Life Cycle Approach Research Articles

Design of Internship Student Management Information System with Software Development Life Cycle Approach

<p class="Abstract">This research is motivated by the absence of an information system concerning the placement of student internships. This is attributed to the diverse backgrounds of students at the H. Agus Salim Institute of Technology and Business (ITB), comprising three different classes. For regular morning students, internship placements can be tailored to their field of study. However, for evening students (regular two) and weekend students (regular three), who are individuals already employed in government institutions and private companies, determining suitable internship locations becomes challenging. This is because the tasks performed in these institutions and companies may not align with the academic disciplines studied by the students during their academic tenure. In the design of this internship information system, the researcher adopts the Incremental model, which is one of the models in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Functional suitability testing, compatibility testing, usability testing, and validity testing were conducted on the internship management information system. The test results, carried out by one expert, yielded a functional suitability score of 94%, categorized as excellent. The capability test, also conducted by one expert, resulted in a score of 80%, categorized as very good. Usability testing, conducted by seven experts, yielded a score of 80.6%. Validity testing, carried out by three validators, resulted in a score of 0.86, categorized as highly valid.</p>

A Systematic Review of the Aspects and Benefits Agile Project Management Innovation

Agile Project Management (APM) has developed throughout industries for years. Many companies chose APM for their initiatives. APM has been shown to help those who use it. Many APM adopters innovated and tailored the methodology. Innovation improved project agility. Innovation includes life cycle and development approach selection, processes, involvement, tools, methodologies, and artifacts. This study performed a Kitchenham-based systematic literature review in three steps: planning, conducting, and reporting systematic review. The 23 articles were chosen from ACM Digital Library, EBSCOhost, IEEE Xplore, Sage Journals, ScienceDirect, and Semantic Scholar. Journal articles or conference papers were possible. The findings of this study showed that PMBOK 7th Edition could map all previous studies into related innovation aspects. Then, the review demonstrated that each innovation improved the PMBOK 7th Edition performance domain. Finally, this study showed that organization-driven innovation could benefit the organization.

Actual sources of life cycle impacts: Elementary processes and flows causing environmental impacts for a typical Brazilian building

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a valuable tool to enhance the environmental performance of buildings. However, the increasing number of impact categories required by construction LCA standards makes it difficult to collect primary data and understand LCA results. Furthermore, most LCA studies only analyse aggregated impact results, failing to identify the specific processes that should be optimized to mitigate environmental impacts. This work shows the additional insights that can be gained from analysing disaggregated LCA results. We identify the specific elementary processes and flows causing each environmental impact for a typical Brazilian building used as a case study. This cradle-to-grave LCA study covers the 16 impact categories required by EN 15804. The findings reveal that the environmental impacts of buildings are primarily caused by a few elementary processes and flows. Multiple impact categories share common sources, implying that at least half of the indicators convey redundant information for decision-making as they point to the same actions for mitigating those impacts. Additionally, some impacts are caused by background elementary processes beyond the influence of construction stakeholders. Interpreting LCA results at the elementary process level allows us to reflect on the suitability of LCA to support decisions. It suggests potential strategies to streamline the LCA scope currently specified in construction LCA standards by excluding redundant indicators or impacts determined by uncontrollable background processes. Streamlining LCA can expedite the adoption of the life cycle approach in the construction sector and improve its contribution to informed decision-making.

Design of an Order-Based Cost Accounting Information System Using Microsoft Visual Studio 2017

The Accounting Information System (AIS) is crucial for a company's commercial operations to run smoothly. One type of AIS is the Cost Accounting Information System which has a vital role, especially in manufacturing companies. More specifically, AIS Cost also depends on the method of collecting costs used by a company which consists of two types, namely process-costing and job order-costing. MSMEs MMC Fashion Knitting one of the manufacturing companies in Bandung that produces based on orders (job order-costing) still uses the Cost Accounting Information System manually so that the owner does not know the exact production cost and gross profit of each order. This study aims to create a simple application to process the Accounting Information System of Job Order Costing that can help the company's operational activities. Descriptive-qualitative research methodology is being employed. Interviews and documentation in the form of primary and secondary data were used to acquire the information. The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) approach and Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 are used in this study's application design. The results of this study are the Accounting Information System of Job Order Costing Application which can produce output including sales order letter, production order letter, bill of material, production activities list, material stock report, cost of goods manufactured report, and income statement with variable costing method.

Evaluation of the carbon footprint of HFC and natural refrigerant transport refrigeration units from a life-cycle perspective

In recent years, the temperature-controlled transport sector has experienced a substantial growth, and this trend is expected to accelerate in the coming years. However, as the sector expands, it becomes imperative to address and mitigate the carbon footprint of transport refrigeration systems. The carbon footprint of a refrigeration system comprises both direct emissions from refrigerant leakage and indirect emissions derived from energy consumption.In this study, dynamic numerical simulations are used to evaluate the annual performance of a conventional HFC (R134a) transport refrigeration unit and of a newly developed natural refrigerant (R744) one employed in a multi-drop delivery mission in urban environment. Additionally, a simplified life cycle approach is used to compare the carbon footprint of these cooling units across various stages of the system supply chain, including refrigerant production and recycling, unit manufacturing, operation and disposal.Results show that the R744 unit presents significantly higher COP for high ambient temperatures, while its performance is degraded for low ambient temperatures due to low duty cycle. On annual basis, the R744 unit COP is 27.5 % higher than the R134a one. However, the increased weight of the R744 unit results in significantly higher emissions associated with fuel consumption required to transport the unit weight, leading to slightly higher fuel related emissions (+9.3 %) for the R744 unit.Nevertheless, the high GWP of R134a contributes to substantial direct emissions due to refrigerant leakages, resulting in an overall 31.9 % reduction in the lifetime CO2 equivalent emissions for the R744 unit when considering the total emissions.

Measuring Carbon Emissions from Green and Low-Carbon Full-Life-Cycle Feeding in Large-Scale Pig Production Systems: A Case Study from Shaanxi Province, China

In the pursuit of establishing a more environmentally sustainable and low-carbon hog farming system, the accurate quantification of emissions of greenhouse gas emanating from these systems, especially within the context of China, becomes imperative. Here, drawing insights from a life cycle approach, exhaustive field surveys, and context-specific analyses, we establish an emission measurement index system tailored to hog farming enterprises in China’s Shaanxi Province. Using this methodology, we probed the emission profiles and characteristics of three emblematic hog farming enterprises in the region. Our key findings are as follows: (1) The carbon dioxide emissions per kilogram of pork, factoring in feed cultivation, processing, and transportation, for Pucheng Xinliu Science and Technology, Baoji Zhengneng Farming, and Baoji Zhenghui Farming were quantified as 0.80298 kg, 1.52438 kg, and 0.81366 kg, respectively. (2) Presently, the methane emission coefficient due to enteric fermentation in large-scale hog farms in Shaanxi surpasses the default value set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). There appears to be a consistent underestimation of enteric methane emissions from live pigs in the province, as gauged against the IPCC metrics. Notably, the emission factor for fattening pigs averaged 2.61823 kgCH4/head/year, while that for breeding pigs stood at 2.96752 kgCH4/head/year. (3) When examining methane and nitrous oxide outputs from manure across various production stages, we observed that emissions from lactating pigs significantly outweigh those from other stages. Interestingly, nitrous oxide emissions from breeding pigs during fattening, finishing, and gestation remained nearly the same, regardless of the manure treatment method. (4) Under the management protocols followed by Pucheng and Baoji, the total carbon emissions from an individual fattening pig amounted to 328.5283 kg and 539.2060 kg, respectively, whereas for breeding pigs, these values were 539.2060 kg and 551.6733 kg, respectively. Further calculations showed that the average carbon footprint CF of large-scale pig farms in China was 3.6281 kgCO2/kg pork. In conclusion, optimizing feed cultivation and transportation logistics, promoting integrated breeding and rearing practices, refining feed formulation, and advancing manure management practices can collaboratively attenuate greenhouse gas emissions. Such synergistic approaches hold promise for steering the hog industry towards a greener, low-carbon, and sustainable trajectory.

Optimizing building solutions in a changing climate: parameter-based analysis of embodied and operational environmental impacts

Abstract Buildings contribute significantly to global energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Climate change affects building performance, particularly heating and cooling demands. While current policies focus on improving energy performance and reducing operational emissions, the embodied emissions from building materials become more significant in energy-efficient buildings. This study aims to investigate optimal building solutions considering both operational and embodied environmental impact in the context of climate change in the Belgian context. The research questions address the influence of building characteristics on environmental impact and the contribution of embodied and operational emissions to optimal design. The study employs parametric life cycle assessment and dynamic building energy simulation to explore design strategies for a medium-sized office building. The results reveal the trade-offs between operational and embodied impacts. Buildings with better energy performance exhibit higher embodied emissions, highlighting the importance of considering both aspects. Pareto optimal buildings are identified, minimizing total life cycle environmental cost and operational environmental cost. Insulation levels, solar shading, and orientation are key factors in achieving optimal design. HVAC systems and electricity mixes also significantly influence optimal solutions. Lightweight and heavyweight buildings have distinct characteristics affecting heating and cooling demands. Variations in electricity mixes impact energy consumption and environmental costs of different HVAC system scenarios. The study emphasizes the need for a holistic life cycle approach and considering both operational and embodied impacts in building design. It underscores the importance of optimizing building characteristics while addressing climate change challenges. Further research should explore additional factors such as night cooling, HVAC system performance under climate change, and the inclusion of financial costs and visual comfort in the analysis.

IMO 2023 strategy-Where are we and what’s next?

Maritime decarbonisation has been on the agenda for a long time. It is recognised as very important, even if the contribution of ships to global warming is relatively small. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the most authoritative international body on this issue, whose work is followed with interest and whose decisions are at the centre of academic and political debate. After many milestones in maritime decarbonisation, which started in 1997, IMO drawn a comprehensive roadmap with the Initial GHG Strategy published in 2018 and revised this roadmap with the 2023 GHG Strategy. The 2023 GHG Strategy was also developed concurrently with the LCA Guidelines, recognising the life cycle approach as an essential component for achiveing the objectives. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the 2023 GHG Strategy and the Guidelines and provide a critical perspective on the opportunities and challenges the maritime sector may face in the future. The study also provides some recommendations for future developments.

Perancangan dan Pembuatan E-Commerce Berbasis Web pada UMKM Bebek Perantau Khas Madura di Jakarta Pusat

Fried duck, a signature dish from Madura, is highly renowned. This duck is typically cooked with distinctive spices and served with sambal and rice. The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) 'Bebek Perantau Khas Madura' restaurant operates through direct on-site orders, limiting consumers' accessibility to processed duck food products. This research is motivated by the access constraints faced by certain consumers who find it challenging to spare time to visit the physical restaurant located at Jl. Citarum, Central Jakarta. The E-Commerce platform is anticipated to broaden consumers' access to the products and services offered by 'Bebek Perantau Khas Madura' restaurant in Jakarta. This research adopts the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) approach utilizing the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to design the E-Commerce platform. This platform is constructed using the PHP programming language with MySQL. An E-Commerce design solution is formulated to facilitate business interaction between consumers and the restaurant. Through this E-Commerce platform, it is expected that there will be an increase in the accessibility of products and services offered by 'Bebek Perantau Khas Madura' among consumers in Central Jakarta. The utilization of the E-Commerce platform as an alternative for ordering processed duck food products opens new opportunities for MSMEs to expand their market digitally. The successful implementation of this platform can reduce physical access barriers and enhance efficiency in business transactions.

Life cycle energy, economic, and environmental analysis for the direct-expansion photovoltaic-thermal heat pump system in China

The photovoltaic-thermal heat pump system, which integrates multiple energy technologies, can meet the building's diverse energy needs. This study evaluates the energy, economic, and environmental performance of a direct-expansion photovoltaic-thermal heat pump system for domestic hot water supply through a life cycle approach. The annual thermal and electrical outputs are estimated. On this basis, economic analysis is conducted with indicators of life cycle cost, levelized cost of heat, and investment payback time. Moreover, a detailed life cycle assessment is performed to evaluate the environmental impact, following three methods: cumulative energy demand, IPCC 2021 global warming potential, and ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint. Results show that the proposed system is highly effective, with a 9.67% increase in annual electricity output over traditional photovoltaic systems and a self-sufficient rate of 88.21%. The system also has a significantly lower environmental impact than conventional heating systems, with a life cycle environmental impact of only 3–5% compared to electric boilers. The environmental payback time ranges from 0.33 to 5.18 years, according to the three methods used in the study, which is shorter than the investment payback time of 2.49–5.21 years, suggesting the need for cost reduction for future promotion. Moreover, electricity consumption during the operation stage accounts for 32–52% of the total environmental impacts. Thus, decarbonization of the power grid and improvements in system efficiency can significantly reduce the system's environmental footprint. Overall, the photovoltaic-thermal heat pump system is an intriguing strategy for building energy conservation, offering high energy efficiency, acceptable costs, and low environmental impact.

Utilization of the Edupreneurship Monitoring Information System (SIMO-Edu) to Improve the Performance of Vocational High School (SMK) Collaborations, Partners and the Community in the Edupreneurship Process

This study aims to apply a monitoring information system model (SIMO-EduPKK in the edupreneurship process to improve the performance of collaboration between vocational high schools (SMK), partners and the community as well as to build partner trust in ordering SMK products. The edupreneuship monitoring information system model is designed to be able to facilitate the operational process of cooperation and monitoring of product manufacturing so that the edupreneuship process can run well and as a vehicle for introducing SMK products to the wider community. Researchers use the system development life cycle (SDLC) approach with the waterfall model method to develop a system to obtain an analysis that is in accordance with user needs in producing an information system and monitoring the edupreneurship process that is effectively used in enhancing cooperative relations between all related parties. The results of the research based on measuring questionnaires to teachers majoring in culinary management partners and the community show that the monitoring information system developed is effectively used in the process edupreneuship based on the response value given by teachers to the assessment category on related aspects through a questionnaire using the scala Likert was 96.15%, and the assessment from partners and the community was 95.31%, both of which were in the very practical category.

A Comprehensive Review of Software Development Life Cycle methodologies: Pros, Cons, and Future Directions

The software development process needs specific and studied steps within a reliable plan to achieve the requirements for the success of any project. Software development life cycle (SDLC) methodologies have provided several models that meet the needs of the various proposed projects. These methodologies present various scenarios that can be applied in the process of developing systems to make them more efficient and predictive. The paper aims to illuminate the paramount Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodologies by conducting a comprehensive review of the pros and cons of the various models widely used for software design. Furthermore, the paper discusses fundamental trajectories that are shaping the future landscape of SDLC methodologies. This review included two main types of software development life cycle approaches such as traditional SDLC (heavy-weight) and agile SDLC (light-weight) approaches. The traditional approach included several models such as the Waterfall model, Iterative model, Spiral model, V-Model, and Big Bang Model. Whereas, the agile approach included various models such as the eXtreme Programming (XP) Model, scrum Model, Feature Driven Development (FDD) Model, and Kanban Model. A comprehensive analytical study of all software development life cycle models was achieved and highlighted their most prominent strengths and weaknesses of them. SDLC methodologies wield substantial ramifications across a multitude of sectors, contingent upon several models tailored to individual developmental and research contexts. In culmination, the paper furnishes an all-encompassing perspective on paramount SDLC models, encompassing two principal paradigms: the traditional and the agile approaches. These encompass fundamental sub-models that encapsulate pioneering models poised for application in system development, thus facilitating their refinement more efficiently and predictably.

Circular life cycle sustainability assessment: An integrated framework

AbstractRobust monitoring and assessment methods are required to assess circular economy (CE) concepts in terms of their degree of circularity and their contribution to sustainability. This research aimed to develop an integrated framework for the CE context—considering both the technical circularity and the complexity of the three dimensions of sustainability (environment, economy, and social). Two existing methods were identified as an appropriate foundation: CE indicators and life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA), combining life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC), and social life cycle assessment (S‐LCA). The developed circular life cycle sustainability assessment (C‐LCSA) framework added circularity assessment (CA) as an additional dimension to LCSA (C‐LCSA = LCA + LCC + S‐LCA + CA). The abundance of CE indicators required a systematic selection process to identify the most appropriate indicators for the framework which was built on criteria levels, performance, loops, unit, dimension, and transversality. The material circularity indicator, product circularity indicator, and longevity indicator were identified as most suited for C‐LCSA. Being developed for a single life cycle, the traditional life cycle approaches needed refinements for application to CE concepts, derived from discussions and proposed adaptions presented in the academic literature. The cut‐off approach was identified as the most suitable end‐of‐life allocation method for C‐LCSA, being in line with the technical system boundaries. C‐LCSA can be used by LCA practitioners to identify trade‐offs between an improved circularity and resulting impacts on the environmental, economic, and social pillars to provide a basis for decision making in industrial ecology.

Study on the driving factors and decoupling effect of carbon emission from pig farming in China—based on LMDI and Tapio model

AbstractThe livestock sector accounts for 18% of total anthropogenic carbon emissions and is an important source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. China occupies a large proportion of total livestock carbon emissions worldwide, especially in the pig industry, which is significant to China's agricultural economy and also a key area for China to achieve the "Carbon peaking and Carbon neutrality goals." This study uses the life cycle approach to calculate the GHG emission status of China's pig farming industry from 2001 to 2020, and then, we establish a logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) model to identify the main driving factors and a Tapio decoupling model to analyze its decoupling status. We decompose the emission sources as well as decoupling index into five drivers: technological progress, livestock structure, policy bias, affluence, and population. The results reveal that the carbon emission of China's pig industry is in a weak growth trend and overall in a weak decoupling state but has volatility, which is closely related to the "Pig Cycle" in China. Decomposition analysis shows that increasing affluence and population growth are the main drivers of GHG emissions; simultaneously, technological progress, livestock structure, and policy bias are the main drivers of emission reduction. Meanwhile, technological and policy factors positively contribute to the decoupling status, while affluence level, population, and livestock structure changes negatively inhibit the decoupling status. The study concludes that technological advances, optimized economic structures, the guidance of green consumption patterns, and the solution to the "Pig Cycle" problem are crucial to further reduce GHG emissions from China's pig industry; meanwhile, technological changes have a dominant role in promoting carbon decoupling in pig farming.

Integrated life cycle sustainability assessment of the electricity generation sector in Bangladesh: Towards sustainable electricity generation

The electricity sector of Bangladesh has experienced a drastic expansion over the last decade, which will continue in the future. However, the country is not attaining optimal benefit from the sector due to discrepancies among its different components. Increased generation capacity based on fossil fuel sources is not only causing negative environmental impacts but also raising future energy security concerns. Stakeholders are unable to address these interconnected issues due to lack of adequate knowledge, which is leading to policy inconsistencies. This paper aims to evaluate the integrated sustainability of Bangladesh’s electricity generation, considering environmental, economic and social aspects using a life cycle approach. Eighteen sustainability indicators have been assessed for five electricity generation technologies currently in operation. Applying a multi-criteria decision analysis, all the technologies have been ranked considering equal as well as differing preferences for the three aspects. Solar power followed by hydropower is the most sustainable option when all aspects are given equal importance and priority is given to economic and social aspects. However, hydropower becomes the most sustainable option when the environmental aspect is prioritized. Among fossil sources, gas is the best and oil power is found as the least sustainable option in all preferences except the environmental aspect when coal becomes the worst. By identifying the disputes between different indicators, this study demonstrates the variations in the results of the integrated sustainability assessment that can be considered while planning improved energy policies for sustainable future electricity generation.

Fostering the use of sustainable design to reduce energy use and GHG emissions at Canadian universities: a life cycle cost analysis approach

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the application of sustainable building design and operation within a university setting to determine its economic efficacy and potential for further university investment. Design/methodology/approach This study incorporated a life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), simple payback period and discounted payback period calculations to determine the return on investment, including a sensitivity analysis when comparing the energy use and financial benefits of the sustainable design of a multi-use facility at Toronto Metropolitan University with buildings of similar size and use-type. Findings It was found that there is a positive business argument for Canadian Universities to consider the use of sustainable design to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A reasonable payback period and net present value within an institutional context were determined using a life-cycle cost assessment approach. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to the measure of only a single location. Certain assumptions regarding energy pricing and interest rates and the related sensitivities were anchored on a single year of time, and the results of this study may be subject to change should those prices or rates become significantly different over time. Considerations for future research include a longitudinal approach combined with a more detailed analysis of the effect of use-type on the variables discussed. Practical implications For university administrators, the results of this study may encourage institutions such as universities to approach new building projects through the lens of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Social implications GHG emissions are a well-proven contributor to global climate change, and buildings remain a significant source of GHG emissions in Canada due to their winter heating and summer cooling loads. As a result, sustainable building design on university campuses can mitigate this impact by optimizing and reducing energy consumption. Originality/value Research related to the economic evaluation of sustainable building design on university campuses is generally limited, and this study represents the first of its kind in regard to an LCCA of a sustainably designed building on a Canadian University campus.

Investigating the environmental and economic impacts of using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) using the life cycle approach

Concrete production significantly contributes to the construction industry's carbon emissions and resource depletion. Replacing Portland cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) can improve the sustainability and performance of concrete. However, limited holistic research compares SCMs considering environmental, economic, durability, and strength criteria. This study comprehensively evaluates supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete production using life cycle assessment. The SCMs examined were rice husk ash (RHA), sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), metakaolin (MK), and trass. The study quantified CO2 emissions, cost, compressive strength, and service life of concrete mixes with these SCMs and compared them to ordinary Portland cement concrete. The findings reveal that the 15 % metakaolin replacement sample had the best overall performance. It reduced CO2 emissions of one m3 of concrete per year of service life by 83 % and costs of one m3 per year by 78 % compared to ordinary concrete. The metakaolin concrete also increased the compressive strength by 25 % and extended the service life from 8 to 43 years in a marine environment. Among the SCMs, RHA demonstrated a 90 % reduction in CO2 emissions per service life year and unit compressive strength compared to ordinary concrete. SCBA had the highest cost due to high production requirements. Trass offered a 44 % decrease in CO2 emissions per service life year and unit compressive strength. The results highlight metakaolin's optimal balance between sustainability and performance. The reduced CO2 emissions demonstrate SCMs' potential to lower the construction industry's carbon footprint. The study offers original data and insights to enable greener and lower carbon concrete production using supplementary cementitious materials.

Environmental and Economic Sustainability Impacts of Metal Additive Manufacturing: A Study in the Industrial Machinery and Aeronautical Sectors

Metal additive manufacturing has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional manufacturing in various industries, offering advantages like complex geometries and reduced material waste. However, there is a research gap in the form of comparative and industry-specific investigations and case studies to comprehensively assess the environmental and economic impact of metal additive manufacturing.This study focuses on two significant sectors, industrial machinery and aeronautics, to understand how metal additive manufacturing influences environmental and economic sustainability compared to conventional manufacturing. Therefore, taking a life cycle approach, the environmental and economic impacts of this technology are evaluated and compared to conventional manufacturing through representative case studies in the two sectors using life cycle assessment and life cycle cost methodologies.The economic evaluation reveals that metal additive manufacturing reduces the total cost for aeronautical components by 33.2 %, even considering several post-processing operations. While for industrial machinery parts, this cost increases by 79.3 % due to high machine and material cost. However, this technology reduces the potential environmental impact by more than 60 % for both sectors, mainly due to reduced material consumption. The use phase for aeronautical components further contributes to environmental and economic benefits, with significant fuel and CO2 emissions savings. The results emphasize the sector-dependent nature of metal additive manufacturing's environmental and economic impact and underscore the importance of a life cycle perspective for informed decision-making.Some critical points for sustainable adoption of metal additive manufacturing in each sector are equipment investment, the post-processing applied, the material selected or, for the aeronautical industry, the impact of the use phase. Nevertheless, future developments are needed to address powder reuse, optimization, certification, and the social impact of metal additive manufacturing.

Exploring Unconventional Sources in Big Data: A Data Lifecycle Approach for Social and Economic Analysis with Machine Learning

This study delves into the realm of leveraging unconventional sources within the domain of Big Data for conducting insightful social and economic analyses. Employing a Data Lifecycle Approach, the research focuses on harnessing the potential of linear regression, random forest, and XGBoost techniques to extract meaningful insights from unconventional data sources. The study encompasses a structured methodology involving data collection, preprocessing, feature engineering, model selection, and iterative refinement. By applying these techniques to diverse datasets, encompassing sources like social media content, sensor data, and satellite imagery, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of social and economic trends. The results obtained through these methods contribute to an enhanced comprehension of the intricate relationships within societal and economic systems, further highlighting the importance of unconventional data sources in driving valuable insights for decision-makers and researchers alike.

Developing a material selection index based on circularity: A multiple lifecycle approach

Material selection is one of the most influencing tasks regarding circularity performance for a product. Since it largely defines the ability to recirculate and last longer through the reuse, remanufacture, refurbishment, or recycling of a product from its material processability and durability properties. However, existing approaches to selecting materials are not formally linked to the Circular Economy (CE) concept and do not contemplate recirculation and longevity attributes during the selection process. To contribute to that research direction, this article presents a selection material approach denominated Extended Material Circularity (EMC) which considers the ability to close and extend the loop of materials and the cumulated carbon footprint associated with multiple lifecycles. The EMC aims to provide a robust methodological approach to facilitate material selection when circularity is considered an essential requirement. The implementation of the EMC approach is demonstrated through two case studies considering both materials with dissimilar nature and materials within the same family.