Industrial Ecological Systems Research Articles

Exploring Differences and Evolution of Coordination Level of the Industrial Structure, Economy and Ecological Environment Complex System in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration

Industrial structure (IS), economy (EC), and ecological environment (EE) could influence each other and constitute a complex system (IS-EC-EE). This study is to explore the differences and evolution of the coordination level of the IS-EC-EE complex system of 13 cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration by coupling coordination degree model, Markov chain, GM (1,1) model, Dagum Gini coefficient, and Kernel density estimation method to provide a reference for regional sustainable development. The results show that the comprehensive evaluation index of IS, EC, and EE had significant differences among the 13 cities in the BTH region. The IS-EC-EE system of the whole BTH region was in a highly coupled and low-coordinated development state. And the coordination degrees of the 13 cities in the BTH region had spatial differences, which were mainly due to inter-regional differences, and the differences became larger. Furthermore, the coordinated development of the 13 cities had the probability of keeping high, moderate, and low coordination. It was predicted that the coordination degree of the IS-EC-EE system in the whole BTH region in 2020–2030 was roughly similar to the trend in 2009–2019. The coordination levels of Beijing and Tianjin were higher than in Hebei Province, so optimizations need to be considered for regional overall sustainable development.

The influence of green technology innovation on industrial ecology at the Yellow River Basin in China

Green technology innovation (GTI) has become an engine of driving industrial ecology (IE), whereas the impact process and mechanism remain poorly understood. In this work, an IE evaluation system is established with the DPSIR framework, followed by the elucidation of the spatial-temporal dynamic evolution of IE and GTI as well as their correlation and heterogeneity at the Yellow River Basin during 2001–2020. Furthermore, the impact process and mechanism of GTI on IE are explored from the global and different city-level scales with the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) model. It is revealed that GTI exerts a significant and persistent promoting effect on IE, but the promoting effect and influencing factors are distinct in regions with different IE development levels. The “local-neighborhood” effect by GTI driving IE is mainly achieved through innovation infrastructures.

A comparison of life cycle assessment (LCA) of Andungsari Arabica coffee processing technologies towards lower environmental impact.

Indonesia is the fourth largest coffee producer in the world, with most of the production managed by smallholders. Analyzing the current environmental impacts of coffee production processes and moving the sector towards lower impact systems, including options for industrial ecology (IE) is critical. The aim of IE for Sustainable Coffee Production (SCP) is primarily toward Zero Waste (ZW), while producing high-quality coffee products that could potentially access new environmentally-oriented markets. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was applied in this study to evaluate the environmental impacts of coffee production, from the farm through to various coffee products, focusing on Global Warming Potential (GWP). Data was obtained from a pilot plant operation at Andungsari Coffee Group – Bondowoso, Indonesia, for coffee production using Semi-wash (SW) and Full-wash (FW) processes, from Coffee Cherry Beans (CB) to Green Beans (GB), and Coffee Powder (CP). The novelty of this work was the assessment of the impact of SW and FW, which are not often distinguished by previous studies, and which offer possibilities for improving the grade of coffee products. Observation and experimental data were used to obtain data from production operations to identify the environmental impact and also the potential feedstocks for the production of biogas and other industrial ecology strategies for developing by-products. For both SW and FW the input of 3 tonnes of CB produced 512 kg CP. The LCA indicated that the GWP for 1 kg CP (CB to CP) from SW was 0.765 kg CO2-eq, and for FW was 0.741 kg CO2-eq. In the future, further consideration of alternative by-products will be undertaken in order to produce a more effective IE system towards SCP.

Research on the impact of domestic agricultural R&D on high-quality agricultural development in China

A fresh wave of technical change is seen as one of the most effective ways to achieve sustainable agricultural development due to the declining carrying capacity of resources and the environment. China, a nation with a sizable population, has drawn immense research attention over the following question: How can China promote agricultural transformation and achieve high-quality agricultural development through technological innovation? Based on the panel data that considers 28 provincial-level administrative regions in mainland China from 2010 to 2018, the study utilizes two-way fixed models; thus, it tests the impact of domestic agricultural research and development on high-quality agricultural development. Furthermore, it utilizes the moderating effect to verify the relationship between the two aforementioned factors under the influence of foreign technology introduction, human capital, and financial support. We observed the following: First, the high-quality agricultural development that characterized all the Chinese regions exhibited a steady upward trend. The industrial system, ecological system, and management system exhibited considerable development, whereas the development of the production system was lagging. Second, domestic agricultural research and development has promoted high-quality agricultural development. Third, under the moderating effect of foreign technology introduction, human capital, and financial support, the promotion effect of domestic agricultural research and development on high-quality agricultural development has gradually weakened. This study presents various proposals; thus, it strengthens the role of domestic agricultural research and development in promoting high-quality agricultural development.

Evaluation of industrial ecology in the π-shaped curve area of China’s Yellow River based on the grey Lotka–Volterra model

Industrial ecology (IE) is the process of constructing industrial-ecological systems (IES) with the realization of the mutual benefits for industrial system (IS) and ecological system (ES). Therefore, the IE level depends on the IES development and the relationship between IS and ES. This paper calculated the development index of ES and IS to account for IES development and adopted the grey Lotka–Volterra to analyze the relationship between IS and ES. Choosing the π-shaped curve area in the Yellow River basin of China as the study area, this paper analyzed its IE level and influence factors from 2005 to 2019. Findings include: (1) The development level of IES in the Area presented significant spatial differentiation and could be classified into three levels. (2) IS and ES remained in the stage of isolated development or mutual restriction. (3) IE was found to be positively correlated with scientific innovation, economic development, openness degree, pollution control, and industrial structure while negatively correlated with urbanization, resource consumption, and government influence.

An evaluation framework for industrial ecology based on the symbiosis theory-Taking the π-shaped Curve Area in the Yellow River of China as an example

This paper defined regional industrial ecology (IE) to include four connotations: sustainable social-economic-ecological development, the high-quality transformation of the industrial system (IS) and the ecological system (ES), and harmonious symbiosis between IS and ES. Regarding the composition of the symbiotic system, this paper proposed that the IE evaluation be carried out from three aspects: the sustainability of the symbiotic environment, the high-quality development of the symbiont, and the symbiotic pattern between the symbiotic units. Then, the maturity index determined by the symbiont and symbiotic mode and the orderliness index determined by the symbiont and symbiotic environment were measured to determine the IE level from the perspectives of the system’s function and structure. Besides, this paper adopted Geodetector and Oprobit model to identify the influencing factors of IE. Taking the π-shaped Curve Area of the Yellow River as the study area, this paper found that the IE systems’ structural orderliness of capital cities and resource-based cities was low, while the orderliness level of non-resource-based cities was high. The IE systems’ functional maturity level in the northwest Area was better than that of the southeast. The IE level was high in Inner Mongolia while low in Shanxi and Ningxia. Scientific innovation, economic development, openness degree, ecological pressure, industrial structure, urbanization level, and government influence have different influences on the IE systems’ orderliness and maturity levels. The findings of this paper provided a basis for realizing IE and promoting the high-quality transformation of the whole basin.

Unfolding research themes for industrial symbiosis and underlying theories

AbstractThis paper aims to analyze the research themes that are addressed in studies on industrial symbiosis (IS), from the perspective of theories. The paper method is a longitudinal analysis of retrospective nature from 1998 to 2021. This approach allowed to detects the main drivers and associated themes that structured researches on IS in the period. In general, Industrial Ecology Theory, Network Theory, Systems Theory and Organizational Theory were present in a considerable part of research themes on IS. It was observed that the IS research themes moved over the period analyzed to nine areas of study: (1) Waste as a resource, (2) development industrial symbiosis network, (3) circular economy and industrial symbiosis, (4) industrial co‐localization, (5) energy innovations, (6) closed loop chains, (7) IS's social aspects, (8) regional‐level metabolism, and (9) waste knowledge. In summary, the contributions of this paper are the thematic proposition of IS from the perspective of theories, pointing out the key‐aspects; and presentation of a research themes' diagram towards the IS buildup.

Talent Competitiveness Evaluation of the Chongqing Intelligent Industry Based on Using the Entropy TOPSIS Method

Talent is the foundation of industrial development, based on the movement process and the role of the talent competitiveness cycle. This study uses the Entropy TOPSIS method to evaluate the talent competitiveness of Chongqing in comparison to Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Shaanxi from five dimensions of human resources, talent contribution, talent investment, development support, and development environment. The research shows that the talent competitiveness of the intelligent industry in Chongqing ranks eighth as compared to other eight provinces and cities. The result shows that there is a big gap in human resources, talent contribution and talent investment compared with the developed areas, while development support and environment level were found to be relatively backward. It is suggested to strengthen the policy implementation from the aspects of high-end talent introduction, investment in higher education, industrial ecological system and talent development environment.

Evaluation Model of Low-Carbon Circular Economy Coupling Development in Forest Area Based on Radial Basis Neural Network

In this paper, we study the radial neural network algorithm for low-carbon circular economy in forest area, design a coupled development evaluation model, study its algorithmic ideas operation mode and the update formula obtained by standard algorithm, and finally optimize the RBF neural network by particle swarm algorithm. After an in-depth analysis of the particle swarm algorithm, an improved particle swarm algorithm is proposed to improve the search accuracy and capability of the algorithm by nonlinearly adjusting the inertia weights and introducing the average extreme value factor, in response to the problems of premature convergence and poor search capability that appear in the particle swarm algorithm. Through the analysis and evaluation of the interaction between industrial ecosystem and carbon emission, the main influencing factors of carbon emission are identified, and the size and magnitude of the influence of economic growth, industrial structure, energy intensity, and energy structure on carbon emission are determined; the current situation of the industrial ecological structure is evaluated, and the direction of optimization and adjustment of industrial economic structure, energy structure, and ecological structure is clarified. We construct a multidimensional multiconstraint multimodel industrial ecological structure optimization prediction model, set the development scenarios of economy and society, and optimize the prediction of low-carbon industrial ecological structure in forest areas; based on the simulation analysis of the prediction results, we propose the direction of industrial ecological structure adjustment and the path of industrial ecological system construction.

Do We Need a New Sustainability Assessment Method for the Circular Economy? A Critical Literature Review

The goal of the circular economy (CE) is to transition from today's take-make-waste linear pattern of production and consumption to a circular system in which the societal value of products, materials, and resources is maximized over time. Yet circularity in and of itself does not ensure social, economic, and environmental performance (i.e., sustainability). Sustainability of CE strategies needs to be measured against their linear counterparts to identify and avoid strategies that increase circularity yet lead to unintended externalities. The state of the practice in quantitatively comparing sustainability impacts of circular to linear systems is one of experimentation with various extant methods developed in other fields and now applied here. While the proliferation of circularity metrics has received considerable attention, to-date, there is no critical review of the methods and combinations of methods that underlie those metrics and that specifically quantify sustainability impacts of circular strategies. Our critical review herein analyzes identified methods according to six criteria: temporal resolution, scope, data requirements, data granularity, capacity for measuring material efficiency potentials, and sustainability completeness. Results suggest that the industrial ecology and complex systems science fields could prove complementary when assessing the sustainability of the transition to a CE. Both fields include quantitative methods differing primarily with regard to their inclusion of temporal aspects and material efficiency potentials. Moreover, operations research methods such as multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) may alleviate the common contradictions which often exist between circularity metrics. This review concludes by suggesting guidelines for selecting quantitative methods most appropriate to a particular research question and making the argument that while there are a variety of existing methods, additional research is needed to combine existing methods and develop a more holistic approach for assessing sustainability impacts of CE strategies.

Application of Multidimensional Linearization in Quasi-Optimal Controllers Synthesis in the Functional of Generalized Work

The paper investigates the task of the analytically design of an optimal controllers (ADOC) as defined by A. A. Krasovskij for stable multidimensional objects, which are described by matrix differential equations with polynomial non-linearity from phase coordinates. The investigated class of polynomial control objects has a wide application: these models are used to describe the motion of systems with a very different nature — electromechanical equipment, chemical reactors, industrial recycling facilities, biological and ecological systems, etc. The most suitable task solution for the ADOC is the power series method, which in comparison with other methods, allows to finding control laws in widest range of the object’s phase space. However, its realization is dealt with a large amount of calculations and it is less formalized, so it comparatively hard for programming. In this paper the quasi-optimal controller’s synthesis method is suggested. It can reduce the disadvantages of the previously mentioned power series method. It uses the multidimensional linearization of polynomial objects procedure which implements extension of the object state space with new coordinates. These coordinates are the products of the original phase coordinates and the application of the matrix theory with the Kronecker product. The synthesis method can help to find an approximate ADOC task solution with a high degree of accuracy. The method is very easy to use, because it mainly based on uses of well-known software for the linear quadratic task solution in the optimal control. The ADOC task solution accuracy is defined by the accuracy of the corresponding degree (k = 2, 3...) that chosen for the object of the quasi-linearized model under study. It must be noted, that the k th power polynomial components of the control objects described, is considered in the k th power linearized model. Therefore, suggested synthesis method provides an accurate solution as a common power series method, holding its terms to the k th power inclusive. However, the devised synthesis method as a rule gives more accurate results, because it takes into account the functional matrix of the used quasilinear model of the object state augmented vector containing the original object’s phase coordinates products.

Prospects and Challenges of Using Coagulation-Flocculation method in the treatment of Effluents

Wastewaters from chemical industries are characterized by the presence of heavy metallic ions, chemical contaminant and turbidity. Exposure to lead (Pb), for example, is recognized as a major risk factor for several human diseases, and the structure of industrial ecological systems have made exposure to Pb unavoidable for most people alive today. The removal of these toxic metals and contaminants from industrial wastewater is a matter of great interest in the field of water pollution, which is a serious cause of water degradation. Coagulation-flocculation is a widely used method for wastewater treatment especially if the wastewater is discharged into surface water. Coagulation/flocculation is a commonly used process in water and wastewater treatment in which compounds such as ferric chloride and/or polymer are added to wastewater in order to destabilize the colloidal materials and cause the small particles to agglomerate into larger settle able flocs. Therefore, the futuristic use as well as the present demerits of this process is necessary for the treatment of effluents.

Intelligent interaction based on holographic personalized portal

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the architecture of holographic personalized portal, user modeling, commodity modeling and intelligent interaction. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the authors propose crowd-science industrial ecological system based on holographic personalized portal and its interaction. The holographic personality portal is based on holographic enterprises, commodities and consumers, and the personalized portal consists of accurate ontology, reliable supply, intelligent demand and smart cyberspace. Findings The personalized portal can realize the information acquisition, characteristic analysis and holographic presentation. Then, the intelligent interaction, e.g. demand decomposition, personalized search, personalized presentation and demand prediction, will be implemented within the personalized portal. Originality/value The authors believe that their work on intelligent interaction based on holographic personalized portal, which has been first proposed in this paper, is innovation focusing on the interaction between intelligence and convenience.

A new age of public-oriented Earth observation development}{A new age of public-oriented Earth observation development

Atmospheric, marine, and terrestrial Earth observations have been carried out by the government for half a century; their industrial characteristics notably benefit the public. The observation mode has been diversified, richer application methods have been introduced, especially the micro satellite cloud, and the observations and data-providing capabilities have been greatly improved in the past ten years due to the increasing number of satellites. Earth observations have entered the new era of big data and have become the main focus with respect to big scientific and consumption data. The industrial Earth observation development model is analyzed in this paper with respect to industrial ecological systems. The microsatellite cloud and big data technology are the two main forces of the shift of the development mode of Earth observations from public benefit-oriented to public-oriented. The study further analyzes the diverse effects of the public on Earth observation activities. We believe that the public will gradually become an active factor affecting all aspects of Earth observations. Meanwhile, public-oriented Earth observations target a bigger market. The public is both the main consumer and producer of Earth observation information. The public-oriented development model provides great opportunities for Earth observations and space-based information industry development; however, it also puts forward a series of scientific and technical challenges for the scientific community.

Industrial ecology in integrated assessment models

An in-depth review of five major integrated assessment models from an industrial ecology perspective reveals differences between the fields regarding the modelling of linkages in the industrial system. Technology-rich integrated assessment models (IAMs) address possible technology mixes and future costs of climate change mitigation by generating scenarios for the future industrial system. Industrial ecology (IE) focuses on the empirical analysis of this system. We conduct an in-depth review of five major IAMs from an IE perspective and reveal differences between the two fields regarding the modelling of linkages in the industrial system, focussing on AIM/CGE, GCAM, IMAGE, MESSAGE, and REMIND. IAMs ignore material cycles and recycling, incoherently describe the life-cycle impacts of technology, and miss linkages regarding buildings and infrastructure. Adding IE system linkages to IAMs adds new constraints and allows for studying new mitigation options, both of which may lead to more robust and policy-relevant mitigation scenarios.

ЕКОЛОГІЧНА РЕЗУЛЬТАТИВНІСТЬ МЕНЕДЖМЕНТУ ВИРОБНИЧИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ ТЕПЛОЕНЕРГЕТИЧНИХ ОБ’ЄКТІВ

The aim of the article is to develop scientific and methodological approaches for management decisions in production, statistical and mathematical information processing, forecasting and mathematical modeling, interpretation obtained in the process of experimental research, as organizational principles of environmental and economic activities of modern technologies in various fields, including, construction, housing and communal complex in industrial ecological management systems. The production of thermal energy at thermal power facilities of heat supply systems by means of reagent-free water treatment is an innovative technology that has already confirmed its right to exist. At the same time, some theoretical aspects of the process of magnetization of water, in connection with the adoption of certain management technologies, need further clarification. The paper draws attention to the fact that the relationships between field thermodynamics and field theory are represented by balance equations. It is proposed to carry out the effectiveness of environmental management in production in two directions: assessment of techno genic and ecological equivalence of water magnetization process - internal environment of heat supply systems, and assessment of economic and ecological equivalence of heat supply systems - external environment - device for magnetized water.

A universal digital platform for the construction of self-organizing wireless sensor networks for industrial safety and ecological monitoring systems

The design results of a universal digital platform intended for the construction of self-organizing wireless sensor networks of industrial safety and ecological monitoring systems are given. The design-manufacturing principles for the creation of miniature wireless sensor assemblies (WSAs), ensuring the integration of gas sensors of different types, their self-contained power supply, self-deployment of the sensor network, and design features of the miniature WSAs based on a specialized receiving–transmitting module, constructed in accordance with the up-to-date 2.5D assembly technique using a silicon substrate, are considered. The basic principle of the operation of highly sensitive WSA elements, which are intended for the determination of toxic and explosive gases, and the basic development principles of a smart power source integrated into the sensor assembly housing, which ensures its uninterrupted operation for a long time through the electric energy generation and accumulation units from alternative energy supply sources, are presented. Problems related to the development and remote automatic renovation of the WSA software, architecture of the server software for data acquisition, and analysis of industrial and ecological monitoring problems are considered.

A framework for an industrial ecological decision support system to foster partnerships between businesses and governments for sustainable development

In the post-crisis approach to welfare states, the role of authorities as providers of welfare becomes more pronounced. As local authorities across the European Union are confronted with new and often unfavourable financing mechanisms, the performance and management of mandatory and voluntary duties must be reconsidered. As sustainable development and a more frugal management of public funds becomes more important, local authorities need to find new and innovative ways to mitigate their expenditures. The authors anticipate that local authorities will be interested in a more active participation in industrial ecological systems with advantages for sustainability. The fundamental question is: how could the process of finding potential partners for industrial ecological partnerships between businesses, and between businesses and the authority be facilitated? The authors review the concept of industrial ecology and its potential benefits; and also highlight the possible connection points between local governments and a business cluster, through an overview of mandatory and voluntary duties and responsibilities local governments must perform. The main answer to the research question is the framework of a novel decision support system (DSS) to facilitate the establishment of new connections and rationalise existing ones in pursuit of greater efficiency at reduced costs, whilst also promoting the aims of sustainable development. Finally, the authors consider the wider regional economic consequences of the DSS in the attractiveness of the eco-industrial cluster to new entrants, through the exploration of a set of plausible scenarios will be explored.

Symbiosis Analysis on Industrial Ecological System

Industrial ecological system is a sustainable mode of modern industry development. Industrial symbiosis, a sub-field of industrial ecology, engages traditionally separate industries in a collective approach, involving exchange of materials, energy, water, and/or by-products, to enhance competitive ability and environmental performance. To construct a symbiosis analysis method, this article employs a number of parameters embodying information about materials, energy and economics as the main essential parameters in system analysis and introduces symbiosis profit and symbiotic consumption elements as the economic indicators. A modeling and simulation program is designed using the agent-based modeling approach to simulate the evolvement of a hypothetical coal-based industrial system and the change of symbiosis conditions in the process of construction is examined. The simulation program built using the Swarm library, which is a freely available multi-agent simulation package, provides a useful demonstration for the symbiosis analysis method.

Fuzzy least squares support vector machine soft measurement model based on adaptive mutative scale chaos immune algorithm

In order to enhance measuring precision of the real complex electromechanical system, complex industrial system and complex ecological & management system with characteristics of multi-variable, non-liner, strong coupling and large time-delay, in terms of the fuzzy character of this real complex system, a fuzzy least squares support vector machine (FLS-SVM) soft measurement model was established and its parameters were optimized by using adaptive mutative scale chaos immune algorithm. The simulation results reveal that fuzzy least squares support vector machines soft measurement model is of better approximation accuracy and robustness. And application results show that the relative errors of the soft measurement model are less than 3.34%.