Vol. 3, No. 2 (2015): Regular Issue

Due to the increasingly complex environmental system problems science and society have to deal with, an integrated methodological framework for sustainability assessment is by nature rooted in an interdisciplinary approach. In particular, practical implementation and monitoring, to manage the transition from business-as-usual to sustainable development paths for the concerned stakeholders requires improving the knowledge (and the capacity to communicate it) on linkages between the key types of resources, the resources and the environment and the resources and the economy. The underlying challenges are inherently integrated and shall be pursued in combination. That is why an integrated approach is essential. This special issue aims at presenting research show cases which bridge together different research communities, especially Computational Geography, Environmental Informatics and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which have so far come to common grounds only in a few cases.

Due to the increasingly complex environmental system problems science and society have to deal with, an integrated methodological framework for sustainability assessment is by nature rooted in an interdisciplinary approach. In particular, practical implementation and monitoring, to manage the transition from business-as-usual to sustainable development paths for the concerned stakeholders requires improving the knowledge (and the capacity to communicate it) on linkages between the key types of resources, the resources and the environment and the resources and the economy. The underlying challenges are inherently integrated and shall be pursued in combination. That is why an integrated approach is essential. This special issue aims at presenting research show cases which bridge together different research communities, especially Computational Geography, Environmental Informatics and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which have so far come to common grounds only in a few cases.

This paper proposes the method: MyVsurfGeo (MVG), designed to assess the adverse effects of living environments; of key interest in France’s cancer plans. Increased access to numerous databases enables modeling physicochemical, sanitary and socio-economic features at territorial scale, from Geographic Information Systems (GIS). However, GIS are not suited for characterizing relationships in existing high multidimensional datasets. Especially, when incorporating qualitative and quantitative indicators, with different accuracy levels. A recent strategy of variable selection using Random Forests provides the power to overcome this drawback. MVG1 method transposes this strategy into spatial analysis. It is applied to secondary tumors (TUM2) developed during a childhood leukemia remission. Results highlight health determinants and contributory factors that explain TUM2 incidences. The significance of MVG and its findings are discussed. The expected medical and political contributions are described.

This paper proposes the method: MyVsurfGeo (MVG), designed to assess the adverse effects of living environments; of key interest in France’s cancer plans. Increased access to numerous databases enables modeling physicochemical, sanitary and socio-economic features at territorial scale, from Geographic Information Systems (GIS). However, GIS are not suited for characterizing relationships in existing high multidimensional datasets. Especially, when incorporating qualitative and quantitative indicators, with different accuracy levels. A recent strategy of variable selection using Random Forests provides the power to overcome this drawback. MVG1 method transposes this strategy into spatial analysis. It is applied to secondary tumors (TUM2) developed during a childhood leukemia remission. Results highlight health determinants and contributory factors that explain TUM2 incidences. The significance of MVG and its findings are discussed. The expected medical and political contributions are described.

Sustainability research has entered an era of data abundance, in which online repositories offer millions of facts on production, consumption, pollution, and impacts. The combination of such facts in linear models leads increasingly to computational problems, relating to memory, speed, accuracy, and stability. This paper examines this phenomenon from the perspective of three widely-used types of sustainability analysis: multimedia fate and exposure models, life cycle assessment of products, and environmentally extended input-output analysis. The paper describes the various theoretical arguments, some indicators, and some solutions. Moreover, it adds the empirical evidence from one of these analysis types, namely life cycle assessment. It concludes that the phenomena indeed occur in practice, that abstract indicators ignore the subtle differences between different types of environmental impacts, and that a sound strategy for dealing with these problems is the critical analysis of results together with the variation of the computational principles.

Sustainability research has entered an era of data abundance, in which online repositories offer millions of facts on production, consumption, pollution, and impacts. The combination of such facts in linear models leads increasingly to computational problems, relating to memory, speed, accuracy, and stability. This paper examines this phenomenon from the perspective of three widely-used types of sustainability analysis: multimedia fate and exposure models, life cycle assessment of products, and environmentally extended input-output analysis. The paper describes the various theoretical arguments, some indicators, and some solutions. Moreover, it adds the empirical evidence from one of these analysis types, namely life cycle assessment. It concludes that the phenomena indeed occur in practice, that abstract indicators ignore the subtle differences between different types of environmental impacts, and that a sound strategy for dealing with these problems is the critical analysis of results together with the variation of the computational principles.

In this article, we propose a uniform formal model able to handle uncertain data. The approach presented provides a formalism for both representing and manipulating rigorously quantities which may have a finite number of possible or probable values with their interdependencies. Then, we define an algebraic structure to operate chained computations on such quantities with properties similar to 兟 . Next, we provide a particular interpretation for mixing such quantities through the Dempster- Shafer theory. Finally, we provide an implementation of this approach into object oriented programming.

In this article, we propose a uniform formal model able to handle uncertain data. The approach presented provides a formalism for both representing and manipulating rigorously quantities which may have a finite number of possible or probable values with their interdependencies. Then, we define an algebraic structure to operate chained computations on such quantities with properties similar to 兟 . Next, we provide a particular interpretation for mixing such quantities through the Dempster- Shafer theory. Finally, we provide an implementation of this approach into object oriented programming.

One way to study complex systems is by methods from topological network theory, that concentrate on the topological structure of the system in terms of vertices (nodes) and edges that connect pairs of vertices. The last two decades, topological network theory has seen a wide range of applications. In this paper, we explore its potential for two of the model systems that are central to industrial ecology (IE): life cycle assessment (LCA) and input-output analysis (IOA), with the aim of finding out whether this theory offers insights that are useful to IE. We describe the principles of topological network theory, as well as the possible rules for translating LCA and IOA systems into a formal network. We apply this theory to two cases, the ecoinvent LCA database, and the monetary IOtable for the European Union in 2007. Our conclusions are mixed. It is not entirely clear what the resulting network indicators imply for a specific LCA case or IOA case. Although the results obtained are perfectly explainable and thus do make sense, they appear to be very sensitive to arbitrary choices, such as the level of aggregation. Moreover, it appears to be difficult to include the environmental aspect in the network analysis, so that we end up with analyzing an industrial network rather than industrial-ecological network.

One way to study complex systems is by methods from topological network theory, that concentrate on the topological structure of the system in terms of vertices (nodes) and edges that connect pairs of vertices. The last two decades, topological network theory has seen a wide range of applications. In this paper, we explore its potential for two of the model systems that are central to industrial ecology (IE): life cycle assessment (LCA) and input-output analysis (IOA), with the aim of finding out whether this theory offers insights that are useful to IE. We describe the principles of topological network theory, as well as the possible rules for translating LCA and IOA systems into a formal network. We apply this theory to two cases, the ecoinvent LCA database, and the monetary IOtable for the European Union in 2007. Our conclusions are mixed. It is not entirely clear what the resulting network indicators imply for a specific LCA case or IOA case. Although the results obtained are perfectly explainable and thus do make sense, they appear to be very sensitive to arbitrary choices, such as the level of aggregation. Moreover, it appears to be difficult to include the environmental aspect in the network analysis, so that we end up with analyzing an industrial network rather than industrial-ecological network.

Multi-criteria analysis was used to compare technology solutions for 3 chosen municipal waste incineration systems in Warsaw, Tarnobrzeg and Spittelau in Vienna. LCA results were used to calculate the value of the criteria applied in the multi-criteria analysis. The comprehensive comparative assessment of options for incineration of municipal waste took into account, as the partial indicators of impact categories, results obtained from LCA calculation and production cost. The functional unit of the system is 1 tonne of municipal waste treated by incineration. It includes the life cycle from the material and energy used (transport was excluded) based on real data, and from infrastructure based on data from the Ecoinvent database. The system boundaries of the analysis are from ‘cradle’ to ‘gate’. LCA results based on the data obtained were created using the ReCiPe method. As a result of the multi-criteria analysis, a solution was obtained which involved ranking the waste incineration options analysed from the most to least beneficial solution taking into account environmental and economic criteria. For all the options analysed, and using the multi-criteria analysis as well as the LCA method and regardless of the criteria hierarchy adopted, the waste incineration technology in Spittelau is selected as being ultimately more appropriate than the others. Incineration in Spittelau has a higher capacity and lower impact on the environment compared to that in Warsaw and Tarnobrzeg thanks to the highly efficient flue gas treatment systems installed, which are, however, very costly (average installation and running cost).

Multi-criteria analysis was used to compare technology solutions for 3 chosen municipal waste incineration systems in Warsaw, Tarnobrzeg and Spittelau in Vienna. LCA results were used to calculate the value of the criteria applied in the multi-criteria analysis. The comprehensive comparative assessment of options for incineration of municipal waste took into account, as the partial indicators of impact categories, results obtained from LCA calculation and production cost. The functional unit of the system is 1 tonne of municipal waste treated by incineration. It includes the life cycle from the material and energy used (transport was excluded) based on real data, and from infrastructure based on data from the Ecoinvent database. The system boundaries of the analysis are from ‘cradle’ to ‘gate’. LCA results based on the data obtained were created using the ReCiPe method. As a result of the multi-criteria analysis, a solution was obtained which involved ranking the waste incineration options analysed from the most to least beneficial solution taking into account environmental and economic criteria. For all the options analysed, and using the multi-criteria analysis as well as the LCA method and regardless of the criteria hierarchy adopted, the waste incineration technology in Spittelau is selected as being ultimately more appropriate than the others. Incineration in Spittelau has a higher capacity and lower impact on the environment compared to that in Warsaw and Tarnobrzeg thanks to the highly efficient flue gas treatment systems installed, which are, however, very costly (average installation and running cost).

The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the intrinsic vulnerability to pollution of one of the major carbonate aquifer systems of the Basilicata region, Southern Italy. This aquifer system is represented by the wide Arioso-Pierfaone morphostructure, located in the higher sector of the Basento Valley, and characterized by abundant groundwater resources, quantified in about 10 Mm3/yr flowing from several springs. Many of these are captured, though not fully exploited, whereas others are not captured, though characterized by considerable discharges. From a structural point of view, the study area is characterized by the presence of numerous faults and thrusts. As a consequence, the permeability of the carbonate aquifer system shows a large variability. The choice of the methodological approach for the evaluation of the vulnerability has been based on the local hydrogeological characteristics and on the amount of available geological information. In particular, the evaluation of the intrinsic vulnerability of the Basento Valley carbonate aquifer system was obtained using the “SINTACS” point count system model. This method allowed to evaluate that the six classes of the intrinsic vulnerability of the carbonate system vary between very low and very high. High values of vulnerability are due to the density of the fractures, the distribution of the outcropping lithologies, the petrographic composition of the permeated geological formations and the depth of the piezometric surface.

The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the intrinsic vulnerability to pollution of one of the major carbonate aquifer systems of the Basilicata region, Southern Italy. This aquifer system is represented by the wide Arioso-Pierfaone morphostructure, located in the higher sector of the Basento Valley, and characterized by abundant groundwater resources, quantified in about 10 Mm3/yr flowing from several springs. Many of these are captured, though not fully exploited, whereas others are not captured, though characterized by considerable discharges. From a structural point of view, the study area is characterized by the presence of numerous faults and thrusts. As a consequence, the permeability of the carbonate aquifer system shows a large variability. The choice of the methodological approach for the evaluation of the vulnerability has been based on the local hydrogeological characteristics and on the amount of available geological information. In particular, the evaluation of the intrinsic vulnerability of the Basento Valley carbonate aquifer system was obtained using the “SINTACS” point count system model. This method allowed to evaluate that the six classes of the intrinsic vulnerability of the carbonate system vary between very low and very high. High values of vulnerability are due to the density of the fractures, the distribution of the outcropping lithologies, the petrographic composition of the permeated geological formations and the depth of the piezometric surface.

An important problem arising when assessing territorial systems is linked to their complexity. This requires multidimensional approaches for the evaluation in order to obtain concise final judgments. Moreover, when dealing with territorial systems, the analysis of the geographical patterns of the elements under investigation plays a fundamental role. This paper proposes an integrated approach for the analysis of a complex environmental system based on the use of Multicriteria-Spatial Decision Support Systems (MC-SDSS). MC-SDSS consist in the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multicriteria Decision Aiding (MCDA) techniques. In particular, starting from a real case related to a mountain area in Northern Italy, the present paper explores the potentialities of the MC-SDSS methodology for supporting the definition of future transformation scenarios.

An important problem arising when assessing territorial systems is linked to their complexity. This requires multidimensional approaches for the evaluation in order to obtain concise final judgments. Moreover, when dealing with territorial systems, the analysis of the geographical patterns of the elements under investigation plays a fundamental role. This paper proposes an integrated approach for the analysis of a complex environmental system based on the use of Multicriteria-Spatial Decision Support Systems (MC-SDSS). MC-SDSS consist in the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multicriteria Decision Aiding (MCDA) techniques. In particular, starting from a real case related to a mountain area in Northern Italy, the present paper explores the potentialities of the MC-SDSS methodology for supporting the definition of future transformation scenarios.