Environmental Assessment Methods Research Articles

The impact of Jordanian natural zeolite and silica fume on concrete performance sustainability

This study evaluates the combined impact of Jordanian natural zeolite and silica fume as additional cementitious materials (SCMs) on concrete mixtures. A normal mix, special concrete with natural zeolite, and other concrete with zeolite and silica fumes were prepared, focusing on various cement replacement percentages. The research emphasizes sustainability through efficient energy use and environmental preservation. Concrete specimens were tested for tensile splitting, compressive, and flexural strengths at 7 and 28 days to evaluate mechanical properties. Additionally, the study assessed permeability (water absorption), durability (sulfate resistance), and carbon footprint reduction using environmental impact assessment (EIA) methods for better performance investigation. Results showed that a 10% cement replacement with natural zeolite significantly improved permeability and durability compared to the normal mix. In contrast, combining silica fume and zeolite in concrete adversely affected concrete strengths. Microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopic images and X-ray diffraction analyzed mixture compositions with a significant reduction in microcracks. These results highlight the challenges of SCMs to improve concrete durability and strength in rigid pavement applications, presenting realistic paths for the development of sustainable infrastructure with high-performance concrete.

Environmental life cycle assessment methods applied to amine-ionic liquid hybrid CO2 absorbents

Environmental life cycle assessment methods applied to amine-ionic liquid hybrid CO2 absorbents

Conceptual design and environmental evaluation of the Biorefinery approach for R-phycoerythrin extraction and purification.

Marine algae are considered promising resources both at present and in the near future. Their availability, together with their molecular structure and properties, increases their applicability in various sectors: food and feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and bioenergy. However, the "bio" qualification does not always imply a lower impact compared to fossil-based process schemes. Therefore, to verify the suitability of algae-based scenarios from a sustainable and circular perspective, it is necessary to assess their sustainability potential through process modelling (scaling up from laboratory scale to evaluate their potential at commercial level), environmental assessment (using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method) and circularity analysis (by quantifying circularity indicators focusing on recovery, waste management and effective use of resources). In this context, this research report focused on the techno-economic assessment (TEA) and LCA of three alternative scenarios based on the extraction of R-phycoerythrin from offshore harvested macroalgae: water extraction followed by enzymatic digestion (S01), ultrasound-assisted extraction (S02) and water extraction (S03). In addition, the evaluation of environmental, social and circularity indicators and the application of the Greenness Grid methodology were included. According to the results obtained, S01 is the most promising alternative among the three scenarios due to its process productivity, lower environmental impact and potential sustainable scenario score according to the Green Chemistry assessment. Regarding the economic perspective, S03 is the only one that does not reach economic viability. Future studies should focus on improving process efficiency, promoting the use of renewable energy resources and supporting technological progress in emerging extraction processes.

Accounting for Land-Use Changes in Environmental Impact Assessments of Wood Products: A Review

Environmental policy and the expansion of the bioeconomy sector has led to increased demand for wood and wood products, pressuring forests. In order to meet additional demand, foresters must either intensify forest management practices or alter forest area. One of the more observable shifts in forest management comes in the form of changes in land use or land cover. Yet despite the many short- and long-term consequences of land-use change, the environmental impacts of it are less explored in forestry than in agriculture. In this paper, we conduct a literature review over the period between 1993 and 2022 to better understand how the notions of land-use and land-cover change are included in environmental impact assessments related to the production of wood and wood products. Specifically, we identified five categories of impacts studied and found a surprising dichotomy in terminology between land-use/land-cover change and changes in forest management practices. We present general trends in the methods and indicators used and discuss potential methodological and conceptual challenges inherent to this literature. Our results are particularly important in light of the growing popularity of land-use and land-cover data in research, as we highlight how they have been integrated into existing environmental impact assessment methods and how we can improve them going into the future.

The problem of appointment and implementation of environmental expertise during the war

This article discusses the issue of appointing and conducting environmental impact assessments in the context of military operations, which is extremely important in the modern world, where armed conflicts are increasingly affecting the environment. Analyzed how war affects the ecological state of the territories, as well as the difficulties encountered in organizing and conducting expert assessments aimed at assessing the environmental impact of military operations. The main issues discussed include legal issues of conducting research, ensuring the safety of experts and the need to adapt existing methods and techniques to extreme conditions. Particular attention is paid to the legal aspects of environmental assessment in wartime. It is noted that in many countries that have experienced armed conflicts, legislation does not always provide for clear procedures for conducting such studies, which complicates their implementation. In addition, an inadequate legal framework may complicate the recognition of research results as evidence in court. It is proposed to amend the legislation to regulate the details of environmental research in conflict zones and ensure an adequate level of legal protection and support for experts. Equally important is the issue of the safety of experts conducting research in the context of military operations. War creates many risks to the life and health of professionals. This article discusses strategies that can be implemented to protect experts, such as providing special assistance and using modern technologies for remote environmental monitoring. Adapting environmental assessment methods to extreme situations is an important step towards increasing their effectiveness and reliability. The article also draws attention to the need for international cooperation and coordination of efforts in conducting environmental assessments in conflict zones. In today’s globalized world, environmental problems caused by war often transcend national borders and have regional or even global implications. Joint research, data and technology sharing between states and international organizations can significantly improve the effectiveness of assessments and reduce the negative environmental impacts of armed conflict. It is also important to develop international standards and protocols to harmonize approaches to conducting such assessments and ensure their objectivity and international recognition.

Can batik craft products in the red-light area improve sustainable social and economic impact? A case study of the largest former prostitution area in Southeast Asia

The batik industry in the ex-Dolly area of Surabaya has undergone significant transformation from its history as a red-light district to a hub for creative batik production. This study aims to assess the environmental and social impacts of the development batik industry in the ex-Dolly area using the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) method. Through a qualitative case study approach, key stakeholders including batik artisans, local communities, and government agencies were engaged to evaluate the industry's sustainability and development. Baseline data collection and impact assessments revealed both positive and negative effects on the environment and social well-being of artisans. Mitigation measures were proposed to address issues such as water pollution, waste management, and working conditions. The results and discussions highlighted the importance of sustainable practices and community involvement in enhancing batik industry's overall impact. The study concludes that by implementing targeted strategies and monitoring mechanisms, the batik industry in the ex-Dolly area can achieve long-term sustainability and positive social outcomes. The implications of this research extend to policymakers, industry stakeholders, and local communities, emphasizing the need for responsible environmental and social practices in the development of creative industries.

Environmental risk assessment method for dense tailings ponds areas – a case study of the Yellow River Basin of Henan Province, China

Tailings ponds are the final storage site for tailings associated with mine extraction and hydrometallurgical processing, and are a major source of environmental risk. This study establishes a comprehensive evaluation method of environmental risk in the tailings ponds region and proposes the identification method of key risk factors. According to the indicator scores and indicator weights, the comprehensive environmental risk index for tailings reservoirs can be calculated, and, based on this index, the level of risk can be categorized into four classes(low, medium, high, super high). The highest of the first three indicators is recognized as the key risk factor. Subsequently, the Yellow River Basin in Henan Province was evaluated. The risk level of the tailings ponds in the Yellow River Basin gradually increases from north to south. This is because a higher total number of tailings impoundments in the south, and excessive proximity to rivers, and so on. The northern medium-low risk area centered on the Jiyuan and the southern medium-high risk area centered on Luanchuan have been observed. These results provide critical decision support the comprehensive prevention and control of tailing pond risks.

Do green certifications add value? Feedback from high-level stakeholders in the Spanish office market

The transition towards a decarbonized European economy by 2050 provides numerous opportunities for companies in the real estate sector to integrate sustainable actions into their assets. In the office industry, green certifications are designed to disclose how sustainable a building is and to enable comparison among peers. This paper uses semi-structured interviews with experts in real estate and sustainability to offer qualitative insights into the decision-making process behind the voluntary certification of office buildings with green certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design -LEED- or Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method -BREEAM-. It may shed light on emerging trends in the sustainable real estate market. The findings, separated into economic, social and technical dimensions, show deep, widespread implementation of green certifications in sustainability-sensitive demand and supply. They function as a discard or brown discount vector, rather than as a green premium. Expert commentary on how certifications influence asset values has been cautious, due to insufficient data. Furthermore, the benefits of green financing are disputed. Other vectors, such as carbon footprint and European taxonomy alignment, have gained relevance in investment and operational processes.

Sustainable warehouse management: a literature review and future research agenda

PurposeWarehouses, essential nodes in the supply chain, significantly contribute to sustainability issues, accounting for about 11% of emissions related to logistics activities. The purpose of this study is to review articles on sustainable warehouse management (SWM) from the Scopus database to analyze trends, synthesize existing knowledge, and identify research gaps for future studies.Design/methodology/approachThe review uses text mining of initial relevant documents to create a search string for paper retrieval. Text mining is further used to generate a dendrogram of the most frequently used words in the research papers, which is then analyzed to identify themes and sub-themes in SWM.FindingsThe dendrogram reveals four major themes and their sub-themes within SWM, including two novel themes: sustainable warehouse in green logistics and sustainable warehouse location. In addition, 12 research recommendations are identified through content analysis and are subsequently linked to specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Research limitations/implicationsThe methodological innovation in keyword selection for searching relevant papers and identifying themes serves as a structured template for researchers to explore further.Practical implicationsThe research recommendations, aligned with the SDGs, aim to assist managers in making informed decisions and operational strategies to enhance factors associated with the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method and the sustainable performance of warehouses.Originality/valueThis study is novel in its application of text-mining techniques to generate a search string for identifying relevant papers and discerning themes by analyzing the dendrogram.

Современные технические решения и комплексный подход к ликвидации очагов горения и свалок твердых коммунальных отходов

Due to the growth of the number of solid municipal waste landfills and in case of ignition, the issue of prevention and elimination of fires is extremely crucial. The study aims to the discuss possibilities of a comprehensive solution for the problem of managing environmental risks of solid municipal waste landfills near urbanized areas, which are caused by frequent fires in waste layers. Based on the systemic approach principles, environmental risk assessment and management methods have been applied, including the method of geo-ecological zoning and geo-ecological mapping of landfills; the fire equipment used for fire-extinguishing in waste layers has been upgraded as well. To reach the goal of the study, the work is to be implemented in three stages. Within the first stage, the primary identification of environmental risks of landfills occurring due to various causes is advisable. Within the second stage, in accordance with numerical values of physical and chemical parameters obtained within the first stage, the established environmental risks are assessed using a number of threshold methods. The potential application of non-threshold assessment methods is conditioned by the content of a number of carcinogenic substances in the waste layer. The third stage is dedicated to the direct extinguishing of fires occurring and developing both on the surface and in shallow depths (up to 10–15 cm) of waste layers. According to the results of the study, one of the modern solutions for the issue is the suggested innovative mechanism of environmental risk management for solid municipal waste landfills based on the example of the Rostov region relying on the application of modern techniques and technologies. This field of scientific research is prospective and of high practical and scientific value.

Comparative analysis of Environmental Impact of Each Building Material using Life Cycle assessment(LCA)_Focusing on Types of Construction Wood and Concrete

Objectives:The construction sector is a very important sector in achieving carbon neutrality. In modern society, construction has grown rapidly, and basic materials such as cement and concrete have contributed greatly to the development of construction. These materials emit a large amount of global warming substances during the raw material extraction and production process, causing serious environmental pollution. In order to establish a carbon reduction strategy to slow down global warming, we compared the environmental impacts of each building material and showed the current situation.Methods:The LCI DB for the construction materials used in the two-story wooden house (Building area 128.67m2, total floor area 235.73m2) located in the National Institute of Forest Science was extracted. Then, the data for LCA was processed and performed through the life cycle assessment methodology for the resources consumed from raw material collection, material production, and transportation stages. Then, based on the environmental performance labeling impact assessment method, a study was conducted on the environmental impact categories of the actual construction materials used and comparisons with other construction materials.Results and Discussion:When analyzing the environmental impact of concrete [25-21-120] and construction wood used in wooden house, the environmental impact was found to be 98.79% higher on average in the pre-manufacturing stage than in the manufacturing stage, and construction wood was confirmed to have a reduction effect of 62.21 kg CO2-eq per 1 m3 compared to concrete. Through the scenario, there was a carbon reduction effect of up to 36% when the entire area was replaced with wood. In addition, the environmental impact by major construction material was quantitatively quantified.Conclusion:When building a wooden house, reducing the amount of concrete equivalent to the amount of wood is expected to have a greenhouse gas reduction effect, so it is time to activate construction wood from the production process to the post-production stage to replace concrete. In addition, follow-up research on the development of construction technology with low environmental impact during construction should be continued. This study is expected to be used as a useful indicator for R&D and policies in the construction field in the future, as it quantitatively quantified the amount of CO2 reduction per m3 when replacing concrete with construction wood and numerically compared and analyzed six major environmental impact categories by major construction materials.

Sustainability Assessment of Agricultural Waste Biogas Production System in China Based on Emergy and Carbon Evaluation Methods

Biogas production is widely recognized as an effective solution for addressing agricultural waste treatment in rural areas. However, its development is often hindered by economic and environmental constraints. This study combined emergy evaluation and carbon footprint analysis methods to establish a new environmental radius assessment model for evaluating the ecological performance and optimization direction of an agricultural waste biogas production system, using a biogas production company in China as a case study. Compared with the straw return model and straw power generation model, the results of emergy indicators and carbon accounting showed that the biogas production model had a lower environmental load and higher economic output and level of emergy sustainability. Additionally, the biogas production system was found to reduce 0.47 kg of carbon emissions per 1 kg of agricultural waste utilized. The application of the biogas production model in rural areas had high ecological sustainability and carbon emission reduction benefits. Environmental radius assessment results confirmed that the reasonable changes in resource collection distance could further enhance the ecological sustainability, carbon mitigation ability, and economic benefits of the biogas production system. The environmental radius assessment method offers a new approach to the location planning of agricultural waste biogas utilization companies in rural areas.

A comparison of results with different logging rates using ISO/PAS 1996-3:2022

Noise with prominent impulsive sound is more annoying than continuous types of noise (without impulses) with the same equivalent sound pressure level. Therefore, an adjustment is added to the measured LAeq if prominent impulsive sound is present. In ISO 1996, three categories of impulsive sound are defined, with adjustments for each. The list of sources of impulsive sound for each category is incomplete. ISO/PAS 1996-3 defines an objective method to measure the prominence of impulsive sound relative to residual sound. This can be used to categorize the impulsive sources, complementing the ISO 1996-2 environmental noise assessment method. The method is based on logging LpAF with 10-25 ms time intervals. Short-term LAeq (e.g. 10 ms), although not preferred, can be used to compute these values. 100 ms sampling is permitted for surveys and screening. Annex A of ISO/PAS 1996-3 PAS encourages further research to support the development of a full ISO standard. This includes the application of real-world sources assessed at receiver locations including typical signal to residual noise ratios. This paper describes such a study under these conditions that investigates the impact of the time intervals on results.

A-177 Using the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method to maximise the Environmental Social Governance benefits of building a pathology hub laboratory

Abstract Background Organisations focusing on Environmental Social Governance (ESG) factors do not just benefit society and the planet, they also enjoy better performance across key profitability metrics, driven by higher growth and productivity, lower operational costs and enhanced return on investment. SYNLAB’s new Synnovis Pathology Hub, built in partnership with the National Health Service (NHS), is a high-tech purpose-built laboratory building with construction completing in Spring 2024. It will serve more than 1.7 million people in the southeast London region delivering both routine and special diagnostics in support of a 15-year NHS pathology contract. The redevelopment of the site presented an opportunity to closely align SYNLAB company strategy with the delivery of its ESG ambitions, as well as achieve financial and operational sustainability. Methods BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a standardised framework within which SYNLAB could collaborate with the building landlord and Hub delivery partners. BREEAM assessment categories are: energy, land use and ecology, water, health and wellbeing, pollution, transport, materials, waste and management. Applying the intent of SYNLAB’s ESG strategy to the hub build programme, setting this expectation with stakeholders, and using BREEAM as a platform on which to track and report ESG benefits ensured ESG and related deliverables were high on the agenda to be captured and delivered. Results The hub is on track to achieve the BREEAM Excellent rating which means it will rank within the top 10% of commercial buildings in the UK in terms of ESG benefits. Contributors to this achievement include: Recycling over 85% of materials during construction, saving more than 500 tonnes of materials from going to waste; Incorporation of changing rooms and 56 cycle rack spaces to encourage healthy and sustainable travel, helping to keep London’s air clean and reduce CO2e emissions; An Energy Management System within the Building Management System providing detailed area by area analysis and control. Along with water metering per floor, this helps SYNLAB to understand usage and focus process improvements; An energy efficient air handling system, a key area of opportunity for laboratory energy efficiency; Conformity with EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, for example by limiting the flow rate of water to prevent wastage; Reuse of materials within the building, for example by relocating seating, private call areas, glass walls; Reuse of materials externally through donations to charitable organisations, for example televisions and fridges were given to a local care home, improving the residents’ quality of life; Working with local schools and wider the community. Conclusions Incorporating BREEAM ESG criteria from the early stages of planning in construction projects provide a higher likelihood of stakeholder buy-in, adoption and delivery. Pathology networks are considered key in delivering the national ambitions set out within the Long-Term Plan for the NHS and there is increased government and social pressure driving healthcare businesses to adopt ESG. There is the opportunity within Pathology networking and Pathology new builds to harness these benefits from the outset and lay the long term foundations for ESG within healthcare for future sustainability.

Managing the noise environment in the context of densification: Issues, expertise, methods, and limits

Urban densification is often proposed as a solution to ecological problems. Various densification models are studied in the literature, but noise aspects are often neglected. Based on a case study in Quebec City, environmental noise assessment methods (manual and automatic surveys, simulation, etc.) have been explored to identify the skills, expertise, and data needed to integrate the noise dimension into densification projects, and how to choose a model suited to the urban planning context. The availability and quality of data will also be assessed to identify any gaps. Using a combination of morphological analysis and sound simulations, the results will provide a better understanding of the influence of sound quality on densification choices. A discussion about the implications for sustainable urban planning and residents' quality of life, as well as the criteria to be considered in densification strategies to integrate the noise environment effectively. This project will provide answers on the impact of densification models on the noise environment and urban quality of life and allow the development of a framework for improved urban practices.

A Comprehensive Evaluation Method for Environmental Pollution in Tourist Attractions Based on Improved Principle Component Analysis

In order to address the problem of the reliability of current environmental pollution assessment methods, a comprehensive assessment method of environmental pollution in tourist scenic spots based on improved principle component analysis was proposed. First air, water, and soil pollution for data tourist attractions in the top 5 metropolitan cities of India are collected. Then, the original pollution data is cleaned, the data clustering method is used to classify the pollution data, and the comprehensive evaluation index system of environmental pollution in tourist attractions is established. Finally, the comprehensive evaluation method is implemented to calculate the evaluation values of various indicators, and the comprehensive assessment results of pollution at tourist attractions are obtained. The experimental results show that the correlation of the evaluation index is always controlled above 0.90, the convergence rate of the method is fast, the optimal solution can be approached within 150 iterations, and the application effect is good. Received: 18 March 2024 | Revised: 6 September 2024 | Accepted: 25 September 2024 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Shridhar Kedar: Conceptualization, Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Visualization, Supervision; Nilesh Kolhalkar: Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - review & editing, Visualization; Prerna Mishra: Resources, Data curation, Writing - review & editing, Supervision.

Study on the Precise Evaluation of Environmental Impacts of Air Pollution in Cold Regions Using the Cost Control Method

Objective: With the acceleration of industrialization, air pollution has become a global environmental issue, particularly in cold regions where the unique climatic and geographical conditions give rise to distinctive types of air pollution and impacts. Considering the economic evaluation of environmental damage is crucial for effective pollution control policies, this study aims to provide a more precise environmental damage assessment method through the Improved Virtual Control Cost Method (IVCCM) to optimize air pollution governance strategies in cold regions. Method: This study utilizes a case study of a major company producing methanol and coal-based natural gas, where the emissions from the boiler exhaust exceeded the prescribed standards for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides during a specific period. By employing a segmented counting approach that accounts for downtime, precise calculations were conducted for the actual periods of excess emissions. Adjustments were made to the calculation coefficients within the Virtual Control Cost Method to more accurately reflect the ecological damage caused by air pollution. Results: The IVCCM calculations revealed that the total environmental loss caused by the company’s excessive air pollution emissions amounted to USD 1.6844 million, significantly lower than the original calculation method (USD 2.1885 million). Specifically, the environmental losses due to particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides were USD 0.0032 million, USD 0.3600 million, and USD 1.3212 million, respectively. Conclusions: The IVCCM enables a more precise assessment and prediction of ecological environmental damage caused by air pollution in cold regions. Compared to traditional methods, it effectively reduces assessment costs, mitigates disputes arising from unclear parameter values and calculation methods, and facilitates the development of more rational environmental protection policies and measures.

Industrial Environmental Impact Assessment Method Based on Detection of Complex Anomalies in Time Series

Industrial Environmental Impact Assessment Method Based on Detection of Complex Anomalies in Time Series

Innovation Ecosystems and Green Building Techniques for a Sustainable Future: Leveraging Advanced Technologies

The global movement towards environmental stewardship and sustainability largely depends on innovation ecosystems, green building techniques, and sustainable development. This study explores their future potential, focusing on how advanced technologies, eco-friendly materials, and sustainable practices could mitigate climate change and enhance environmental quality. Innovation ecosystems are crucial for advancing green technology, circular economy principles, and sustainable urban design by fostering collaboration among corporations, governments, academic institutions, and civil society. The study also investigates how the effectiveness and impact of these ecosystems can be enhanced through digital transformation technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI). Employing green building techniques is essential for reducing a building’s environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. This study highlights recent advancements in green technology, including sophisticated building management systems, energy-efficient HVAC systems, improved insulation materials, and the integration of renewable energy sources. The establishment of sustainability standards and the promotion of environmentally friendly practices rely heavily on certifications like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). The paper addresses the necessity of integrated solutions to balance environmental, social, and economic dimensions for sustainability. It also examines the role of regulations, the promotion of sustainable culture through public awareness and education, and innovative concepts such as net-zero energy buildings and biophilic design. By leveraging these advancements and concepts, we can pave the way for a more environmentally sensitive and sustainable future.

Rethinking the China-U.S. Trade balance from 2001–2020 based on emergy perspective

In the year 2018, escalating trade imbalances between China and the United States led to a trade war over tariffs and trade policies that garnered global attention. While trade deficits are primarily reflected in currency terms, trade involves a broader exchange of different resources. Hence, this study employs Emergy Accounting approach (EMA), an environmental quality-oriented assessment method, to collect official statistical data from both countries and consider differences in statistical data weight. Utilizing the NEAD V2.0 database, this research calculates and discusses the total emergy flow, trade imbalances, and structures in China-U.S. trade from 2001 to 2020. Additionally, it computes and analyzes emergy indicators, delving into the dynamic changes in the emergy values of various categories of goods. The results indicate a gradual balance in the emergy trade deficit between China and the United States, with both countries benefiting from the trade. Specifically, China benefits from importing raw materials from the United States, while the U.S. gains from importing inexpensive embodied labor from China. Considering differences in data statistical calibers and applying the EMA contribute to a more accurate understanding of the trade situation and the correction or prevention of errors. The Emergy theory provides a new perspective for a comprehensive assessment of trade relationships. China and the United States have the potential to establish a fairer, more balanced, collaborative, and sustainable trade relationship, contributing to global sustainable development.