoverable energy, close the nutrient recycle loop, and ensure cleaner agricultural production. This study assessed the beneficial application of biochar to soil to recycle digestate nutrients, improve soil quality, and reduce conventional chemical fertilizer. The addition of digestate-enriched biochar improved soil quality as it provided higher soil organic matter (232%–514%) and macronutrients (110%–230%) as opposed to the unenriched biochar and control treatments. Maize grown in soil amended with digestate-enriched biochar showed a significantly higher biomass yield compared to the control and non-enriched biochar treatments but was slightly lower than yields from chemical fertilizer treatments. The slightly lower yield (20%–25%) achieved from digestate-enriched biochar was attributed to slower mineralization and release of the adsorbed nutrients in the short term. However, digestate-enriched biochar could in the long term become more beneficial in sustaining soil fertility through maintaining high soil organic matter and the gradual release of micronutrients compared to conventional chemical fertilizer. Positive effects on soil micronutrients, macronutrients, organic matter, and biomass yield indicates that enriched biochar could partly replace chemical fertilizers and promote organic farming in a circular economy concept. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Organic Waste Management)

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17 pages, 734 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

How to Save Bike-Sharing: An Evidence-Based Survival Toolkit for Policy-Makers and Mobility Providers

by Alexandros Nikitas

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3206; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113206 - 9 Jun 2019

Cited by 68 | Viewed by 9624

Abstract

A new mobility ethos is needed for cities looking to overcome the problems that have been accumulated for decades by a transport paradigm that prioritises automobiles over people. Bike-sharing, a measure promoting voluntary travel behaviour change, could be part of a refined toolbox [...] Read more.

A new mobility ethos is needed for cities looking to overcome the problems that have been accumulated for decades by a transport paradigm that prioritises automobiles over people. Bike-sharing, a measure promoting voluntary travel behaviour change, could be part of a refined toolbox that will help in forging this new ethos. Despite a rapid emergence during the last handful of years, as evidenced by 1956 operational local schemes and approximately 15,254,400 self-service public use bicycles across the world, bike-sharing has been attracting negative attention lately. Tens of schemes have closed down, deemed as financial or operational failures, stigmatising bike-sharing’s brand and putting the future of the concept itself in jeopardy. However, discounting bike-sharing as flawed may not be fair or accurate. This paper identifies a formula of success for bike-sharing operations based on a state-of-the-art case study analysis, which is supported by primary data evidence from two survey-based studies in Sweden and Greece. This paper suggests that residents in cities hosting or looking to host bike-sharing schemes are usually very supportive of them but not always likely to use them. More importantly, this paper delivers some key policy and business lessons that form a survival guide for effectively introducing and running public bicycle schemes. These lessons include, among others, the need for: tailoring the system design and expansion strategy according to the host city needs, city-operator and commercial partner synergies, more bike-friendly infrastructure and legislation, pro-active cultural engagement, anti-abuse measures, enhanced fleet management and realistic profit expectations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainability: Bike-Sharing Systems Design, Simulation and Management)

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21 pages, 5449 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Hyperspectral Prediction Model of Metal Content in Soil Based on the Genetic Ant Colony Algorithm

by Shiqi Tian, Shijie Wang, Xiaoyong Bai, Dequan Zhou, Guangjie Luo, Jinfeng Wang, Mingming Wang, Qian Lu, Yujie Yang, Zeyin Hu, Chaojun Li and Yuanhong Deng

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3197; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113197 - 7 Jun 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3811

Abstract

The accumulation of metals in soil harms human health through different channels. Therefore, it is very important to conduct fast and effective non-destructive prediction of metals in the soil. In this study, we investigate the characteristics of four metal contents, namely, Sb, Pb, [...] Read more.

The accumulation of metals in soil harms human health through different channels. Therefore, it is very important to conduct fast and effective non-destructive prediction of metals in the soil. In this study, we investigate the characteristics of four metal contents, namely, Sb, Pb, Cr, and Co, in the soil of the Houzhai River Watershed in Guizhou Province, China, and establish the content prediction back propagation (BP) neural network and genetic-ant colony algorithm BP (GAACA-BP) neural network models based on hyperspectral data. Results reveal that the four metals in the soil have different degrees of accumulation in the study area, and the correlation between them is significant, indicating that their sources may be similar. The fitting effect and accuracy of the GAACA-BP model are greatly improved compared with those of the BP model. The R values are above 0.7, the MRE is reduced to between 6% and 15%, and the validation accuracy is increased by 12–64%. The prediction ability of the model of the four metals is Cr > Co > Sb > Pb. These results indicate the possibility of using hyperspectral techniques to predict metal content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Heavy Metals)

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17 pages, 8948 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Method for Sustainable Lighting, Preventive Conservation, Energy Design and Technology—Lighting a Historical Church Converted into a University Library

by Carla Balocco and Giulia Volante

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3145; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113145 - 4 Jun 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5532

Abstract

Many ancient libraries in Italy are housed in historical buildings, only a few in former churches and monasteries. Newly built libraries mostly comply with the requirements of sustainability, energy saving and renewable energy use, but this does not occur for existing ones, especially [...] Read more.

Many ancient libraries in Italy are housed in historical buildings, only a few in former churches and monasteries. Newly built libraries mostly comply with the requirements of sustainability, energy saving and renewable energy use, but this does not occur for existing ones, especially when they belong to the historical cultural heritage. Historical library buildings have good mass and thermal inertia but often have inadequate windows with low light transmission value. Lighting systems are often without control and thus cause poor lighting conditions. Our present research concerns the energy sustainability assessment of retrofit operations for lighting in an existing historical university library, focusing on lighting quality, adequate lighting conditions for visual tasks, vision ergonomics and well-being, and guaranteeing the preventive conservation and protection of heritage books. This case study is very particular, because it concerns a Florentine historical monastery which is now a university library. Our proposed method introduces an optimal toolset for lighting design solutions with the aim of sustainability. The library indoor space was procedurally decomposed into illumination volumes according to different occupant activities and visual tasks and different use areas. This method is extensible to all similar cultural heritage case, but also existing old buildings and current designs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting at the Frontiers of Sustainable Development)

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15 pages, 533 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluation of Driver Behavior Criteria for Evolution of Sustainable Traffic Safety

by Danish Farooq, Sarbast Moslem and Szabolcs Duleba

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3142; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113142 - 4 Jun 2019

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 5991

Abstract

Driver behavior has been considered as the most influential factor in reducing fatal road accidents and the resulting injuries. Thus, it is important to focus on the significance of driver behavior criteria to solve road safety issues for a sustainable traffic system. The [...] Read more.

Driver behavior has been considered as the most influential factor in reducing fatal road accidents and the resulting injuries. Thus, it is important to focus on the significance of driver behavior criteria to solve road safety issues for a sustainable traffic system. The recent study aims to enumerate the most significant driver behavior factors which have a critical impact on road safety. The well-proven Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been applied for 20 examined driver behavior factors in a three-level hierarchical structure. Linguistic judgment data have been collected from three nominated evaluator groups in order to detect the difference of responses on perceived road safety issues. The comparison scales had been averaged prior to computing the weights of driver behavior factors. The AHP ranking results have revealed that most of the drivers are most concerned about the “Errors”, followed by the “Lapses” for the first level. The highest influential sub-criteria for the second level is the “Aggressive violations” and for the third level, the “Drive with alcohol use”. Kendall’s rank correlation has also been applied to detect the agreement degree among the evaluator groups for each level in the hierarchical structure. The estimated results indicate that road management authorities should focus on high-rank significant driver behavior criteria to solve road safety issues for sustainable traffic safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation for Sustainable Cities)

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30 pages, 12822 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Parametric Optimization of Window-to-Wall Ratio for Passive Buildings Adopting A Scripting Methodology to Dynamic-Energy Simulation

by Giacomo Chiesa, Andrea Acquaviva, Mario Grosso, Lorenzo Bottaccioli, Maurizio Floridia, Edoardo Pristeri and Edoardo Maria Sanna

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3078; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113078 - 31 May 2019

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4465

Abstract

Counterbalancing climate change is one of the biggest challenges for engineers around the world. One of the areas in which optimization techniques can be used to reduce energy needs, and with that the pollution derived from its production, is building design. With this [...] Read more.

Counterbalancing climate change is one of the biggest challenges for engineers around the world. One of the areas in which optimization techniques can be used to reduce energy needs, and with that the pollution derived from its production, is building design. With this study of a generic office located both in a northern country and in a temperate/Mediterranean site, we want to introduce a coding approach to dynamic energy simulation, able to suggest, from the early-design phases when the main building forms are defined, optimal configurations considering the energy needs for heating, cooling and lighting. Generally, early-design considerations of energy need reduction focus on the winter season only, in line with the current regulations; nevertheless a more holistic approach is needed to include other high consumption voices, e.g., for space cooling and lighting. The main considered design parameter is the WWR (window-to-wall ratio), even if further variables are considered in a set of parallel analyses (level of insulation, orientation, activation of low-cooling strategies including shading devices and ventilative cooling). Finally, the effect of different levels of occupancy was included in the analysis to regress results and compare the WWR with corresponding heating and cooling needs. This approach is adapted to Passivhaus design optimization, working on energy need minimisation acting on envelope design choices. The results demonstrate that it is essential to include, from the early-design configurations, a larger set of variables in order to optimize the expected energy needs on the basis of different aspects (cooling, heating, lighting, design choices). Coding is performed using Python scripting, while dynamic energy simulations are based on EnergyPlus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Performance of Passive Houses in Mediterranean Climate Regions)

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20 pages, 782 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Design of Green Supply Chains under Carbon Policies: A Literature Review of Quantitative Models

by Zhitao Xu, Adel Elomri, Shaligram Pokharel and Fatih Mutlu

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3094; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113094 - 31 May 2019

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5773

Abstract

Carbon footprinting of products and services is getting increasing attention due to the growing emphasis on carbon related policies in many countries. As a result, many enterprises are focusing on the design of green supply chains (GSCs) with research on supply chains (SCs) [...] Read more.

Carbon footprinting of products and services is getting increasing attention due to the growing emphasis on carbon related policies in many countries. As a result, many enterprises are focusing on the design of green supply chains (GSCs) with research on supply chains (SCs) focused not only on cost efficiency, but also on its environmental consequences. The review presented in this paper focuses on the implications of carbon policies on SCs. The concept of content analysis is used to retrieve and analyze the information regarding drivers (carbon policies), actors (for example, manufacturers and retailers), methodologies (mathematical modeling techniques), decision-making contexts (such as, facility location and order quantity), and emission reduction opportunities. The review shows a lack of emissions analysis of SCs that face carbon policies in different countries. The research also focuses on the design of carbon policies for emissions reduction in different operating situations. Some possible research directions are also discussed at the end of this review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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18 pages, 4495 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Human and Natural Impacts on the Water Resources in the Syr Darya River Basin, Central Asia

by Shan Zou, Abuduwaili Jilili, Weili Duan, Philippe De Maeyer and Tim Van de Voorde

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3084; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113084 - 31 May 2019

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 5009

Abstract

Water resources are increasingly under stress in Central Asia because downstream countries are highly dependent on upstream countries. Water is essential for irrigation and is becoming scarcer due to climate change and human activities. Based on 20 hydrological stations, this study firstly analyzed [...] Read more.

Water resources are increasingly under stress in Central Asia because downstream countries are highly dependent on upstream countries. Water is essential for irrigation and is becoming scarcer due to climate change and human activities. Based on 20 hydrological stations, this study firstly analyzed the annual and seasonal spatial–temporal changes of the river discharges, precipitation, and temperature in the Syr Darya River Basin and then the possible relationships between these factors were detected. Finally, the potential reasons for the river discharge variations have been discussed. The results show that the river discharges in the upper stream of the basin had significantly risen from 1930 to 2006, mainly due to the increase in temperature (approximately 0.3 °C per decade), which accelerated the melting of glaciers, while it decreased in the middle and lower regions due to the rising irrigation. In the middle of the basin, the expansion of the construction land (128.83 km²/year) and agricultural land (66.68 km²/year) from 1992 to 2015 has significantly augmented the water consumption. The operations of reservoirs and irrigation canals significantly intercepted the river discharge from the upper streams, causing a sharp decline in the river discharges in the middle and lower reaches of the Syr Darya River in 1973. The outcomes obtained from this study allowed us to understand the changes in the river discharges and provided essential information for effective water resource management in the Syr Darya River Basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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16 pages, 3758 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Role of Smart Contracts in Sustainability: Worldwide Research Trends

by Esther Salmerón-Manzano and Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3049; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113049 - 30 May 2019

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6605

Abstract

The advent and development of digital technologies has had a significant impact on the establishment of contracts. Smart contracts are designed as computer code containing instructions for executing user agreements, offering a technologically secure solution with numerous advantages and applications. However, smart contracts [...] Read more.

The advent and development of digital technologies has had a significant impact on the establishment of contracts. Smart contracts are designed as computer code containing instructions for executing user agreements, offering a technologically secure solution with numerous advantages and applications. However, smart contracts are not without their problems when we try to fit them into the traditional system of contract law, and their presumed benefits can become shortcomings. Bibliometric studies can help to assess the current state of science in a specific subject and support decision making and research direction. Here, this bibliometric study is used to analyze global trend research in relation to this novel contractual methodology, the smart contract, which seems to have experienced exponential growth since 2014. Specially, this analysis was focused on the main countries involved and the institutions that lead this research worldwide. On the other hand, the indexations of these works are analyzed according to major scientific areas and the keywords of all the works, to detect the subjects to which they are grouped. Community detection has been used to establish the relationship between countries researching in this area, and six clusters have been identified, around which all the work related to this topic is grouped. This work shows the temporal evolution of research related to smart contracts, highlighting that there are two trends—e-commerce and smart power grids. From the perspective of driving sustainability, smart contracts could provide a contribution in the near future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Energy Sustainability at Universities)

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14 pages, 2687 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluating WorldClim Version 1 (1961–1990) as the Baseline for Sustainable Use of Forest and Environmental Resources in a Changing Climate

by Maurizio Marchi, Iztok Sinjur, Michele Bozzano and Marjana Westergren

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3043; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113043 - 29 May 2019

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5708

Abstract

WorldClim version 1 is a high-resolution, global climate gridded dataset covering 1961–1990; a “normal” climate. It has been widely used for ecological studies thanks to its free availability and global coverage. This study aims to evaluate the quality of WorldClim data by quantifying [...] Read more.

WorldClim version 1 is a high-resolution, global climate gridded dataset covering 1961–1990; a “normal” climate. It has been widely used for ecological studies thanks to its free availability and global coverage. This study aims to evaluate the quality of WorldClim data by quantifying any discrepancies by comparison with an independent dataset of measured temperature and precipitation records across Europe. BIO1 (mean annual temperature, MAT) and BIO12 (mean total annual precipitation, MAP) were used as proxies to evaluate the spatial accuracy of the WorldClim grids. While good representativeness was detected for MAT, the study demonstrated a bias with respect to MAP. The average difference between WorldClim predictions and climate observations was around +0.2 °C for MAT and −48.7 mm for MAP, with large variability. The regression analysis revealed a good correlation and adequate proportion of explained variance for MAT (adjusted R² = 0.856) but results for MAP were poor, with just 64% of the variance explained (adjusted R² = 0.642). Moreover no spatial structure was found across Europe, nor any statistical relationship with elevation, latitude, or longitude, the environmental predictors used to generate climate surfaces. A detectable spatial autocorrelation was only detectable for the two most thoroughly sampled countries (Germany and Sweden). Although further adjustments might be evaluated by means of geostatistical methods (i.e., kriging), the huge environmental variability of the European environment deeply stressed the WorldClim database. Overall, these results show the importance of an adequate spatial structure of meteorological stations as fundamental to improve the reliability of climate surfaces and derived products of the research (i.e., statistical models, future projections). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainability)

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18 pages, 437 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Barriers Affecting Sustainable Agricultural Productivity of Smallholder Farmers in the Eastern Free State of South Africa

by Lindumusa Myeni, Mokhele Moeletsi, Mulalo Thavhana, Mulalo Randela and Lebohang Mokoena

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3003; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113003 - 28 May 2019

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 10376

Abstract

Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) are the most promising pathways to enhance the productivity and resilience of agricultural production of smallholder farming systems while conserving the natural resources. This study was undertaken to identify the barriers affecting sustainable agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers in [...] Read more.

Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) are the most promising pathways to enhance the productivity and resilience of agricultural production of smallholder farming systems while conserving the natural resources. This study was undertaken to identify the barriers affecting sustainable agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers in the eastern Free State, South Africa. Data were collected from 359 smallholder farmers using questionnaires and the validity of the collected data was confirmed through focus group discussions with key informants. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model were used to analyze data. Results indicated that traditional SAPs such as intercropping, mulching and crop rotation were more likely to be adopted by farmers with access to land yet without access to credit (and had low levels of education, although this finding was not significant). In contrast, new SAPs such as cover cropping, minimum-tillage, tied ridging and planting pits were more knowledge (education), capital and labor intensive. Therefore, extension strategies should take these differences into consideration when promoting both the adoption of traditional SAPs and new SAPs. Targeting resource-constrained farmers (in terms of access to credit and education) through raising awareness and building capacity is essential to ensure the adoption of traditional SAPs. In turn, promoting the adoption of new SAPs not only needs awareness raising and capacity building but also must fundamentally address resource constraints of South African smallholder farmers such as knowledge, capital and labor. It is recommended that government should provide resources and infrastructure to improve the quality and outreach of extension services through field demonstration trials and training. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Diversity)

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20 pages, 3592 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Role of the Sharing Economy for a Sustainable and Innovative Development of Rural Areas: A Case Study in Sardinia (Italy)

by Silvia Battino and Salvatore Lampreu

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3004; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113004 - 28 May 2019

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 7130

Abstract

Depopulation is a problem felt in many regions of the European Union, mainly affecting inland and rural areas. In many cases, these areas are characterized by economic, social, and infrastructural marginalization. Their rehabilitation is desirable in view of a better balance of social [...] Read more.

Depopulation is a problem felt in many regions of the European Union, mainly affecting inland and rural areas. In many cases, these areas are characterized by economic, social, and infrastructural marginalization. Their rehabilitation is desirable in view of a better balance of social and infrastructural management. This said, there are no proven solutions for depopulation that can be applied to all territories in the same way. On the contrary, if we examine progress in the fields of ITC and digitization, we can gather interesting suggestions on how to deal with this issue. This essay intends to analyze these aspects and to examine ways to strengthen, through programs and instruments of the sharing economy, the competitiveness and potential attraction of geographical areas considered marginal and that risk demographic collapse. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities, City Dashboards, Planning and Evaluation of Urban Performances)

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15 pages, 1628 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Ecological Criteria of Circular Growth and the Rebound Risk of Closed Loops

by Balint Horvath, Miriam Bahna and Csaba Fogarassy

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2961; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102961 - 24 May 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5271

Abstract

The implementation practices of the circular economy (CE) put a strong emphasis on preventing material losses in economic processes. The general interpretation of the concept focuses on closing technological and biological cycles by reintegrating end-of-life products into production and consumption systems. Thus, “closed [...] Read more.

The implementation practices of the circular economy (CE) put a strong emphasis on preventing material losses in economic processes. The general interpretation of the concept focuses on closing technological and biological cycles by reintegrating end-of-life products into production and consumption systems. Thus, “closed loops” have become a trademark of circular transition. However, this limited perception fails to cover the essence of the CE. Besides closure, the utility of material loops can be prolonged, and a conscious consumer attitude may even prevent the creation of unnecessary material flows. This paper aims at proving that the preference of closed loops would result in deadweight losses in the long run. The conducted analysis ranks EU member states according to the most anticipated material flow indicators. Then, the study presents a new methodology to measure circular efficiency based on the available ecological capacity of the countries. The outcomes show that the poorly performing actors are in fact not far from a sustainable operation. Meanwhile, the countries with the most efficient material flow values present the widest development gap to reach the ideal level of circularity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Circular Economy and Sustainable Strategies)

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14 pages, 1940 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Role of Large Dams in Promoting Economic Development under the Pressure of Population Growth

by Haiyun Shi, Ji Chen, Suning Liu and Bellie Sivakumar

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2965; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102965 - 24 May 2019

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 8742

Abstract

The close relationship between large dams and social development (i.e., water, food, and energy consumption) has been revealed in previous studies, and the vital role of large dams in sustaining societies has been recognized. With population projections indicating continued growth during this century, [...] Read more.

The close relationship between large dams and social development (i.e., water, food, and energy consumption) has been revealed in previous studies, and the vital role of large dams in sustaining societies has been recognized. With population projections indicating continued growth during this century, it is expected that further economic development of society, e.g., Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, will be greatly affected by possible challenges, such as water, food, and energy shortages in the future, especially if proper planning, development, and management strategies are not adopted. In our previous study, we have argued that construction of additional large dams will be considered as one of the best available options to meet future increases in water, food, and energy demands, which are all crucial to sustain economic development. In the present study, firstly, we will emphasize the vital role of dams in promoting economic growth through analyzing the relationship between large dam development and GDP growth at both global and national scales. Secondly, based on the projection results of future large dam development, we will preliminarily predict the future economic development represented by GDP. The results show that the impacts of large dams upon GDP are more significant in countries with higher levels of socioeconomic development, which generally supports large dams as the vital factor to promote economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Large-scale Water Projects, Socio-economic Development, and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2689 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Groundwater Recharge Potential for Sustainable Water Use in Urban Areas of the Jequitiba River Basin, Brazil

by Adriana Monteiro da Costa, Hugo Henrique Cardoso de Salis, João Hebert Moreira Viana and Fernando António Leal Pacheco

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2955; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102955 - 24 May 2019

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 5528

Abstract

The zoning of groundwater recharge potential would be attractive for water managers, but is lacking in many regions around the planet, including in the Jequitiba River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil. In this study, a physically based spatially distributed method to evaluate groundwater recharge [...] Read more.

The zoning of groundwater recharge potential would be attractive for water managers, but is lacking in many regions around the planet, including in the Jequitiba River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil. In this study, a physically based spatially distributed method to evaluate groundwater recharge potential at catchment scale was developed and tested in the aforementioned Jequitiba River basin. The data for the test was compiled from institutional sources and implemented in a Geographic Information System. It comprised meteorological, hydrometric, relief, land use, and soil data. The average results resembled the annual recharge calculated by a hydrograph method, which worked as validation method. The spatial variation of recharge highlighted the predominant contribution of flat areas, porous aquifers, and forested regions to groundwater recharge. They also exposed the negative effect of urbanization. In combination, these factors elected the following sectors of the Jequitiba River basin as regions of high recharge potential: the south-southeast part of the headwaters in Prudente de Morais; Sete Lagoas towards the central part of the basin; and the region between Funilândia and Jequitiba, near the Jequitiba river mouth. Some management practices were suggested to improve groundwater recharge. The map of groundwater recharge potential produced in this study is valuable and is therefore proposed as tool for planners in the sustainable use of groundwater and protection of recharge areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Soils and Water: the Role of Environmental Land Use Conflicts)

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15 pages, 4237 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Water-Saving Potential of Subsurface Drip Irrigation For Winter Wheat

by Muhammad Umair, Tabassum Hussain, Hanbing Jiang, Ayesha Ahmad, Jiawei Yao, Yongqing Qi, Yucui Zhang, Leilei Min and Yanjun Shen

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2978; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102978 - 24 May 2019

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 5993

Abstract

Groundwater plays a major role in agro-hydrological processes in the North China Plain (NCP). The NCP is facing a water deficit, due to a rapid decline in the water table because of the double cropping system. A two crop (maize and wheat) rotation [...] Read more.

Groundwater plays a major role in agro-hydrological processes in the North China Plain (NCP). The NCP is facing a water deficit, due to a rapid decline in the water table because of the double cropping system. A two crop (maize and wheat) rotation is required to balance the food supply and demand, which leads to an imbalance between evapotranspiration (ET) and precipitation. Thus, there has been a decline of about 1.35 m yr⁻¹ of groundwater (Luancheng Agroecosystem Experimental Station (LAES), NCP) during the last 10 years. Lysimeter experiments were conducted under different irrigation treatments (flood, surface drip, and subsurface drip) to account for ET in the selection of a suitable irrigation method. Subsurface drip irrigation reduced ET by 26% compared to flood irrigation, and 15% compared to surface drip irrigation, with significant grain yield and biomass formation due to decreased evaporation losses. Grain yield, yield components, and above ground biomass were similar in subsurface drip and flood irrigation. However, these biomass parameters were lower with surface drip irrigation. Furthermore, subsurface drip irrigation increased the crop water productivity (24.95%) and irrigation water productivity (19.59%) compared to flood irrigation. The subsurface irrigated plants showed an increase in net photosynthesis (~10%), higher intrinsic water use efficiency (~36%), lower transpiration rate (~22%), and saved 80 mm of water compared to flood irrigation. Our findings indicate that subsurface drip irrigation can be adopted in the NCP to increase water use efficiency, optimize grain yield, and minimize water loss in order to address scarcity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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30 pages, 7752 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Sustainable Transport Competitiveness Analysis of the China Railway Express in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative

by Shiqi Li, Maoxiang Lang, Xueqiao Yu, Mingyue Zhang, Minghe Jiang, Sangbing Tsai, Cheng-Kuang Wang and Fang Bian

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2896; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102896 - 22 May 2019

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 8457

Abstract

The implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative macro strategy has promoted exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe and countries along the route. The operation of the China Railway Express provides a new transportation platform for China–Europe trade. The sustainable development of [...] Read more.

The implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative macro strategy has promoted exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe and countries along the route. The operation of the China Railway Express provides a new transportation platform for China–Europe trade. The sustainable development of the China Railway Express has a great significance in terms of promoting the growth of China–Europe trade and meeting the demand for freight in Asia and Europe. Its time-saving advantage over shipping and its economic advantage over air transport cannot be ignored. This paper is based on the discrete selection model of stochastic utility theory. The paper constructs a multi-logit model based on generalized cost functions, including economics, timeliness, reliability, convenience, safety, and environmental protection. To calculate the market share of the China Railway Express and China–Europe Shipping, the paper conducts a quantitative analysis of the market competitiveness of the China Railway Express. Then, the sensitivity analysis and elastic analysis are carried out on the China Railway Express freight rate, the Chinese road freight rate, the China Railway Express service fee, the China Railway Express travelling speed, the China Railway Express sending operation time at the departure station, the China Railway Express transportation time error, the China Railway Express transportation frequency, and the China Railway Express carbon emissions per unit. Finally, based on the analysis results, suggestions for promoting the sustainable development of the China Railway Express are given. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable High Volume Road and Rail Transport in Developed and Developing Countries)

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16 pages, 3881 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Recycling of Communal Waste: Current State and Future Potential for Sustainable Development in the EU

by Marcela Taušová, Eva Mihaliková, Katarína Čulková, Beáta Stehlíková, Peter Tauš, Dušan Kudelas and Ľubomír Štrba

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2904; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102904 - 22 May 2019

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 6360

Abstract

The constant consumption of resources exerts pressure on the environment. In this sense, waste management has obtained increasing attention from the view of a circular economy. The European Union deals with these mentioned aspects, trying maintain long-term competitiveness and to provide sustainable development [...] Read more.

The constant consumption of resources exerts pressure on the environment. In this sense, waste management has obtained increasing attention from the view of a circular economy. The European Union deals with these mentioned aspects, trying maintain long-term competitiveness and to provide sustainable development in accordance with all related environmental aspects. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the production of communal waste in 36 EU countries. The main aim is to evaluate the success of countries’ efforts to decrease waste production and increase recycling rates. The methodology used for the evaluation included data collected from the publicly available database Eurostat, consequent analyses and evaluation in the statistical software JMP 13 through regression, distribution, and cluster analysis, and the interpretation of the results. The results of the cluster analysis showed that despite clear EU waste management legislation, EU member states have significantly different waste management systems at the national level. However, generally, we could see positive correlation between the generation of waste and recycling rates. Although, Malta, Austria, Greece, and Norway recorded a decreasing level of waste recycling over the last several years, some countries (Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania) had significantly lower recycling rates accompanied by low landfill taxes. The evaluation of waste production and recycling can be used for government policy in the area of waste management, as well as for individual communities dealing with communal waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management and Application of the Principles of the Circular Economy)

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22 pages, 2372 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Agroforestry and Biodiversity

by Ranjith P. Udawatta, Lalith Rankoth and Shibu Jose

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2879; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102879 - 21 May 2019

Cited by 122 | Viewed by 19052

Abstract

Declining biodiversity (BD) is aecting food security, agricultural sustainability,
and environmental quality. Agroforestry (AF) is recognized as a possible partial solution for
BD conservation and improvement. This manuscript uses published peer-reviewed manuscripts,
reviews, meta-analysis, and federal and state agency documents to evaluate relationships [...] Read more.

Declining biodiversity (BD) is aecting food security, agricultural sustainability,
and environmental quality. Agroforestry (AF) is recognized as a possible partial solution for
BD conservation and improvement. This manuscript uses published peer-reviewed manuscripts,
reviews, meta-analysis, and federal and state agency documents to evaluate relationships between
AF and BD and how AF can be used to conserve BD. The review revealed that floral, faunal, and soil
microbial diversity were significantly greater in AF as compared to monocropping, adjacent crop
lands, and within crop alleys and some forests. Among the soil organisms, arbuscular mycorrhizae
fungi (AMF), bacteria, and enzyme activities were significantly greater in AF than crop and livestock
practices. Agroforestry also creates spatially concentrated high-density BD near trees due to favorable
soil-plant-water-microclimate conditions. The greater BD was attributed to heterogeneous vegetation,
organic carbon, microclimate, soil conditions, and spatial distribution of trees. Dierences in BD
between AF and other management types diminished with time. Evenly distributed leaves, litter,
roots, dead/live biological material, and microclimate improve soil and microclimate in adjacent
crop and pasture areas as the system matures. Results of the study prove that integration of AF
can improve BD in agricultural lands. Selection of site suitable tree/shrub/grass-crop combinations
can be used to help address soil nutrient deficiencies or environmental conditions. Future studies
with standardized management protocols may be needed for all regions to further strengthen these
findings and to develop AF establishment criteria for BD conservation and agricultural sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agroforestry Systems)

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14 pages, 1851 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Artificial Light Treatments on Growth, Mineral Composition, Physiology, and Pigment Concentration in Dieffenbachia maculata “Compacta” Plants

by Pedro García-Caparrós, Eva María Almansa, Rosa María Chica and María Teresa Lao

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2867; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102867 - 20 May 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3509

Abstract

Specific wavebands may allow precise control of plant growth. However, light sources must be carefully evaluated before the large-scale use of supplemental light sources can be implemented. Dieffenbachia maculata “Compacta” plants were grown for 8 weeks in pots in a growth chamber under [...] Read more.

Specific wavebands may allow precise control of plant growth. However, light sources must be carefully evaluated before the large-scale use of supplemental light sources can be implemented. Dieffenbachia maculata “Compacta” plants were grown for 8 weeks in pots in a growth chamber under tightly controlled temperature and humidity in order to assess the effects of supplemental light. Three treatments were applied: (i) using 18-W fluorescent bulbs (T1), (ii) using the same bulbs with supplemental light emitting diodes (LEDs) (Pure Blue and Pure Red Mix-Light-Emitting Diodes (BR-LEDs)) (T2), and (iii) using high-efficiency TL5 fluorescents (T3). Plant biomass, mineral composition, and physiological and photosynthetic parameters were assessed under each light treatment. Total plant dry weight was highest in plants grown under treatments T1 and T3. Other differences were observed between different light treatments, including variation in biomass partitioning as well as N and K concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves. Further, proline and indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) levels were higher in plants grown under the T1 treatment, whereas total soluble sugars and starch were higher in plants grown under treatment T3. Plants grown under treatment T1 had the lowest chlorophyll concentrations. No differences were observed in organ water content and P concentration. T2 was not the best treatment, as expected. The model proposed a linear regression between integrated use of spectral energy (IUSE) and total dry weight (TDW), which showed a good relationship with an R² value of 0.83. Therefore, we recommend this methodology to discern the effects of the different spectral qualities on plant biomass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lighting at the Frontiers of Sustainable Development)

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20 pages, 3395 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Research on Land Use Changes and Ecological Risk Assessment in Yongjiang River Basin in Zhejiang Province, China

by Peng Tian, Jialin Li, Hongbo Gong, Ruiliang Pu, Luodan Cao, Shuyao Shao, Zuoqi Shi, Xiuli Feng, Lijia Wang and Riuqing Liu

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2817; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102817 - 17 May 2019

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 3668

Abstract

Studying land use changes and ecological risk assessment in Yongjiang River Basin in Zhejiang Province, China, provides theoretical references for optimal configuration of land resources and maintaining stability of ecosystems. Given impacts of land use changes on landscape patterns in the Yongjiang River [...] Read more.

Studying land use changes and ecological risk assessment in Yongjiang River Basin in Zhejiang Province, China, provides theoretical references for optimal configuration of land resources and maintaining stability of ecosystems. Given impacts of land use changes on landscape patterns in the Yongjiang River Basin, ecological risk assessment indexes were constructed and used to analyze temporal and spatial variation characteristics of ecological risk within different periods. Results show that (1) the construction land area was increased quickly, while the cultivated area decreased sharply. A prominent characteristic of land use changes was manifested by transforming cultivated area and forestland into construction land. The utilized degree of the land increased continuously. Spatially, the land utilized degree in northern regions was higher than that in southern regions and the degree in eastern regions was higher than that in western regions. (2) The ecological risk in the Yongjiang River Basin was intensified and the area of high ecological risk was expanded by 893.96 km². Regions with low and relatively low ecological risks concentrated in western and southern regions of the Basin, whereas regions with high ecological risks were mainly in northern and eastern regions. Landscapes in cities and towns at a high economic development level are highly sensitive to human activities. (3) Transformation of ecological risk is complicated. Land area with the ecological risk changing from a low level to a high level was 4.15 times that with the ecological risk changing from a high level to a low level. There were 15 transformation directions among different ecological risk regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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11 pages, 2899 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Tillage, Cover Crop and Crop Rotation Effects on Selected Soil Chemical Properties

by Samuel I. Haruna and Nsalambi V. Nkongolo

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2770; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102770 - 15 May 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5026

Abstract

Research results still vary, especially between locations, on the effects of agricultural practices on soil chemical properties and crop yield, and not all reasons for the variation are fully understood. Thus, this study investigated the influence of tillage, cover crop and crop rotation [...] Read more.

Research results still vary, especially between locations, on the effects of agricultural practices on soil chemical properties and crop yield, and not all reasons for the variation are fully understood. Thus, this study investigated the influence of tillage, cover crop and crop rotation management practices on selected soil chemical properties. The study was conducted on a silt-loam soil in central Missouri during the 2011 to 2013 growing seasons. The soil was managed by moldboard plow tillage at two levels (tillage [till] vs. no-tillage [NT]). Cover crop management included cereal rye (Secale cereale) at two levels (cover crop [CC] vs. no cover crop [NC]). The main crops that were grown were a corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation. The soil samples were collected each year at 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm depths for the analysis of soil chemical properties. The results showed that after 3 years of study, the relative increase in percent soil organic matter (OM) was 4% under the no-till management as compared with moldboard plow tillage. In addition, the relative change in the percentage of OM was 8% greater in the CC management compared with NC. Furthermore, the results show a significant improvement (p = 0.0304) in total carbon with a combination of no-till management and a corn/soybean rotation as compared with continuous corn and soybean. The interaction effects of the management practices on the soil chemical properties were difficult to predict throughout the study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 431 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Air Quality Strategies and Technologies: A Rapid Review of the International Evidence

by Sarah Quarmby, Georgina Santos and Megan Mathias

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2757; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102757 - 14 May 2019

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 8450

Abstract

Poor air quality is a pressing policy issue that spans public health and environmental portfolios, and governments worldwide are investing in a wide array of measures to address it. This paper is a rapid review of the evidence behind air quality strategies and [...] Read more.

Poor air quality is a pressing policy issue that spans public health and environmental portfolios, and governments worldwide are investing in a wide array of measures to address it. This paper is a rapid review of the evidence behind air quality strategies and technologies. It was conducted according to the principles of a systematic review, and includes both academic and “grey” literature sources. It focuses on road transport in urban areas, because air pollution tends to be worse in cities, and the main source is fossil fuel vehicles. It draws on the environmental science and policy literature to provide interdisciplinary insight into the most effective air quality policy measures. The most promising initiatives include active travel infrastructure, roadside barriers, low emission zones, and low speed limits. Technologies which remove pollution from the air largely remain unproven, especially at the scale needed to make a significant impact. The combinations of policies from three cities which rank highly for air quality are reviewed; one important finding is that policies are most effective when they are a part of a mutually reinforcing suite of measures. Policies consistent across the cities studied are good public transport coverage, a good cycle network, and financial incentives for electric vehicle purchase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cities: Challenges and Potential Solutions)

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27 pages, 10897 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

A Scientometrics Review on City Logistics Literature: Research Trends, Advanced Theory and Practice

by Wanjie Hu, Jianjun Dong, Bon-gang Hwang, Rui Ren and Zhilong Chen

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2724; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102724 - 14 May 2019

Cited by 77 | Viewed by 8749

Abstract

The contradiction between the contribution of city logistics (CL) to sustainable urban development and its negative externalities is increasingly prominent. Policy supervision measures and the green logistics initiative are also in conflict with the management goal of logistics enterprises. Innovative solutions for CL [...] Read more.

The contradiction between the contribution of city logistics (CL) to sustainable urban development and its negative externalities is increasingly prominent. Policy supervision measures and the green logistics initiative are also in conflict with the management goal of logistics enterprises. Innovative solutions for CL have attracted increasing research attention worldwide. However, the description of the global research network in the field of CL, research trends, and the discussion of advanced theories and practices have not been systematically reviewed so far. Especially in the past three years, there has been an explosive growth of relevant literature. In this paper, the method of combining scientometric analysis and thematic discussion was adopted to systematically review 513 important works in the literature from 1993 to 2018, aiming to provide a holistic understanding of the status in quo, trends and gaps of CL research, and to further analyze prominent problems. The study has made statistical analyses of the publication year profile, journal allocation and research methods of the included literature, and constructed four kinds of visualized bibliographic information timeline maps for the authorship network, international collaboration network, keywords co-occurrence network and research topic clustering. Then, the three themes summarized by clustering are discussed, mainly focusing on CL strategies and policy, green supply chain management, planning methods, and advanced concepts and practices. Finally, the research gaps framework and agenda were reported. This study contributes to summarizing the research and development of city logistics on the whole, and can also serve as an explorative manual to support sustainable urban freight activities and innovative research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable City Logistics and Innovation)

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15 pages, 2847 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Attitude towards Bike Use in Rende, a Small Town in South Italy

by Demetrio Carmine Festa and Carmen Forciniti

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2703; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092703 - 13 May 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3874

Abstract

The bike can contribute to the development of sustainable mobility. This requires interventions to promote bike use, such as increasing the cyclist safety, construction of bikeways, and provision of ancillary services and bike sharing activities. In the literature many studies focus on bike [...] Read more.

The bike can contribute to the development of sustainable mobility. This requires interventions to promote bike use, such as increasing the cyclist safety, construction of bikeways, and provision of ancillary services and bike sharing activities. In the literature many studies focus on bike use and agree with the application of such interventions. However, these studies are often related to specific urban areas that are very different; the transferability of results and models has not been adequately analyzed. This work investigates the attitudes towards cycling in Rende, a small town in Southern Italy. The aim is to determine in what conditions the users would be willing to use bicycles in relation to the trip purpose, the presence or absence of cycle paths, and the availability of bike sharing services. Different factors, such as age, gender, and occupation, are taken into account. The results show that the bike use could be incentivized by enlarging the existent bike network, adopting bike sharing systems, and promoting specific policies oriented to sustainable transport modes. Furthermore, two aspects emerged from the analysis: the importance of studying the propensity to use bikes by different groups of users and the importance of focusing interventions on market segments with greater willingness to bike. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

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11 pages, 241 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Incorporating Forests, Agriculture, and Energy Consumption in the Framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve: A Dynamic Panel Data Approach

by Rajan Parajuli, Omkar Joshi and Tek Maraseni

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2688; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092688 - 11 May 2019

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 4865

Abstract

Based on country-specific panel data from 1990–2014 for 86 different countries, we quantify the effects of forests and agricultural land in CO₂ emissions, using the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). The results from the dynamic panel data method reveal that [...] Read more.

Based on country-specific panel data from 1990–2014 for 86 different countries, we quantify the effects of forests and agricultural land in CO₂ emissions, using the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). The results from the dynamic panel data method reveal that forests are an important determinant in reducing CO₂ emissions globally, but the effects vary by region. All else constant, we estimate a 0.11% decline in CO₂ emissions per 1% increase in the forest area globally. However, the agricultural sector is found to be a true CO₂ emitter. Our study provides additional empirical evidence for the roles of forests in regulating atmospheric CO₂, further reinforcing the importance of forests in global climate change policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Landscape, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity: New Challenges for Sustainable Development)

15 pages, 1713 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Estimation of CO₂ Emissions of Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle and Battery Electric Vehicle Using LCA

by Ryuji Kawamoto, Hideo Mochizuki, Yoshihisa Moriguchi, Takahiro Nakano, Masayuki Motohashi, Yuji Sakai and Atsushi Inaba

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2690; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092690 - 11 May 2019

Cited by 189 | Viewed by 59072

Abstract

In order to reduce vehicle emitted greenhouse gases (GHGs) on a global scale, the scope of consideration should be expanded to include the manufacturing, fuel extraction, refinement, power generation, and end-of-life phases of a vehicle, in addition to the actual operational phase. In [...] Read more.

In order to reduce vehicle emitted greenhouse gases (GHGs) on a global scale, the scope of consideration should be expanded to include the manufacturing, fuel extraction, refinement, power generation, and end-of-life phases of a vehicle, in addition to the actual operational phase. In this paper, the CO₂ emissions of conventional gasoline and diesel internal combustion engine vehicles (ICV) were compared with mainstream alternative powertrain technologies, namely battery electric vehicles (BEV), using life-cycle assessment (LCA). In most of the current studies, CO₂ emissions were calculated assuming that the region where the vehicles were used, the lifetime driving distance in that region and the CO₂ emission from the battery production were fixed. However, in this paper, the life cycle CO₂ emissions in each region were calculated taking into consideration the vehicle’s lifetime driving distance in each region and the deviations in CO₂ emissions for battery production. For this paper, the US, European Union (EU), Japan, China, and Australia were selected as the reference regions for vehicle operation. The calculated results showed that CO₂ emission from the assembly of BEV was larger than that of ICV due to the added CO₂ emissions from battery production. However, in regions where renewable energy sources and low CO₂ emitting forms of electric power generation are widely used, as vehicle lifetime driving distance increase, the total operating CO₂ emissions of BEV become less than that of ICV. But for BEV, the CO₂ emissions for replacing the battery with a new one should be added when the lifetime driving distance is over 160,000 km. Moreover, it was shown that the life cycle CO₂ emission of ICV was apt to be smaller than that of BEV when the CO₂ emissions for battery production were very large. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Life Cycle Assessment)

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20 pages, 2894 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Understanding Consumer E-Waste Recycling Behavior: Introducing a New Economic Incentive to Increase the Collection Rates

by Tetiana Shevchenko, Kirsi Laitala and Yuriy Danko

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2656; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092656 - 9 May 2019

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 18106

Abstract

Consumer electronics are made of a wide range of materials, including precious metals and critical minerals with limited global reserves. Ensuring the recycling of these materials is essential for future use, especially since many renewable energy solutions are based on them. In addition, [...] Read more.

Consumer electronics are made of a wide range of materials, including precious metals and critical minerals with limited global reserves. Ensuring the recycling of these materials is essential for future use, especially since many renewable energy solutions are based on them. In addition, improper end-of-life treatments of these products cause harm to the environment and human health. This study explores the incentives that have been used to increase consumer collection rates for end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment (EoL EEE). Based on extensive global literature reviews, we propose an alternative to existing consumer incentives. The research suggests that implementing an economic incentive based on the electronic bonus card system (EBCS) has several benefits compared to existing incentives. It compensates the consumers for the transaction costs of proper collection and satisfies the consumer perception of EoL EEE as having a residual value. However, application of the EBCS motivation technology will require the cooperation of various stakeholders, including electronics producers and national and international authorities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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16 pages, 5722 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluating the Effects of Human Activity over the Last Decades on the Soil Organic Carbon Pool Using Satellite Imagery and GIS Techniques in the Nile Delta Area, Egypt

by Elsayed Said Mohamed, Mohamed Abu-hashim, Mohamed A. E. AbdelRahman, Brigitta Schütt and Rosa Lasaponara

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2644; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092644 - 8 May 2019

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4503

Abstract

The study aims to clarify the relationship between soil organic carbon (SOC) and human activity under arid conditions, in the east area of the Nile Delta, Egypt. SOC is one of the critical factors in food production and plays an important role in [...] Read more.

The study aims to clarify the relationship between soil organic carbon (SOC) and human activity under arid conditions, in the east area of the Nile Delta, Egypt. SOC is one of the critical factors in food production and plays an important role in the climate change because it affects the physio-chemical soil characteristics, plant growth, and contributes to sustainable development on global levels. For the purpose of our investigations, 120 soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected throughout different land uses and soil types of the study area. Multiple linear regressions (MLR) were used to investigate the spatiotemporal relationship of SOC, soil characteristics, and environmental factors. Remote sensing data acquired from Landsat 5 TM in July 1995 and operational land imager (OLI) in July 2018 were used to model SOC pool. The results revealed significant variations of soil organic carbon pool (SOCP) among different soil textures and land-uses. Soil with high clay content revealed an increase in the percentage of soil organic carbon, and had mean SOCP of 6.08 ± 1.91 Mg C ha⁻¹, followed by clay loams and loamy soils. The higher values of SOCP were observed in the northern regions of the study area. The phenomenon is associated with the expansion of the human activity of initiating fish ponds that reflected higher values of SOC that were related to the organic additions used as nutrients for fish. Nevertheless, the SOC values decreased in southeast of the study area with the decrease of soil moisture contents and the increase in the heavy texture profiles. As a whole, our findings pointed out that the human factor has had a significant impact on the variation of soil organic carbon values in the Eastern Nile Delta from 1995 to 2018. As land use changes from agricultural activity to fish ponds, the SOCP significantly increased. The agriculture land-use revealed higher SOCP with 60.77 Mg C ha⁻¹ in clay soils followed by fish ponds with 53.43 Mg C ha⁻¹. The results also showed a decrease in SOCP values due to an increasing in land surface temperature (LST) thus highlighting that influence of temperature and ambient soil conditions linked to land-use changes have a marked impact on surface SOCP and C sequestration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities, City Dashboards, Planning and Evaluation of Urban Performances)

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22 pages, 11732 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Clustering-Based Modified Ant Colony Optimizer for Internet of Vehicles (CACOIOV)

by Sahar Ebadinezhad, Ziya Dereboylu and Enver Ever

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2624; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092624 - 7 May 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4527

Abstract

The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) has recently become an emerging promising field of research due to the increasing number of vehicles each day. IoV is vehicle communications, which is also a part of the Internet of Things (IoT). Continuous topological changes of vehicular [...] Read more.

The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) has recently become an emerging promising field of research due to the increasing number of vehicles each day. IoV is vehicle communications, which is also a part of the Internet of Things (IoT). Continuous topological changes of vehicular communications are a significant issue in IoV that can affect the change in network scalability, and the shortest routing path. Therefore, organizing efficient and reliable intercommunication routes between vehicular nodes, based on conditions of traffic density is an increasingly challenging issue. For such issues, clustering is one of the solutions, among other routing protocols, such as geocast, topology, and position-based routing. This paper focuses mainly on the scalability and the stability of the topology of IoV. In this study, a novel intelligent system-based algorithm is proposed (CACOIOV), which stabilizes topology by using a metaheuristic clustering algorithm based on the enhancement of Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) in two distinct stages for packet route optimization. Another algorithm, called mobility Dynamic Aware Transmission Range on Local traffic Density (DA-TRLD), is employed together with CACOIOV for the adaptation of transmission range regarding of density in local traffic. The results presented through NS-2 simulations show that the new protocol is superior to both Ad hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing and (ACO) protocols based on evaluating routing performance in terms of throughput, packet delivery, and drop ratio, cluster numbers, and average end-to-end delay. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility for Future Cities)

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15 pages, 15209 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Direct Power Control of Matrix Converter-Fed DFIG with Fixed Switching Frequency

by Arzhang Yousefi-Talouki, Shaghayegh Zalzar and Edris Pouresmaeil

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2604; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092604 - 6 May 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3261

Abstract

In this paper, a direct power control (DPC) technique is proposed for matrix converter-fed grid-connected doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs). In contrast to what has been investigated in the past for direct torque control (DTC) or DPC of matrix converter-fed DFIGs, the active [...] Read more.

In this paper, a direct power control (DPC) technique is proposed for matrix converter-fed grid-connected doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs). In contrast to what has been investigated in the past for direct torque control (DTC) or DPC of matrix converter-fed DFIGs, the active and reactive powers are regulated in a fixed switching frequency using indirect space vector modulation (ISVM) technique. Hence, designing input filters for matrix converters (MCs) becomes convenient. In addition, the reactive component of input side of MC is controlled which leads to reduction of distortion in grid current waveform. Also, an extensive discussion is addressed for nonlinear voltage errors of MC that may cause inaccurate power control. Simulation results done in MATLAB/Simulink show the effectiveness of the proposed method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Power Electronics for Renewable Energy Systems)

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17 pages, 1033 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Selection Criteria for Drought-Tolerant Bread Wheat Genotypes at Seedling Stage

by Hafiz Ghulam Muhu-Din Ahmed, Muhammad Sajjad, Mingju Li, Muhammad Abubakkar Azmat, Muhammad Rizwan, Rana Haroon Maqsood and Sultan Habibullah Khan

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2584; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092584 - 5 May 2019

Cited by 77 | Viewed by 6403

Abstract

Diminishing water resources as a result of excessive use of water for irrigation and climate change posture a severe global threat to food security. Herein, an experiment was conducted to determine the selection criteria for drought-tolerant bread wheat genotypes at the seedling stage [...] Read more.

Diminishing water resources as a result of excessive use of water for irrigation and climate change posture a severe global threat to food security. Herein, an experiment was conducted to determine the selection criteria for drought-tolerant bread wheat genotypes at the seedling stage using morphological and photosynthetic pigmentation-related traits. A panel of 105 wheat landraces, historical Pakistani varieties, and advance breeding lines were evaluated under normal and drought stress using factorial completely randomized design. The root length, fresh weight, dry weight, cell membrane thermo-stability, and chlorophyll b were positively correlated among themselves under both normal and stress conditions. Hence, selection of any one of these traits enhances the performance of other traits. The shoot length was non-significant and negatively associated with all other studied characters except relative water content. The results suggested that selection for shoot length could not improve genetic gain for drought tolerance. Out of 10 principal components (PCs), the first three PCs were showed significant genetic variation under both conditions. The first three PCs showed 74.6% and 76% cumulative genetic variation under normal and drought conditions, respectively. Based on PCA, 10 drought-tolerant and five drought-susceptible genotypes were identified. Overall results suggested that selection for root length, fresh weight, dry weight, cell membrane thermo-stability, and chlorophyll b at the seedling stage would improve genetic gain for drought tolerance. The outperforming genotypes under drought stress conditions can be useful in future wheat breeding programs, and early selection for the traits recommended in this study will be effective for developing high-yielding and drought-tolerant wheat varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Crop Production Systems)

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18 pages, 5821 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Extreme Weather Events in Agriculture: A Systematic Review

by Alessia Cogato, Franco Meggio, Massimiliano De Antoni Migliorati and Francesco Marinello

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2547; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092547 - 2 May 2019

Cited by 98 | Viewed by 11982

Abstract

Despite the increase of publications focusing on the consequences of extreme weather events (EWE) for the agricultural sector, a specific review of EWE related to agriculture is missing. This work aimed at assessing the interrelation between EWE and agriculture through a systematic quantitative [...] Read more.

Despite the increase of publications focusing on the consequences of extreme weather events (EWE) for the agricultural sector, a specific review of EWE related to agriculture is missing. This work aimed at assessing the interrelation between EWE and agriculture through a systematic quantitative review of current scientific literature. The review analysed 19 major cropping systems (cereals, legumes, viticulture, horticulture and pastures) across five continents. Documents were extracted from the Scopus database and examined with a text mining tool to appraise the trend of publications across the years, the specific EWE-related issues examined and the research gaps addressed. The results highlighted that food security and economic losses due to the EWE represent a major interest of the scientific community. Implementation of remote sensing and imagery techniques for monitoring and detecting the effects of EWE is still underdeveloped. Large research gaps still lie in the areas concerning the effects of EWE on major cash crops (grapevine and tomato) and the agronomic dynamics of EWE in developing countries. Current knowledge on the physiological dynamics regulating the responses of main crops to EWE appears to be well established, while more research is urgently needed in the fields of mitigation measures and governance systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Impact Events and Climate Change)

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14 pages, 2103 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Life Cycle Assessment of a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Electric Vehicle Battery in Second Life Application Scenarios

by Christos S. Ioakimidis, Alberto Murillo-Marrodán, Ali Bagheri, Dimitrios Thomas and Konstantinos N. Genikomsakis

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2527; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092527 - 1 May 2019

Cited by 68 | Viewed by 12147

Abstract

This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) study that examines a number of scenarios that complement the primary use phase of electric vehicle (EV) batteries with a secondary application in smart buildings in Spain, as a means of extending their useful life [...] Read more.

This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) study that examines a number of scenarios that complement the primary use phase of electric vehicle (EV) batteries with a secondary application in smart buildings in Spain, as a means of extending their useful life under less demanding conditions, when they no longer meet the requirements for automotive purposes. Specifically, it considers a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery to analyze four second life application scenarios by combining the following cases: (i) either reuse of the EV battery or manufacturing of a new battery as energy storage unit in the building; and (ii) either use of the Spanish electricity mix or energy supply by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Based on the Eco-indicator 99 and IPCC 2007 GWP 20a methods, the evaluation of the scenario results shows that there is significant environmental benefit from reusing the existing EV battery in the secondary application instead of manufacturing a new battery to be used for the same purpose and time frame. Moreover, the findings of this work exemplify the dependence of the results on the energy source in the smart building application, and thus highlight the importance of PVs on the reduction of the environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Urban Energy Management and Sustainable Transportation)

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12 pages, 2459 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Energy Consumption at Size Reduction of Lignocellulose Biomass for Bioenergy

by Georgiana Moiceanu, Gigel Paraschiv, Gheorghe Voicu, Mirela Dinca, Olivia Negoita, Mihai Chitoiu and Paula Tudor

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2477; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092477 - 27 Apr 2019

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 5010

Abstract

In order to obtain bioenergy (biogas, biofuel) or pellets, different types of lignocellulosic biomass are subjected to a mechanical pretreatment, first by size reduction, then by separating, and ultimately by fracturing or bio-refining. Biomass processing mainly refers to a grinding process that occurs [...] Read more.

In order to obtain bioenergy (biogas, biofuel) or pellets, different types of lignocellulosic biomass are subjected to a mechanical pretreatment, first by size reduction, then by separating, and ultimately by fracturing or bio-refining. Biomass processing mainly refers to a grinding process that occurs until reaching certain limits. The size reduction process, such as grinding, is an operation that is executed with different levels of energy consumption, considering biomass mechanical characteristics and the necessary grinding level. This paper, illustrates a comparative analysis of experimental results obtained by grinding multiple types of vegetal biomass (Miscanthus, corn stalks, alfalfa, willow) used in the process of bio-refining and bio-fracturing. Experiments were realized using both a laboratory knife mill Grindomix GM200 (Retsch GmbH, Haan, Germany), and a 22 kW articulated hammer mill, using different grinding system speeds and different hammer mill sieves. Results have shown that biomass mechanical pre-processing grinding leads to supplementary costs in the overall process through bio-refining or bio-fracturing in order to obtain bio-products or bio-energy. So, specific energy consumption for grinding using a hammer mill can reach 50–65 kJ/kg for harvested Miscanthus biomass, and 35–50 kJ/kg for dried energetic willow, using a 10 mm orifice sieve, values which increase processing costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Renewable Energy from Biomass)

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