Technical Sustainability Research Articles

Catálogo de directrices de sostenibilidad para soportar el desarrollo y operación de software sostenible desde la ingeniería de requisitos

Sustainability constitutes one of the major challenges of today's society, in particular the sustainability of ICTs and more specifically of software. Requirements engineers need guidelines to successfully address sustainability in software projects. With this goal in mind, the CRETS4DevOps method has been designed to manage requirements in DevOps environments while promoting sustainability, especially technical sustainability. CRETS4DevOps encompasses a catalog of sustainability requirements, which helps in the reuse of expert knowledge in order to address the management of software quality attributes that result in sustainability, namely: modularity, scalability, flexibility, reusability, maintainability, reliability, security, interoperability and efficiency. This catalog is intended to assist practitioners both in software development and operation as well as in a sustainability audit. A tool to support CRETS4DevOps is currently being developed as a plug in for Microsoft Azure DevOps.

Photovoltaic pumping tests: A novel supervision method for photovoltaic water pumping systems

Water pumps powered by photovoltaic energy, often named ‘photovoltaic water pumping systems’ (PVWPS), offer a promising solution for improving water access in developing regions. Regular pumping tests are essential for characterizing boreholes and ensuring sustainable groundwater extraction. Traditionally, these tests are conducted only at the time of PVWPS installation using diesel pumps. However, since PVWPS typically have a lifespan of around 20 years, the borehole's condition may change over time, necessitating ongoing testing. To overcome this challenge, this article presents a novel method for conducting pumping tests using the PVWPS's own photovoltaic modules as the power source, greatly simplifying regular borehole monitoring over the PVWPS's lifespan. This approach improves the long-term technical sustainability of PVWPS. By eliminating the need for diesel generators, it reduces also costs, emissions, and logistical complexity while ensuring continuous water supply during testing. The principle and protocol for these proposed tests are outlined, as well as the key indicators for analysis. Furthermore, the associated costs and benefits are thoroughly explored. The proposed method is applied to a PVWPS in a village in Burkina Faso. This PVWPS has 750 Wp of photovoltaic modules, a 10 m³ water tank, and a 56 m borehole. Results show that the photovoltaic pumping tests allow to accurately determine borehole parameters, achieving a model fit with an average R2 of 0.99. Additionally, a photovoltaic pumping test costs $43, which is significantly lower than standard pumping tests: a multiple step drawdown test costs $511 and a long pumping test costs $2050. Moreover, the proposed photovoltaic pumping tests can prevent premature replacements of PVWPS components, leading to significant savings. While demonstrated in a specific context, this method is transferable to other systems, offering potential benefits for companies, local authorities, governments, and NGOs involved in the development and maintenance of PVWPS in rural areas.

A Multidisciplinary Approach for the Sustainable Technical Design of a Connected, Automated, Shared and Electric Vehicle Fleet for Inner Cities

The increasing volume of personal motorized vehicles (PMVs) in cities has become a serious issue leading to congestion, noise, air pollution and high land consumption. To ensure the sustainability of urban transportation, it is imperative to transition the current transportation paradigm toward a more sustainable state. Transitions within socio-technical systems often arise from niche innovation. Therefore, this paper pursues the technical optimization of such a niche innovation by applying a technical sustainability perspective on an innovative mobility and logistics concept within a case study. This case study is based on a centrally managed connected, automated, shared and electric (CASE) vehicle fleet which might replace PMV use in urban city centers of the future. The key technical system components of the envisioned mobility and logistics concept are analyzed and optimized with regard to economic, ecological and social sustainability dimensions to maximize the overall sustainability of the ecosystem. Specifically, this paper identifies key challenges and proposes possible solutions across the vehicle components as well as the orchestration of the vehicles’ operations within the envisioned mobility and logistics concept. Thereby, the case study gives an example of how different engineering disciplines can contribute to different sustainability dimensions, highlighting the interdependences. Finally, the discussion concludes that the early integration of sustainability considerations in the technical optimization efforts of innovative transportation systems can provide an important building block for the transition of the current transportation paradigm to a more sustainable state.

Application of In-House Xylanases as an Addition to a Commercial Cellulase Cocktail for the Sustainable Saccharification of Pretreated Blue Agave Bagasse Used for Bioethanol Production

The study involves the use of commercial cellulase Cellic CTec2 in combination with two in-house xylanases, PxXyn10A (XynA), a recombinant purified enzyme from Paenibacillus xylanivorans A59, and a xylanase enzymatic extract from native Moesziomyces aphidis PYCC 5535T (MaPYCC 5535T), for the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated blue agave bagasse (BAB) at the high solids load of 20% (w/v). Three different combinations of cellulase and xylanases were evaluated. When Cellic® CTec2 was used at a dosage of 10 FPU/g oven-dried solids (ODS) supplemented with XynA or MaPYCC 5535T at an endo-xylanase dosage of 100 U/g ODS, increases in the xylose yield of 30% and 33%, respectively, were obtained. When applying in-house xylanases alone (at an endo-xylanase dosage of 100 U/g ODS), xylan in BAB was selectively hydrolyzed into xylose with 5% yield with MaPYCC 5535T, while no xylose was detected with XynA. Interestingly, a synergic effect of Cellic® CTec 2 with both xylanases was observed when using a low dosage of 1 FPU/g ODS (allowing for some liquefaction of the reaction mixture), promoting xylose and glucose release by either xylanase. A higher concentration of monomeric sugars was obtained with 10 FPU/g ODS of Cellic® Ctec 2 supplemented with 100 U/g ODS of MaPYCC 5535T, followed by XynA. The improvement in saccharification through the synergistic combination of in-house xylanases and commercial cellulases allows for the obtention of sugar-rich hydrolysates, which enhances the technical sustainability of the process. Hydrolysates were then fermented using recombinant Cellux 4TM yeast to yield 45 g/L ethanol, representing an increase of about 30% with respect to the control obtained with only the commercial cellulase cocktail. The surface modification of agave biomass with the different combinations of enzymes was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

A Critical Literature Review on Blockchain Technology Adoption in Supply Chains

Inspired by the discontinuation of the blockchain platform TradeLens, co-developed by IBM and Maersk, due to the lack of the involved supply chain stakeholders’ adoption, a critical literature review on the models of supply chain stakeholders’ adoption of blockchain applications was conducted. This review is significant as it provides insights into the exploration of a more universal approach to investigate which factors really influence blockchain adoption, which is a pre-requisite for the technical sustainability of blockchain technology in supply chains. As observed in the review, the technology acceptance model (TAM), the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework, and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) are frequently used in the literature, but little attention has been paid to whether blockchain technology fits the users’ tasks in understanding blockchain adoption in the supply chain. Among the technology adoption theories, task–technology fit (TTF) considers whether a technology fits the tasks, but only two previous studies involved the use of TTF. This study discusses the suitability of these existing models of technology adoption for blockchain applications in supply chains and comes up with a new unified model, namely TOE-TTF-UTAUT. This review also has implications for a more appropriate conceptual research design using mixed methods.

Sustaining Community-Based Research in Computing: Lessons from Two Tech Capacity Building Initiatives for Local Businesses

The field of human-computer interaction (HCI) has traditionally focused on the design of novel technology artifacts. However, ensuring considerations for artifact maintenance and repair is crucial to sustainably supporting the populations they aim to serve over the long term. Drawing on two multi-year programs for tech capacity building in post-industrial U.S. cities, this article presents a comparative analysis to investigate the challenges and strategies for sustained community-based research in computing. In particular, our work detailed three considerations for academic-community partnerships. First, long-term partnerships prioritized transferring trust across academic and community personnel and continually set expectations that responded to evolving community initiatives (i.e., relational sustainability). Second, partnerships used academic support as a way to kickstart community initiatives, and flexibly reframed interventions to stay aligned with evolving community goals (i.e., economic sustainability). Third, partnerships trained personnel to provide technical support alongside interventions and prioritized advice that resisted short-term trends (i.e., technical sustainability). We provide concrete examples of how our two academic-community partnerships carried out such suggestions-such details go unreported in scholarly articles yet are essential for sustainability considerations. We discuss ongoing challenges, such as rethinking when longevity should and should not be the end goal.

REVALUATION OF THE CITY AND ITS RESOURCES: AN ACADEMIC METHODOLOGY FOR ADAPTATION TO CHANGES IN URBAN LAND

The architectural project is at the center of the design studios at Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador's School of Architecture. This teaching methodology integrates transversal tools that strengthen the concepts of social and technical sustainability. Therefore, the architectural project can be a way to learn, investigate and analyze potential solutions to problems found at various scales of the territory, from the neighborhood to the city. The current development of cities is focused on finding, through the architectural project, tools that can adapt to changes on urban land due to present and future development. This article presents a teaching methodology based on Project-Based Learning, which reflects on Quito’s public space, seeks to contribute to the knowledge of the city, to explore leading ways to good practices for teachers and future professionals and to contribute to that city’s urban renewal. The methodology presented here is divided into four moments (conceptual, analytical, strategic, and proactive) and three territorial scales (large, which entails a zonal analysis; medium, that leads to the analysis of the neighborhood; and small, which includes the analysis of the project’s site). This methodology allows for flexibility during the design process and triggers conversations around a more prosperous city which revalues its resources.

Technical sustainability with hybrid approach in the tourism sector

Technical sustainability with hybrid approach in the tourism sector

A study of preconditions and consequences of authenticity in leadership for healthcare educational SMEs, through the 5th wave theory and meta-analysis

Background: Orchestrating personnel with different roles in healthcare sector using a proper leadership style is one of the main challenges in Iran. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as a major threat to global public health, makes the leadership challenge in Iran healthcare sector bolder due the complexity of health industry as a service industry with twisted processes and aim of satisfying patients with proper service and managing healthcare personnel with increased workload and stress. As a result, to strengthen healthcare systems for unprecedented threats, a cohesive leadership is required. Authentic leadership is a method in which leaders are genuine, self-aware, and transparent. The aim of this paper is to clarify preconditions and consequences of authenticity in leadership of healthcare educational Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Methods: The research is done in documentary research method, developmental research and descriptive correlation. Data collection in Meta-analysis phase is by library research method. Statistical society of the research is more than 38 articles written in the period of 2015 to 2022, from which collected data is codified and then analyzed by SPSS in order to describe research’s specifications and CMA2 for statistical calculations. Results: Preconditions of authentic leadership, including organizational structure, EQ, relationship oriented organizational culture, rules and regulations, ethical reasons of the leader and Industry attributes as well as consequences of authentic leadership, including employees’ bullying, extra-role behavior, work ethics, burnout, work productivity, product innovation, self-control, employees’ mindfulness, optimism and personnel health, have been identified through the 5th wave theory based on future planning and Meta-analysis and the Doost Research Methodology (DRM). The results suggest that authentic leadership considering attributes of healthcare industry has positive effect on performance of healthcare companies. Conclusions: As SMEs are formed more than 95% of businesses all around the World, they play indispensable role within developing economic and technical sustainability as well as seven pillars of sustainability (7PS) model. Identifying necessities and consequences of authentic leadership in healthcare companies can be used as a road map for modern managers. Investigating the effects of training, welfare, and health in improving the productivity of SMEs’ HR simultaneously through the 5th wave theory is the main conclusion of this paper.

A Case Study of How Maersk Adopts Cloud-Based Blockchain Integrated with Machine Learning for Sustainable Practices

In the last six years, there has been a rise in research interest with regard to the applications of blockchain technology in supply chains and how these applications bring benefits to supply chain management. In a broader sense, an essential research focus that has been discussed in the literature is the way in which this emerging blockchain technology in supply chains brings sustainable benefits to a community. The rationale for incorporating cloud technology into a blockchain and integrating the blockchain with machine learning for supply chain applications is to maintain technical sustainability. While previous studies suggested and reported sustainable practices of applying blockchain technology in supply chains, the means with which these practices are brought about by the cloud-based blockchain integrated with machine learning (CBML) have not been thoroughly explored in the literature. The case study presented in this paper aims to fill this gap by exploring technically, environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable practices through the use cases of CBML for supply chain management by the international leading container shipping company Maersk. The use cases by Maersk presented in published documents were collected from the Internet and then analyzed. This document analysis was performed in two ways. The first way was a technical review of the blockchain technology used by Maersk with a consideration of technical sustainability to ensure scalability and big data analytics. The other way was to analyze the applications of the CBML by Maersk to indicate how environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability can be achieved. On the other hand, this paper also highlights the negative technical, environmental, economic, and social sustainability impacts caused by Maersk and discusses implications for future research directions.

In the Search for Sustainable Vertical Green Systems: An Innovative Low-Cost Indirect Green Façade Structure Using Portuguese Native Ivies and Cork

Green façades in the urban environment represent points of biodiversity value, contributing to species conservation, acting as urban wildlife corridors connecting elements, and also aiming at sustainability, when the materials and structure are thoughtfully chosen. Ivies (Hedera spp.) are perennial climbing evergreen plants that are easy to cultivate and demand little input, and their use in vertical green systems is much appreciated but may lead to damage to the constructions in the long term. Among the 14 species of Hedera currently recognized, a few have been bred into cultivars and are available in the market for cultivation, often as exotic species. Four Hedera spp. are native to Portugal, but most cultivated species in this territory are exotic and the suitability of native species for their use in green façades has not been documented. Thus, in the present work, we describe the installation of a low-cost indirect green façade structure supported on cork panels using plants belonging to the native H. iberica and H. hibernica. The structure is installed at the Ajuda Botanical Garden, under Mediterranean conditions, on a brick and cement wall, and will enable researchers and landscape architects to follow the development of this structure as a long-term experiment, prompting the use of native species toward increased biological and technical sustainability. The preliminary results indicate that the cork structure is able to provide adequate support for the plants and that these were able to climb and develop in this structure, avoiding direct contact with the wall and the possible subsequent damage. Therefore, the structure provides a viable solution to implementing sustainable green façades with native species, on brick-cement walls, able to be replicated in other urban locations under similar environmental conditions.

Guidelines for the Technical Sustainability Evaluation of the Urban Drinking Water Systems Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process

The challenge of achieving and measuring urban water sustainability is hard because of its complex nature. The sustainability of urban drinking water system (UDWS) is no exception, as integration of technical, environmental, social, economic, and institutional elements of sustainability is defying and perplexing in terms of its application and evaluation. This paper deals with the technical aspects related to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance factors of a UDWS. Measurement of the status of such factors is almost impossible in generic formats. Therefore, a list of measurable sub factors was developed through an extensive literature survey and refined by involving appropriate stakeholders. This led to the development of a hierarchy from criteria to factors and from factors to sub factors, making a case for the utilization of an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for multicriteria analysis (MCA). Appropriate stakeholders were included in this research to address the issues for which there were major gaps in the literature. A set of guidelines were developed for the evaluation of the status of various sub factors in a quantitative format. It is concluded that a trans disciplinary framework, the involvement of stakeholders, and guidelines for adopting appropriate processes and techniques may improve the sustainability of stressed urban water systems.

Using Sustainable Tectonics to Create a Long-lasting Architectural Framework with Artistic Dimensions and Expressive Design

Throughout history, architecture has changed to reflect the increasing expressive capacities of ideas, elements, and structural systems as a result of this development, explains the development of structural systems as a result of the accumulation of construction and architectural experiences, and thus how structural thought transforms from a purely functional perspective. Structural tectonic to generate closed or semi-closed architectural spaces fulfills functional requirements and achieves structural and aesthetic conditions without sacrificing the role of shaping architecture and structural cohesiveness. The goal of the research is to investigate new architectural design methodologies emerging from the combination of tectonic systems and sustainable architecture to better understand tectonic architecture patterns in both traditional and digital forms. Tectonics organizes the analytical criteria for analyzing the constituent layers of architecture's formal structure in both designs and practice. By analyzing the theoretical and practical aspects and developing a clear mechanism to achieve a distinctive expressive sustainable architecture by integrating traditional tectonic factors in traditional sustainable practices and digital tectonic factors in technical sustainability, the study provides a conceptual framework under the theme of Sustainable Tectonics to define the formal structure of sustainable designs, traits, and layers detectable in sustainable architectural design. The study looked at key analytical features that may be utilized to analyze the underlying assumptions systematically. The analytical technique is a research strategy.

Technical sustainability with hybrid approach in tourism sector

Technical sustainability with hybrid approach in tourism sector

Effect of nitrogen management on the environmental and economic sustainability of wheat production in different climates

Increasing chemical inputs to improve food security has resulted in worrying environmental consequences. Recently, significant efforts have been made to reduce the environmental impacts of the food supply chain. The current study examined the effects of different levels of urea fertilizer on the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of wheat production in arid and humid climates. A questionnaire was used to collect data on wheat cultivation in the 2019 and 2020 crop seasons. The calibrated and validated AquaCrop model was applied to simulate crop yield under different urea fertilizer levels of 80, 160, and 220 kg ha-1 in arid climate and 100, 180, and 250 kg ha-1 in humid climate. Economic productivity, water productivity, and nitrogen use efficiency indicators was used to assess the economic and technical sustainability of different cropping systems. The environmental impacts was investigated by using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach involving the ReCiPe 2016 method, covering 18 midpoints and three endpoint indicators, respectively. The most important midpoint categories from foreground–background analysis were global warming, fine particulate matter formation, and terrestrial acidification. Additionally, 75% of the total environmental damage was related to the background system. On average, considering different fertilizer treatments, wheat cultivation in the arid climate had a 9% higher environmental damage potential than the humid climate. Nitrogen played the most significant role in midpoint categories, followed by diesel. The most appropriate urea fertilizer level in the arid climate, compared to the corresponding level in the humid climate, increased human health, ecosystem, and resources by 14.3%, 12.5%, and 3.2%, respectively, and decreased water and economic productivity by 375% and 8%, respectively. Based on the results, combining LCA with technical and economic indicators provides an appropriate method for prioritizing the cultivation of different crops in each county.

A social and technical sustainability requirements catalogue

Climate change calls for action from all sectors of our global economy, including ICT. Therefore, it is important to change the way we develop software to address the challenges posed by sustainability. Our goal is to contribute with a reusable sustainability requirements catalogue that helps developers be aware of sustainability-related properties worth considering during software development. The information for this catalogue was gathered via a systematic mapping study, whose results were synthesised in feature models and then modelled using iStar for a more expressive and configurable representation. A qualitative evaluation of the catalogue’s readability, interest, utility, and usefulness by 50 participants from the domain, showed that around 79% of the respondents found the catalogue “Good” or “Very Good”. However, more than 5% of the expert participants found weaknesses regarding most of the evaluated questions and around 25% are neutral in their overall evaluation. This led us to evolve the initial version of the catalogue for the social and technical dimensions of sustainability to improve its completeness and usefulness. This is achieved by aligning the information gathered in the systematic mapping study with the well-established quality model of the ISO/IEC 25010:2011, as we expect most of the experts are familiar with those qualities and respective hierarchies. During this process, we found information that led us to propose two additional qualities that were not covered by the ISO standard: fairness and legislation. We applied this evolved version of the catalogue to the U-Bike project comparing the requirements elicited without the catalogue with those identified using the catalogue. The result suggests that new sustainability requirements were worth considering from a sustainability point of view, supporting the usefulness of the catalogue.

Smart Evaluation of Sustainability of Photovoltaic Projects in the Context of Carbon Neutrality Target

To support the sustainable development of photovoltaic (PV) projects in the context of the carbon neutrality aim, a scientific and reliable evaluation technique is crucial. In this research, an AdaBoost-LS-WSVM intelligent evaluation model built on the Spark platform is suggested to increase evaluation accuracy and timeliness. Firstly, the sustainability evaluation index system of PV projects is constructed from five levels: geographic resource sustainability, technical sustainability, economic sustainability, social sustainability, and environmental sustainability in the context of the carbon neutrality target. Then, the AdaBoost-LS-WSVM intelligent evaluation model with Spark as the platform is constructed, and the wavelet kernel function is applied to the LSSVM model to form the LS-WSVM regression model with stronger nonlinear fitting ability. The learning and training of training samples are completed by the AdaBoost model, and multiple weak LS-WSVM regressors are weighted to get a strong LS-WSVM regressor. The regression model is used for assessing the sustainability of PV projects on Spark Big Data runtime platform. Lastly, the scientific accuracy and reliability of the proposed model is confirmed by a case study, which facilitates a timely and effective assessment of the sustainability of PV projects in the context of carbon neutrality target and can provide scientific and reasonable decision support for the construction of a sustainable development model of PV projects.

Quantitative validation of a proposed technical sustainability competency model: A PLS-SEM approach

The demand to enact sustainability into higher education so as to optimistically shape the wider society and biosphere has been stressed by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). One of the approaches is through rethinking and revising education at all levels to capture obvious forms of present and imminent societies on the development of sustainability knowledge, skills, perspectives and values. Several Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) have started to implement a number of facets to that effect, such as signing a climate commitment, working towards plan to make their campuses climate-neutral, and making sustainability their guiding principles and top priorities. However, analogous modifications to the curriculum are lagging behind. As a consequence, this study is set to quantitatively validate the technical sustainability competency model suitable for incorporation into Higher National Diploma electrical/electronic engineering curriculum in Nigeria. The authors used findings of their earlier work to develop a questionnaire for collecting data from 168 respondents in the study area, and consequently subject the data to descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of PLS-SEM approach. The study discovered competencies suitable for incorporation into the curriculum. This includes cognitive skills in Eco-design and Life-Cycle Assessment; Research; Modeling, Simulation and Optimization; and Recycling/Renewable Resources. The study also found suitable psychomotor skills in Sustainable production, Use of modern engineering software tools, Operation/troubleshooting of electrical machines and devices, Communication/Information and Communication Technology, and waste-to-energy technology. Appropriate attitudes/values in Engineering ethics, Occupational safety and health, and Inter-generational equity are also discovered. This research is purely quantitative in nature carried out through administering questionnaires to respondents in one geo-political zone of the country. Thus, conclusions derived from these sources rely on the genuineness of the information provided by the participants. The findings offer accreditation body as well as curriculum developers in Nigerian polytechnics with a validated model of technical sustainability competences. This could be useful in the events of curriculum upgrade or renewal to integrate sustainability.

Application of Financial Flow Simulator (eSOSView™) for Analyzing Financial Viability and Developing a Sustainable Fecal Sludge Management Business Model in Kushtia, Bangladesh

To achieve SDG 6.2.1 (a) on safely managed sanitation services, several financial flow models (FFMs) and business models for the sanitation value chain have been implemented in Bangladesh and elsewhere; however, there is limited research on financial viability and sustainability of business models. Bangladesh has attained 99% sanitation coverage, mostly with onsite sanitation systems; however, the country is facing a second-generation sanitation challenge, fecal sludge management, encompassing the entire sanitation chain. Kushtia Municipality in Bangladesh is entirely served by onsite systems; the fecal sludge emptying service is provided by the municipality, and the fecal sludge treatment plant is managed by a private entity. This study investigated sustainability of FFMs in Kushtia by using the financial, institutional, environmental, technical, and social (FIETS) sustainability approach and applying the financial flow simulator (eSOSView™) tool to analyze financial viability. Several criteria in each aspect of the FIETS approach were developed, scored, and validated by stakeholders to determine sustainability. The study found that the financial aspect is the most important criteria for sustainability and “modified parallel tax and discharge fee” is the most sustainable business model for Kushtia.

Unconventional Oil Prospects and Challenges in the Covid-19 Era

Fossil fuels will continue to play an important role for the forthcoming decades, including in key hard-to-abate transport and industrial sectors. Unconventional oil (UO) has emerged as a sizeable contributor to meeting the global energy demand in the energy transition period. However, unfavorable circumstances compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic have intensified uncertainties and speculation regarding the future prospects of these resources. This mini-review explores prospects and challenges faced by UO development in the Covid-19 era, focusing on technical, economic, energy security, and environmental sustainability aspects. While UOs have been significantly affected by the pandemic in the short term, limited medium to long-term UO projections exist, with contrasted findings. The review reveals the multiplicity and complexity of interactions between the Covid-19 pandemic and the discussed UO aspects, the diversity of views, and conflicting short- and long-term goals of the energy industry.