Sustainability Index： An Application into Sustainable Engineering Infrastructure Management and Assessment

A proper infrastructure assessment in the contemporary engineering world has become very crucial due to the palpable resources challenges. Therefore, from the design, construction, operation and maintenance stages of the built infrastructural systems; cognizance must be taken of the associated factors and their significance. In considering these indices, the experts will save lots of resources wastage thereby integrating new technologies into the full life cycle of the infrastructure. In this paper, two sets of building infrastructure professionals were assessed. These are the corporate building organization （CBO） and the Operators from two shopping malls within the UK. Thirty-four factors regarding the sustainable building infrastructure appraisal were identified through literature reviews. These characteristics were accordingly classified into two factors （group I and II） and a comparative analysis of their influence conducted. Priority rating of the factors assessment on building infrastructure was through structured, administered survey amongst professionals within these organizations. Information of this survey revealed that the experts maintained a strong concordance in rating these factors. As a result, the associated factors have relatively substantial degree of influence in this context. Further indications of the result in groups I and II are that the CBO experts have indicated the infrastructure size, planning and design as the key factors. Also, the type of building characteristic was among others as the top and bottom marked cases. Similarly, the Operators too have maintained that a proper infrastructure design should incorporate a good policy framework for efficient energy saving fixtures and conservation. Additionally, the installation of quality equipment promotes cost savings of the resources and a just-in-time maintenance of the infrastructure at large. The maintain as-we-go philosophy characteristic was not strongly encouraged in this case.

Measuring the agricultural sustainability of India:An application of Pressure-State-Response(PSR)model

Analyzing agricultural sustainability is essential for designing and assessing rural development initiatives.However,accurately measuring agricultural sustainability is complicated since it involves so many different factors.This study provides a new suite of quantitative indicators for assessing agricultural sustainability at regional and district levels,involving environmental sustainability,social security,and economic security.Combining the PressureState-Response(PSR)model and indicator approach,this study creates a composite agricultural sustainability index for the 14 mainstream agro-climatic regions of India.The results of this study show that the Trans-Gengatic Plain Region(TGPR)ranks first in agricultural sustainability among India's 14 mainstream agro-climatic regions,while the Eastern Himalayan Region(EHR)ranks last.Higher livestock ownership,cropping intensity,per capita income,irrigation intensity,share of institutional credit,food grain productivity,crop diversification,awareness of minimum support price,knowledge sharing with fellow farmers,and young and working population,as well as better transportation facilities and membership of agricultural credit societies are influencing indicators responsible for higher agricultural sustainability in TGPR compared with EHR.Although,the scores of environmental sustainability indicators of EHR are quite good,its scores of social and economic security indicators are fairly low,putting it at the bottom of the rank of agricultural sustainability index among the 14 mainstream agroclimatic regions in India.This demonstrates the need of understanding agricultural sustainability in relation to social and economic dimensions.In a nation as diverse and complicated as India,it is the social structure that determines the health of the economy and environment.Last but not least,the sustainability assessment methodology may be used in a variety of India's agro-climatic regions.

Sustainability Evaluation of Mangrove Forest Management System of Tagbanua Tribe in Bgy. Manalo, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines

Community-based forest management agreement in the country is a needed instrument in attaining sustainability of mangrove management.Sadly,there is no assurance that the system implemented in the mangrove forest management is sustainable.So,evaluating the mangrove management sustainability of the local tribe is a viable avenue for the appropriate management.In this study,the sustainability of the mangrove management system of the Tagbanua tribe in Bgy.Manalo,Puerto Princesa City,Palawan was evaluated.The study utilized various criteria with relevant indicators of sustainable mangrove forest management in assessing the mangrove forest management system.Focused group discussions were conducted to identify the relevant sustainable mangrove forest management C&I and verifiers.Each indicator was rated using the formulated verifiers in the form of the rating scale.Through household interviews,FGD,KII,mangrove assessment,and secondary data analysis,this study also used a mathematical model on the Sustainability Index for Individual Criteria(SIIC)to evaluate the scores for individual criteria and the Overall Sustainability Index(OSI)of the community.As a result,there are a total of seven relevant criteria,and 35 relevant indicators for Mangrove Management in Barangay Manalo.Based on the individual rating of seven criteria,the overall rating of the sustainable mangrove management system is 1.80,which implies a fairly sustainable mangrove management system.Also,the computed overall sustainability index is 0.26,which is fairly or moderately sustainable.Each criterion has strengths and weaknesses and needs to be improved to have a highly sustainable mangrove management system.

Agricultural intensity for sustainable regional development:A case study in peri-urban areas of Karawang Regency,Indonesia

Peri-urban areas are playing an increasingly crucial role in the agricultural development and intensification in Indonesia.Peri-urban agriculture is highly vulnerable to change compared with urban and rural agriculture,due to its location in transitional areas.Indicators of peri-urban agricultural intensity can help guide regional development.In this study,we assessed the sustainability of peri-urban areas based on agricultural intensity in Karawang Regency,Indonesia.We developed a village-based index to assess the region’s agricultural intensity by rescaling the village agriculture index(VAI)and combining the local sustainability index(LSI)with factor analysis.Since the unit of analysis is the village,we modified the LSI to the village sustainability index(VSI).In addition,we also developed a logical matrix analysis to determine the level of agricultural sustainability(LoAS)of each village.The combined results of the three indices(VAI,VSI,and LoAS)generated information about agricultural sustainability.The results indicated that peri-urban villages with high agricultural intensity tended to exhibit low levels of social welfare,economic development,and disaster risk.Moreover,high agricultural intensity did not necessarily ensure the prosperity of the people.Instead,there was the economic disparity among the villages in the study area.Encouraging diversity of agricultural intensity seems to be more critical than promoting agricultural intensity itself.Overall,this study highlights the distinctive characteristics and dynamic of peri-urban areas.New approaches,variables,and information regarding the combination of agricultural intensity and sustainability need to be developed as valuable tools for regional planning.

Renewable energy-the path to sustainability

This orticle seeks to address come lingering debates within sustainability studies by revealing the connections between renewable energy consumption and sustainability.Using data from 30 OECD counties,examines the connections via regression and geospattal analysis.Findings from the quantitative analysis indicate that about 50% of the variation in Sustainability is accounted for by the degree of renewables Consumption. The geospatial analysis visuaUv illustrates the intimate connections between the two variables, Theoretically, renewable energy relates to sustainability in three dimensions. The first dimension is economic. Relying on traditional fassil fuels eventually will bring our economy to a stop. Renewable energies, however; are able to secure our energy supply into an indefinite future. The second dimension links to ethics. To leave an intact planet torture generations is a moral responsibity of our generation, The current energy supply system is built on depletion of natural resources, while the sources of renewable energy are vast and constantly replenished. Tire last dimension is ecologic. How to allocate a proper apportionment of the global biosphere between humankind and the other life on the earth is a critical issue related to sustainability. By using renewable energy, we can greatly reduce our impact on biodiversity and therefore strike a balance between humankind and other life. Overall the research suggests that developing renewables can and in many. cases does sustain a nation＇s economic growth while simultaneously protecting the environment. It is a win-win situation. This finding undoubtedly points out a practical and realistic path for sustainable development.

Sustainability Assessment of Smallholder Farms in the Savannah Transition Agro-Ecological Zone of Ghana

The ever-increasing human population has resulted in political pressure to increase crop production. Currently, smallholder farmers are expected to be environmentally considerate, adapt to extreme climatic conditions and deal with financial instability. Despite these recent developments, farmers and their farming activities in these rural environs of developing countries need to improve household food and income security on a sustainable basis. A minimum data set selected from extensive data was used to determine indicators for soil sustainability assessment. This method involved expert opinion and statistical data reduction techniques. The results indicated that SOC, MBC, BS, EC, Spo and sand were the most important variables selected as MDS using PC analysis. Forest and Grassland had a high sustainability index (SI) while Savannah woodland, Fallow and Cropland were rated not sustainable (NS). For Cumulative rating using the total dataset (CR-TDS), Forest had a high sustainability index (HS), Savannah woodland and Grassland were sustainable (S) compared to Fallow and Cropland, which were sustainable with high input (SWHI). Also, for cumulative rating using the minimum dataset (CR-MDS), Forest, Savannah woodland and Grassland had high sustainability (SH) indices compared to Fallow and Cropland, which were considered sustainable with high input (SWHI). Sustainability index (SI) and Cumulative rating (CR) using the total dataset (CR-TDS) had a strong correlation (R2 = 0.91, p < 0.05) compared to SI versus CR-MDS (R2 = 0.44, p < 0.05) and CR-TDS versus CR-MDS (R2 = 0.60, p < 0.05). These methods consider that these management goals dictate soil functions affecting the selection of indicators. Using PCA and variance analysis, silt, clay, EC, SOC, MBC and CEC relating to soil texture and fertility were identified as the most influential (sensitive) indicators for soil sustainability assessment. The selected soil attributes can serve as target indicators for soil fertility restoration, erosion control and management in the Nkoranza district. Therefore, a farm-level sustainability index for small-scale and commercial farms is proposed based on readily available data for the Savannah Transition Agro-ecozone of Ghana.

Contribution for a Better Understanding of the Technological Sustainability in Electrical Energy Production through Photovoltaic Cells

The conversion of solar energyinto electricity reveals a huge importance in the production of＂clean＂ energy, mainly when applied to decentralized production systems （micro-generation）. However, there is the need to develop and optimize these processes in order to turn it more sustainable in economic and technological scoops. The main purpose of this work is to study the solar energy conversion into electricity through photovoltaic cells, characterizing the process efficiencies. This study intends to evaluate the energetic and exergetic efficiencies defining them as indicators in the formulation ofa sustainability index. All the procedures are in a theoretical scope with an illustrative example in the end of this work.

A Modified Model of Ecological Footprint Accounting and Its Application to Cropland in Jiangsu,China

Based on the theory of emergy analysis,a modified model of ecological footprint accounting,termed emergetic ecological footprint(EMEF)in contrast to the conventional ecological footprint(EF)model,is formulated and applied to a case study of Jiangsu cropland,China.Comparisons between the EF and the EMEF with respect to grain,cotton,and food oil were outlined.Per capita EF and EMEF of cropland were also presented to depict the resources consumption level by comparing the biocapacity(BC)or emergetic biocapacity(EMBC,a new BC calculation by emergy analysis) of the same area.In the meanwhile,the ecological sustainability index(ESI),a new concept initiated by the authors, was established in the modified model to indicate and compare the sustainability of cropland use at different levels and between different regions.The results from conventional EF showed that per capita EF of the cropland has exceeded its per capita BC in Jiangsu since 1986.In contrast,based on the EMBC,the per capita EMEF exceeded the per capita EMBC 5 years earlier.The ESIs of Jiangsu cropland use were between 0.7 and 0.4 by the conventional method,while the numbers were between 0.7 and 0.3 by the modified one.The fact that the results of the two methods were similar showed that the modified model was reasonable and feasible,although some principles of the EF and EMEF were quite different. Also,according to the realities of Jiangsu cropland use,the results from the modified model were more acceptable.

Development of an Effective System for Selecting Construction Materials for Sustainable Residential Housing in Western Australia

Urbanization and living comfort have revolutionized the construction industry. Many techniques and strategies have been used to improve the overall efficiency of construction and to reduce waste during and after the construction activity;some are cost effective and some not. Sustainable construction strategies have addressed these issues by proposing relatively more cost effective and environment-saving solutions. One strategy is to select sustainable construction materials at the building design stage. This article involved a questionnaire survey to collect data about local technical stakeholders’ (architects, designers, engineers, estimators, and managers) awareness of environmental sustainability and current practices for selecting construction materials. A sustainability index (SI) was developed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for the complex statistical analysis. These data were used to develop a decision support system (DSS) using the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) technique, the TOPSIS. The support system was validated by applying it to sustainable roof products in a pilot case study—these materials are frequently used in local markets for residential construction in West Australia. So the main objective was to get insight to local market trends and features involved in construction materials selection. Data analysis was carried out to develop a decision support system to help technical stakeholders in construction materials selection process.

Management of rice straw with relay cropping of Chinese milk vetch improved double-rice cropping system production in southern China

Improved utilization of rice(Oryza sativa L.)straw and Chinese milk vetch(Astragalus sinicus L.,vetch)has positive effects on rice production.So far,few studies have investigated the productivity of vetch under different residue management practices in double-rice cropping system.The effects of rice straw on the growth and nutrient accumulation of vetch across seven years(2011–2017)and the subsequent effects of rice straw and vetch on two succeeding rice crops in a vetch–rice–rice cropping system,with the vetch established by relay cropping,were examined.The seven-year double-rice experiment consisted of the following treatments:(1)100%chemical fertilizer(F-F100);(2)only vetch without chemical fertilizer(M-Con);(3)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a low-cutting height(low-retained stubble)with the removal of straw(M-F80);(4)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a low-cutting height with the retention of straw(M-F80-LR);(5)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a high-cutting height(high-retained stubble)with the retention of straw(M-F80-HR);and(6)no fertilizer(F-Con).The yields of the two rice crops after vetch were not affected by either the cutting height of stubble with retention of straw or by the management of straw(retention vs.removal)with low-cutting height of stubble.The yields of the two rice crops after vetch were significantly higher for M-F80-HR than for M-F80-LR,but the relative contributions of the high-cutting height and straw retention to the higher rice yield could not be determined in this study.The yield stability of the double-rice grain in M-F80-HR was also increased,as determined by a sustainable yield index.Significant increases in vetch biomass and nutrient uptake were observed in the fertilized treatments during the rice season compared with the unfertilized treatments.In M-F80-HR plots,improvements in the growing environment of the vetch by conserving soil water content were associated with the highest vetch biomass,nutrient uptake,and yield stability of vetch biomass.These increased nutrient inputs partially replaced the demand for chemical fertilizer and stimulated the rice yields.It can be concluded that retaining higher-cutting stubble residues with straw retention could be the best straw management practice for increasing the vetch biomass and nutrient use efficiency,thereby allowing utilization of high-cutting height with retention of straw and vetch to improve the stability of rice productivity in a double-rice cropping system.

The Research of Project Evaluation System of R＆D Based on Cycle Economy

The evaluation system of R＆D project beforehand, in the course and afterwards embodies the principle and standard of the cycle economy, which can not only avoid the negative effects caused, by the utilization of the achievements of R＆D project in the industry but also point out the direction and criterion of R＆D activities for the enterprises, which also provides the ＂model＂ that can be used for reference for maintaining the durable competitiveness of the enterprises.

A Study on Evaluation Model of IT Industry’s Innovation Capability Based Variable Weight Theory

In this paper, IT Industry＇s innovation capability is considered to be the innovation output capability after complex operation of industry input in industry system. In this complex process, R＆D personnel input and R＆D expense input are un-substitutable, and for evaluation of innovation capability, innovation input and innovation output also are un-substitutable. Based on this theory, an evaluation model of sustaining strength index is put forward. Considering both input scale and output contribution of IT industry＇s innovation system, this model reflects the un-substitutability of every evaluation aspects. The measurement result not only shows the industry innovation capability, but also reflects the support degree to economy. At last the data of IT industry in China are provided between 1994 and 2004 for empirical study.

Analyzing sustainability of construction equipment in the state of California

Construction equipment encompasses highly polluting machines adversely affecting the environment.Management tools are necessary for sustainability assessment of construction equipment fleets to allow contractors to reduce their emissions and comply with local or federal regulations. In addition to management tools, there is a need for a metrics that will allow companies to accurately assess the sustainability of their construction equipment fleets. The State of California USA is adopting innovative approaches to reduce adverse impact of humans on the environment. Once successfully implemented, the chances are that such practices attract other states to adopt similar approaches. This paper presents an evaluation of construction equipment fleets and data analysis. When measured and recorded, such results can be used along with decisionsupport tools for selection and utilization of construction equipment. The metrics for construction equipment evaluation as well as the tool for sustainable decisionmaking are developed based on readily available data from manufacturers or maintenance shops without a need for additional effort by contractors or government agencies for their adoption. The metrics developed and the decision support tool incorporate logical strategies of supply chain management for optimal selection of construction equipment for construction site while taking into account the availability, cost, and mobilization related constraints. The metrics and the model can benefit both the government agencies responsible for inspection of fleets and owners of construction companies in their decision-making processes related to environmental sustainability.

Spatiotemporal dynamic of environmental indices of watershed sustainability in connection with land-use change

Exploring spatial and temporal land-use changes is valuable for local governments to address issues of sustainability and planning policy where urbanization and industrialization are taking place.Besides anthropogenic effects,natural driving forces like climate change may also affect sustainability.However,such relationships have not been studied minutely.Hence,this study first investigates the land-use changes and their relationship with land surface temperature(LST)for the Shazand Watershed,Iran,in 1986,1998,2008,and 2016 coincided with supplementary industrialization stages.Furthermore,the relations among LST and other biophysical parameters,including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),Normalized Difference Buildup Index(NDBI),and Normalized Difference Water Index(NDWI),were analyzed,and corresponding variations were explored.The results indicated that the mean LST of the study watershed has an increasing trend from 1986 to 2008 due to land-use change and drought intensification.Later,LST decreased in 2016.Lower LST was associated with irrigation farming and orchard,and higher LST was related to sparse oak forest areas.There was also a negative correlation between LST and NDVI.As a result,it was inferred that greenery declined LST.Conversely,a positive correlation was found between LST and NDBI resulting from the built-up areas.Since LST could influence biological,physical,chemical processes,it can therefore be supported as an effective index for environmental sustainability assessment.

Optimising local council's return on investment from annual pavement rehabilitation budgets through targeting of the average pavement condition index

A high quality transportation system is necessary in a modem economy, and a road network is a common and significant, component of the system. Road systems have two major objectives： to enable the movement of passenger vehicles and the movement of freight vehicles at reasonable speeds. An important part of the transportation system and an expensive investment, a functional road network must meet both objectives to main- tain an efficient economy. In Australia, the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development reported that, in 2011/12, the total road length was approximately 900,000 kin, and the total road expenditure was approximately $19 billion. Good policy requires that infrastructure investments provide a return on investment, thus warranting judicious management to ensure that it is maintained in a cost effective manner. Recent studies in Queensland, Australia, have identified differences between financial and engi- neering professionals in their understanding of infrastructure depreciation, condition deterioration, and future funding needs. Furthermore, the Queensland Asset Sustainability Ratio （ASR） requires clearer definitions to ensure that infrastructure remains meaningful to all users. This study proposes a separate sustainability index for road pavements （SIR） unlike the ASR that combines all type of assets. The justification is our ability to assess road condition, the high value of road assets, relative value to other infrastructure, and advanced knowledge of deterioration relative to other infrastructure. The SIR involves community consultation to target an average pavement condition index （PCI）. This study also provides an alternative method to determine the optimal target PCI for a local

Spatiotemporal change of ecological footprint and sustainability analysis for Yangtze Delta Region

In the urbanizing world,the Yangtze Delta Region （YDR） as one of the most developed regions in China,has drawn a lot of the world＇s attention for the remarkable economic development achieved in the past decades.Nevertheless,the rapid economic development was certain to be accompanied by unprecedented consumption and loss of natural resources.Therefore,the analysis of the ecological situation and driving factors of environmental impact was of great significance to serve the local sustainable development decision-making and build a harmonious society.In this paper,the ecological footprint （EF） was taken as the index of the ecological environmental impact.With the help of Geographic Information System （GIS）,we studied the spatiotemporal change of ecological footprint at two scales （region and city） and assessed urban sustainable development ability in YDR.Then we discussed the driving factors that affected the change of ecological footprint by the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population,Affluence,and Technology （STIRPAT） model.The results showed that increasing trends of regional ecological footprint during 1998-2008 （1.70-2.53 ha/cap） were accompanied by decreasing ecological capacity （0.31-0.25 ha/cap） but expanding ecological deficit （1.39-2.28 ha/cap）.The distribution pattern of ecological footprint and the degree of sustainable development varied distinctly from city to city in YDR.In 2008,the highest values of ecological footprint （3.85 ha/cap） and the lowest one of sustainable development index （SDI=1） in YDR were both presented in Shanghai.GDP per capita （A） was the most dominant driving force of EF and the classical EKC hypothesis did not exist between A and EF in 1998-2008.Consequently,increasing in ecological supply and reducing in human demand due to technological advances or other factors were one of the most effective ways to promote sustainable development in YDR.Moreover,importance should be attached to change our definition and measurement of prosperity and success.

Spatiotemporal evolution of sustainable development of China’s provinces:a modelling approach

Three sustainable development sub-indicators were established along with 49 indicators of sustainable development at the provincial level.We collected data for the key years of 2010,2015,and 2018 and evaluated the sustainable development level of 31 provinces in China by using the best and worst value improved equal-weight TOPSIS method.With spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis,the spatial characteristics of the sustainable development level were studied.Grey correlation analysis and the offset degree index were also used to find out which indicators should be of most concern to improve the level of sustainable development.The results showed the following.(1)The level of sustainable development of China’s provinces is increasing,but there is a decrease from east to west.(2)In terms of sustainable development,the gap between the four major economic regions is narrowing.(3)The overall sustainable development level is highly consistent with the mainstream green development and the human development index,indicating that exploiting the driving force behind developing and improving the quality of development is the key to China’s sustainable development strategy.(4)Different measures should be taken to promote the realization of Sustainable Development Goals in different areas.

Residue recycling options and their implications for sustainable nitrogen management in rice-wheat agroecosystems

Background In the Indo-Gangetic Plain,rice-wheat is the most extensively practiced crop rotation.The escalating issue of crop residue burning,particularly rice straw,and the necessity to lower the exorbitant expenses associated with fertilizer inputs stand out as significant challenges for farmers in the region.A well-suited integrated nutrient management(INM)strategy that focuses on recycling crop residues can serve as a solution to address these issues.Such a strategy not only mitigates air pollution resulting from residue burning but also helps combat water pollution due to nitrate losses from agroecosystems.Field experiments were used to evaluate the suitability of eight INM-modules that included various combinations of inorganic fertilizer rates(50%,100%,150%of recommended dose),crop residues(wheat and rice stubble retention at 30 cm standing stubble equivalent to 1/3 the straw yield),rice straw compost(RSC),farmyard manure(FYM),and green manuring(GM),compared to 100%recommended dose of fertilizers(F)and no fertilizer application.Results There was a considerable improvement in nitrogen mineralization,grain yields,and nitrogen use efficiency under GM+RSC-F50 and GM+FYM-F50.These INM modules would permit a 50%reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers.There was a little yield penalty with in situ rice residue incorporation at 100%F;however,this could be overcome with 150%F fertilizer application.In situ retention of wheat straw with a full application of fertilizer resulted in steadily rising crop yields over time.Changes in the redox potential,soil pH,and soil organic carbon best accounted for the observed trajectories in nitrogen use efficiency.Conclusion The most promising INM modules for adoption by farmers in the Indo-Gangetic Plain to judiciously use crop residues and curtail chemical fertilizer inputs are green manuring with Sesbania aculeata+rice straw compost at 5 t ha^(−1)+only 50%of recommended dose of fertilizers(GM+RSC-F50),and green manuring with Sesbania aculeata+farmyard manure at 5 t ha^(−1)+only 50%of recommended dose of fertilizers(GM+FYM-F50).Sole incorporation of crop residues without nitrogen augmentation from other sources might not help curtail chemical fertilizer use.Composting rice straw,which otherwise is widely burnt,proved a useful nitrogen source and a vital component of INM.Waste rice straw composting at the community scale and its application as a nutrient source can help achieve sustainable nitrogen management in the agroecosystems of Indo-Gangetic Plain.