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Indicator based multi-criteria decision support systems for wastewater treatment plants
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Data will be made available on request.Wastewater treatment plant decision makers face stricter regulations regarding human health protection, environmental preservation, and emissions reduction, meaning they must improve process sustainability and circularity, whilst maintaining economic performance. This creates complex multi-objective problems when operating and selecting technologies to meet these demands, resulting in the development of many decision support systems for the water sector. European Commission publications highlight their ambition for greater levels of sustainability, circularity, and environmental and human health protection, which decision support system implementation should align with to be successful in this region. Following the review of 57 wastewater treatment plant decision support systems, the main function of multi-criteria decision-making tools are technology selection and the optimisation of process operation. A large contrast regarding their aims is found, as process optimisation tools clearly define their goals and indicators used, whilst technology selection procedures often use vague language making it difficult for decision makers to connect selected indicators and resultant outcomes. Several recommendations are made to improve decision support system usage, such as more rigorous indicator selection protocols including participatory selection approaches and expansion of indicators sets, as well as more structured investigation of results including the use of sensitivity or uncertainty analysis, and error quantification.Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme DEEP PURPLE. The H2020 DEEP PURPLE project has received funding from the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 837998. The JU receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Bio-based Industries Consortium
Natural and Technological Hazards in Urban Areas
Natural hazard events and technological accidents are separate causes of environmental impacts. Natural hazards are physical phenomena active in geological times, whereas technological hazards result from actions or facilities created by humans. In our time, combined natural and man-made hazards have been induced. Overpopulation and urban development in areas prone to natural hazards increase the impact of natural disasters worldwide. Additionally, urban areas are frequently characterized by intense industrial activity and rapid, poorly planned growth that threatens the environment and degrades the quality of life. Therefore, proper urban planning is crucial to minimize fatalities and reduce the environmental and economic impacts that accompany both natural and technological hazardous events
Multicriteria Decision Making in Sustainable Tourism and Low-Carbon Tourism Research: A Systematic Literature Review
Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) is increasingly being utilized as an analytical research tool for sectors that require decision-making with specific objectives and constraints, such as the tourism industry. Sustainable tourism, which examines the balance of numerous aspects, including stakeholders’ interests, is the critical feature propelling the increased usage of MCDM. This paper explores the use of Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods applied in studies of sustainable tourism and its derivative term, low-carbon tourism, using a systematic literature review (SLR) search from the Scopus database. The analysis has identified 189 relevant studies published between 1987 to April 2022. After selection, screening, and synthesizing processes, we selected 135 pertinent studies, which were analysed in general descriptive data, citation impacts, geographical categorization, categorization of the methodologies’ objectives, and possible trajectories of similar research in the future. We find that highly cited authors and articles are related to sustainable tourism indicators\u27 development and case studies. Furthermore, most relevant studies are concentrated in Asia and Europe rather than other regions. We also categorize the reviewed studies into six classifications depending on each method\u27s intended usage and further suggest four contexts for the studies’ future trajectory
Advances and Applications of DSmT for Information Fusion. Collected Works, Volume 5
This fifth volume on Advances and Applications of DSmT for Information Fusion collects theoretical and applied contributions of researchers working in different fields of applications and in mathematics, and is available in open-access. The collected contributions of this volume have either been published or presented after disseminating the fourth volume in 2015 in international conferences, seminars, workshops and journals, or they are new. The contributions of each part of this volume are chronologically ordered.
First Part of this book presents some theoretical advances on DSmT, dealing mainly with modified Proportional Conflict Redistribution Rules (PCR) of combination with degree of intersection, coarsening techniques, interval calculus for PCR thanks to set inversion via interval analysis (SIVIA), rough set classifiers, canonical decomposition of dichotomous belief functions, fast PCR fusion, fast inter-criteria analysis with PCR, and improved PCR5 and PCR6 rules preserving the (quasi-)neutrality of (quasi-)vacuous belief assignment in the fusion of sources of evidence with their Matlab codes.
Because more applications of DSmT have emerged in the past years since the apparition of the fourth book of DSmT in 2015, the second part of this volume is about selected applications of DSmT mainly in building change detection, object recognition, quality of data association in tracking, perception in robotics, risk assessment for torrent protection and multi-criteria decision-making, multi-modal image fusion, coarsening techniques, recommender system, levee characterization and assessment, human heading perception, trust assessment, robotics, biometrics, failure detection, GPS systems, inter-criteria analysis, group decision, human activity recognition, storm prediction, data association for autonomous vehicles, identification of maritime vessels, fusion of support vector machines (SVM), Silx-Furtif RUST code library for information fusion including PCR rules, and network for ship classification.
Finally, the third part presents interesting contributions related to belief functions in general published or presented along the years since 2015. These contributions are related with decision-making under uncertainty, belief approximations, probability transformations, new distances between belief functions, non-classical multi-criteria decision-making problems with belief functions, generalization of Bayes theorem, image processing, data association, entropy and cross-entropy measures, fuzzy evidence numbers, negator of belief mass, human activity recognition, information fusion for breast cancer therapy, imbalanced data classification, and hybrid techniques mixing deep learning with belief functions as well
Missing Goals Yet Tangible Indicators within Sustainability Assessment Literature: The Need to Align Planning and Monitoring in Urban Sustainability
Sustainability assessment literature is often based on large indicator sets, frequently lacking organizational framing. Previous research calls for stronger theoretical groundings and for urban sustainability assessments specifically to be goal-oriented, meaning that assessments should articulate goals for sustainable cities and select the indicators most appropriate for tracking progress. Here we analyzed the content of 69 papers from sustainability assessment literature. We asked: What common sustainability goals guide indicator selection? What is the distribution of natural, proxy, and constructed indicators across the literature? And what is the distribution of indicators within and across capital types? We found that less than half of the papers define clear goals. Still, the majority of indicators used were natural indicators as opposed to proxies or constructed indicators. Most indicators are linked to the natural sciences, suggesting a need to expand and diversify indicators across additional capital assets, broadening the disciplinary foci of such assessments and better tying into the holistic and systems nature of sustainability. We conclude that urban sustainability assessment should be framed around sustainability goals, and that such a framing would facilitate the selection of indicators, which yield more accurate evaluative results. This is significant in that the relationship between sustainability assessment goals and indicators is mutually reinforcing
Sustainable Warehouse Location Selection in Humanitarian Supply Chain: Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach
The frequency of catastrophic natural disasters is rising, and much emphasis is being given to the Humanitarian Supply chain (HSC). The main goal of relief efforts is to get enough emergency supplies to the area hit by the disaster as quickly as possible. The decision of where to locate warehouses that will store relief supplies presents a significant obstacle for humanitarian relief organizations as they work to enhance their capacity for providing aid and their rescue plan. A non-optimal location could make the search and rescue efforts harder. More importantly, it has been seen that when these kinds of geographical sites are evaluated, social and environmental issues are not considered. This research paper aims to make humanitarian networks more accountable by determining the ideal warehouse site and considering both traditional and sustainable factors. A framework for selecting warehouses to keep relief goods was devised using the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach. Best-Worst and TOPSIS (“Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to the Ideal Solution”) methods were used to rank the potential locations based on Cost, Logistics, Environmental, and Social Criteria. A research study has been done in the State of West Bengal (District Arambagh)
Assessing the water-energy-food nexus and resource sustainability in the Ardabil Plain : a system dynamics and HWA approach
Ardabil Plain, which holds significant political and economic importance in agricultural production in Iran, has faced various challenges including climate change, economic sanctions, and limited access to global trade. Ensuring food security has become a key priority for the region. The main objective of this research is to identify a suitable crop for this critical region with regard to future climate change conditions. This study employs a new framework of the system dynamics model (SDM) and the Hybrid Weighted Averaging (HWA) method to assess the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus and resource sustainability in the Ardabil Plain under different climate change scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5). The research addresses current and future water challenges, emphasizing the need for additional energy and selecting optimal crops. Using the SDM, the study analyzes the impact of water supply fluctuations on agriculture, economic gain, and energy consumption from 2021 to 2050. The results indicate that barley is the most suitable crop for the Ardabil Plain in the near future, based on the overall ranking derived from the HWA method, which is as follows: barley > wheat > soybeans > potatoes > pears. The study highlights the significant challenges in energy supply for agriculture due to declining water levels and the increased force required by pumps to supply water to farms. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to make informed decisions in addressing water scarcity and rising energy demands in the Ardabil Plain
Risk and sustainability assessment (RSA) framework for ‘water scarcity – water reuse’ situations: Conceptualisation, operationalisation, and testing
The number of regions undergoing water scarcity, where the quantity of available water is not enough to meet human demand, is expected to increase in the future. Water reuse measures have been widely implemented to face these situations as a means of increasing the supply of water resources. Thus, ‘water scarcity – water reuse’ (WS-WR) situations will likely become more common. In these cases, water resources management to secure enough water supply is key. Risk and sustainability concepts have been consolidated as guiding discourses that also support the management of water resources. In particular, in the case of WS-WR situations, they can guide decision-makers towards reducing the risk of water scarcity and striving for the implementation of sustainable water reuse measures. In particular, the use of risk and sustainability assessments helps to deal with various social, economic, and environmental requirements and constraints. However, there is still the call for a more comprehensive and integrated assessments.
This dissertation aims at providing new ideas for the integration of risk and sustainability in the case of WS-WR situations. Three objectives guide this research: (A) to develop a conceptual assessment framework to support decision-making concerning sustainable water reuse in regions facing risk of water scarcity; (B) to advance the conceptual framework interrelating existing risk and sustainability assessment methodologies and indicators in the context of decision support; and (C) to test the conceptual and methodological framework using a case study in Latin America. Each objective is associated with a research question: (RQ1) How is decision-making regarding water reuse understood and supported towards reducing the risk of water scarcity sustainably – and how can it be represented in a conceptual assessment framework?; (RQ2) How can a conceptual framework for assessing water reuse as sustainable water scarcity risk reduction measures be operationalised through a methodological framework?; and (RQ3) What are the findings from testing the framework in a case study – and what can be incorporated into the framework? Each objective and its respective research question was addressed as a separate step of the research approach, comprising the development of an integrated Risk and Sustainability Assessment (RSA) Framework for WS-WR situations, its operationalisation and testing. The research approach followed a deductive to inductive rationale relying on qualitative and quantitative methods. The outputs of this research are three scientific publications that build this cumulative dissertation (two published and one submitted for revision).
The development of the conceptual framework followed three steps: (i) defining the concepts of ‘water scarcity’, ‘water reuse’, ‘risk’ and ‘risk assessment’, ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainability assessment’, and ‘decision-making’; (ii) integrating these concepts by interpreting water scarcity from a risk perspective and water reuse from a sustainability perspective, and relating assessments with decision-making; and (iii) structuring the RSA Framework, following a risk assessment and framing it by the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. Results allowed defining decision-making in WS-WR situations as a four-step cyclic process that can be supported by an integrated RSA that comprises an analysis (descriptive and objective) and evaluation (subjective).
The methodological aspects for the operationalisation of the RSA conceptual framework focused mainly on developing an analytical concept to support an adequate derivation of the information required in an integrated RSA for WS-WR situations. The resulting concept is based on (i) understanding the WS-WR situation as a Coupled Human and Natural System (CHANS) and identifying the main biophysical elements (endpoints); (ii) translating the CHANS endpoints into an information system via a Multi-Layer (ML) approach using generic descriptors and specific indicators; and (iii) identifying and characterising interlinkages between the indicators via a Lane-Based (LB) approach. Additional methodological aspects related to the evaluation include the use of indicator-based multi-criteria decision-making methods that include the weighting and aggregation of these indicators, as well as the selection of threshold values as evaluation criteria.
The testing of the integrated RSA Framework was carried out in Cerrillos de Tamaya, Chile. It involved an ex-post RSA of a water reuse measure implemented in 2018 to face the local water scarcity situation. The testing included (i) describing the case study location and adapting the RSA Framework to fit the local context; (ii) translating the case study’s CHANS via the ML approach and identifying and characterising interlinkages via the LB approach; and (iii) evaluating the degree of risk of water scarcity and sustainability of water reuse via the distance-based method TOPSIS. The results of the testing provided feedback for the RSA Framework. These mainly referred to the influence of the conceptualisation behind the indicators and their use, and the methodological challenges for integrating risk and sustainability evaluation. Further recommendations to the RSA framework are: the inclusion of interlinkage directionality; the use of existing system dynamics modelling approaches (e.g., CLD, SFD); the development of an established database of indicators; the automation of the interlinkages analysis (LB approach); and advance the use of scenarios for sustainability evaluation for better coupling with risk evaluation methods.
Overall this research provides evidence of (a) the conceptual integration of risk and sustainability discourses under one decision support framework for the case of WS-WR situations; (b) the use of a system thinking approach for interpreting the WS-WR situation; (c) the relevance of indicators as a means of representing the situation; (d) the interlinkage of social, economic, environmental information; (e) the benefits of the use of conceptual maps; (f) gaps in the process of measuring the effect of water reuse on water scarcity levels via indicators; (g) the gap between a simulation-based risk assessment and a snapshot-focused sustainability assessment that hinders an operational integration; (h) the possibility of the RSA framework to bridge a system thinking view with a traditional assessment-based decision-making view.:Acknowledgements
Abstract
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Symbols
Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.1 Background and problem statement
1.1.1 Water resources for water security
1.1.2 Risk and sustainability discourses for water-related decision-making
1.1.3 Problem statement and research focus
1.2 Objectives and research questions
1.3 Research approach and structure of the document
1.3.1 Research approach
1.3.2 Structure of the document
1.4 Chapter references
Chapter 2 - Conceptual Framework
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Developing the conceptual framework
2.2.1 Definition and interpretation of the subject at stake
2.2.2 Identification and definition of key concepts
2.2.3 Construction of the conceptual framework
2.3 Results and discussion
2.3.1 Defining and interpreting the ‘water scarcity – water reuse’ situation
2.3.2 Identifying and defining key concepts
2.3.3 Construction of the integrated RSA Framework
2.4 Conclusions and outlook
2.5 Acknowledgements
2.6 Chapter references
Chapter 3 - Methodological Aspects
3.1 Introduction
3.2 RSA Framework for a WS-WR situation
3.3 Systems thinking in a WS-WR situation
3.3.1 Identifying elements of a WS-WR situation and its interpretation as a system
3.3.2 Translation of the CHANS into an information system
3.4 Characterisation and interlinkage of indicators
3.4.1 Type and number of indicators
3.4.2 Type and number of interlinkages
3.4.3 Indicator connectivity
3.4.4 Structuring via a lane-based approach
3.5 RSA analytical concept and exemplification
3.5.1 RSA analytical concept
3.5.2 Exemplification of the analyitical concept
3.6 Discussion
3.6.1 Translating the CHANS into an information system
3.6.2 Supporting decision-making via the analytical concept
3.7 Conclusions
3.8 Acknowledgements
3.9 Chapter references
Chapter 4 - Framework Testing
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Approach
4.2.1 RSA Framework
4.2.2 Case study site
4.3 Results
4.3.1 Analysis
4.3.2 Evaluation
4.3.3 General results for the case
4.4 Discussion
4.4.1 Analysis
4.4.2 Evaluation
4.4.3 Overall discussion on the testing of the RSA Framework
4.5 Conclusions
4.6 Acknowledgements
4.7 Chapter References
Chapter 5 - Synthesis
5.1 Conceptual aspects
5.2 Methodological aspects
5.3 Testing aspects
5.4 Placing the RSA Framework in a broader context
5.5 Chapter References
Chapter 6 - Conclusions and Outlook
Annexes
Annex A - Literature review: Found records
Annex B - Example list of endpoints, descriptors, indicators, and attributes
Annex C - Technique for Order Preference by Similarly to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)
Annex D - Translation into the Information System (from endpoints to attributes)
Annex E - Interlinkages Identification Matrix
Annex F - List of Most Interlinked Indicators (MII)
Annex G - List of indicators, scores, and threshold
Scaling up indigenous rainwater harvesting: a preliminary assessment in Rajasthan, India
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has the potential to enhance the sustainability of ground and surface water to meet increasing water demands and constrained supplies, even under a changing climate. Since arid and semi-arid regions frequently experience highly variable spatiotemporal rainfall patterns, rural communities have developed indigenous RWH techniques to capture and store rainwater for multiple uses. However, selecting appropriate sites for RWH, especially across large regions, remains challenging since the data required to evaluate suitability using critical criteria are often lacking. This study aimed to identify the essential criteria and develop a methodology to select potential RWH sites in Rajasthan (India). We combined GIS modeling (multicriteria decision analysis) with applied remote sensing techniques as it has the potential to assess land suitability for RWH. As assessment criteria, spatial datasets relating to land use/cover, rainfall, slope, soil texture, NDVI, and drainage density were considered. Later, weights were assigned to each criterion based on their relative importance to the RWH system, evidence from published literature, local expert advice, and field visits. GIS analyses were used to create RWH suitability maps (high, moderate, and unsuited maps). The sensitivity analysis was also carried out for identified weights to check the inadequacy and inconsistency among preferences. It was estimated that 3.6%, 8.2%, and 27.3% of the study area were highly, moderately, and unsuitable, respectively, for Chauka implementation. Further, sensitivity analysis results show that LULC is highly sensitive and NDVI is the least sensitive parameter in the selected study region, which suggests that changing the weight of these parameters is more likely to decide the outcome. Overall, this study shows the applicability of the GIS-based MCDA approach for up-scaling the traditional RWH systems and its suitability in other regions with similar field conditions, where RWH offers the potential to increase water resource availability and reliability to support rural communities and livelihoods
モンゴル国ウランバートル市の持続的廃棄物管理の改善のためのLCAと多基準意思決定分析
In last years, as the lifestyle and socio-economic situation of the citizens is changing, in this regards amount of the municipal waste and type of waste are also increasing in the Ulaanbaatar city. This research analyzed each of the four waste disposal methods, to develop and select the waste management best option. To estimates economic efficiency Life cycle cost analysis methods based on the municipal waste disposal budget data; used tool a Cost-benefit analysis of each scenario explores opportunities to increase waste revenues and reduce annual costs. Also analyzes Life cycle impact assessment for each waste treatment option and includes a Life cycle assessment that considers direct and indirect GHG emissions during landfilling, waste incineration, composting, recycling, or energy consumption from waste treatment in Ulaanbaatar city. This research was conducted based on the Multi criteria decision analysis method for evaluating the performance of each scenario considered hereafter as well as interviews with experts. These interviews were used to identify key ideas related to waste management. These issues have been considered using Technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution analysis to determine the potential impacts of environmental, economic, technical, and social factors, which were analyzed for each waste disposal method to develop and select the best option. As the result, MBT plant has not been advantageous considering all criteria. However, waste incineration is the most cost-effective option in Ulaanbaatar city in terms of saving coal resources and reducing coal production.北九州市立大
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