Approaching Industrial Symbiosis Through Agent-Based Modeling and System Dynamics

open3noSustainable industrial systems are complex, since they exhibit both detail and dynamic complexity. Only an integrated approach is able to provide a realistic view of such complex systems providing a useful insight of their behaviour. In this paper, a hybrid approach based on Agent Based Modeling (ABM) and System Dynamics (SD) is presented in order to improve modelling insight of an industrial symbiosis (IS) context. Hybrid approaches have gained prominence overpassing limitations of traditional methodologies and tools, as well as computational advances that permit better modelling and analysis of complex systems with a particular focus on sustainability topics exploiting the strengths of both ABM and SD models, while minimizing the drawbacks. Therefore, to provide a methodological proof, an application of the proposed hybrid approach to an industrial symbiosis relevant case is presented and discussed. The methodological approach adopted in this research can be used to investigate a variety of industrial symbiosis cases providing insights usually not achievable with standard techniques and tools.openDemartini M.; Tonelli F.; Bertani F.Demartini, M.; Tonelli, F.; Bertani, F

Efficacy of landfill tax and subsidy policies for the emergence of industrial symbiosis networks: An agent-based simulation study

Despite the theoretical value of industrial symbiosis (IS), this approach appears to be underdeveloped in terms of practical applications. Different attempts to stimulate IS in practice are noticed, one of them consisting in the application of adequate policy measures. This paper explores the efficacy of two specific policies (landfill tax and economic subsidy for IS exchanges) in supporting the emergence of self-organized industrial symbiosis networks (ISNs). We frame the ISNs as complex adaptive systems and we design an agent-based model to simulate their emergence. We use a real case study and, by means of the simulation model, we assess how the two policy measures are able to enhance the formation of spontaneous IS relationships, thereby forcing the emergence of the ISN. Results show that both policy measures have a positive effect in all scenarios considered, but the extent is strictly dependent on the environmental conditions in which IS relationships occur. The economic implications for the government are finally discussed

The Industrial Symbiosis Research Symposium at Yale: Advancing the Study of Industry and Environment

Industrial symbiosis (IS), a sub-field of industrial ecology, is principally concerned with the cooperative management of resource flows through networks of businesses as a means of approaching ecologically sustainable industrial activity. Isolated researchers in a broad range of disciplines have investigated industrial symbiosis from a variety of starting points without a common agenda. The Industrial Symbiosis Research Symposium was held in January 2004 at Yale University, bringing together more than 30 experts from 15 countries to discuss critical questions and issues in this emerging area.The purpose of the Symposium was to give researchers an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience on the state of research, to determine areas of possible cross-fertilization among disciplines, and to establish research priorities. The Industrial Symbiosis Research Symposium at Yale: Advancing the Study of Industry and Environment is a report on the first global research conference in this area

An investigation into modelling approaches for industrial symbiosis: a literature review

The aim of this paper is to understand how to model industrial symbiosis networks in order to favour its implementation and provide a framework to guide companies and policy makers towards it. Industrial symbiosis is a clear example of complex adaptive systems and traditional approaches (i.e., Input/Output analysis, Material flow analysis) are not capable to capture these dynamics behaviours. Therefore, the aim of this literature review is to investigate: i) the most used modelling and simulation approaches to analyse industrial symbiosis and ii) their characteristics in terms of simulation methods, interaction mechanisms and simulations software. Findings from our research suggest that a hybrid modelling and simulation approach, based on agent-based and system dynamics, could be an appropriate method for industrial symbiosis analysis and design

Manufacturing Value Modelling, Flexibility, and Sustainability: from theoretical definition to empirical validation

The aim of this PhD thesis is to investigate the relevance of flexibility and sustainability within the smart manufacturing environment and understand if they could be adopted as emerging competitive dimensions and help firms to take decisions and delivering value

A macroscopic analytical model of collaboration in distributed robotic systems

In this article, we present a macroscopic analytical model of collaboration in a group of reactive robots. The model consists of a series of coupled differential equations that describe the dynamics of group behavior. After presenting the general model, we analyze in detail a case study of collaboration, the stick-pulling experiment, studied experimentally and in simulation by Ijspeert et al. [Autonomous Robots, 11, 149-171]. The robots' task is to pull sticks out of their holes, and it can be successfully achieved only through the collaboration of two robots. There is no explicit communication or coordination between the robots. Unlike microscopic simulations (sensor-based or using a probabilistic numerical model), in which computational time scales with the robot group size, the macroscopic model is computationally efficient, because its solutions are independent of robot group size. Analysis reproduces several qualitative conclusions of Ijspeert et al.: namely, the different dynamical regimes for different values of the ratio of robots to sticks, the existence of optimal control parameters that maximize system performance as a function of group size, and the transition from superlinear to sublinear performance as the number of robots is increased

The resource efficiency in sustainable production system: Monitoring consumptions, reducing waste, and reusing them as raw materials

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