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ICT4S— ICT for Sustainability
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ICT4S— ICT for Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2019) | Viewed by 29127

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Samuel Mann

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand
Interests: sustainable practice; transformation; leadership; regeneration; experience design; professional practice
Dr. Annika Wolff

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
LUT University, Lappeenranta, Finland
Interests: smart cities; civic data innovation; data literacy; human-centred intelligent systems; IoT
Prof. Dr. Jari Porras

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Software Engineering, Lappeenranta University of Technology, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland
Interests: software for sustainability; innovation; technologies and approaches for communications; networks (social; technical; business)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transformational power of ICT is essential to put our society and all its stakeholders on the path to sustainability. This potential could embrace all levels, from individuals to communities, from public sector to all industry sectors, from business goals to social aspirations and environmental objectives within a nation and globally. ICT can bring people together to build thriving, resilient society.

The theme of the 2019 ICT4S is “Sisu”. Perhaps having no direct English equivalent, Sisu defines the soul of Finland: tenacity of purpose; a relentless perseverance to transform barriers into opportunities; courage in the face of adversity; an action-oriented mindset; a collective choice – we are strong together; and, a love for the long-term potential. We believe that Sisu describes the essence of ICT4S: a collective empowering of people with the idea that there is a strength within us that is greater than the adversities we endure – ICT4S can make a positive difference, to empower an inclusive regeneration.

The papers submitted and published in this special issue should focus on the general themes of the ICT4S:

  • Regenerative technologies
    • Role of technologies in enhancing outcomes
    • Incentives for more sustainable ICT
    • Needs and challenges for technology enhancement
    • First and second order effects of technology enhancements
    • Smart cities, homes and offices
    • Sustainable infrastructures (Sustainability in data centers and communication networks)
    • Energy-efficient and energy-aware software engineering
    • Green transportation and logistics
    • Intelligent energy management in buildings
    • Reduced hardware obsolescence
    • E-waste and closed material cycles
  • Enabling responsible businesses
    • Challenges for an environmentally sustainable (ICT) industry
    • Matching the sustainability goals to business needs
    • Sustainability in business and organizations
    • Design principles for sustainable ICT
    • Supporting alternative models
    • Enabling socioecological transformation
  • Transforming societies
    • Needs and challenges of social change towards sustainable future
    • Third order impacts of sustainable development
    • ICT-induced behavioral and societal change
    • Tools supporting green decision making and development
    • Software for sustainable business governance
    • Sustainable community building via ICT
    • Systematic interdisciplinary efforts in ICT for sustainability
    • Enabling and systemic effects of ICT on society and/or the environment
    • Climate informatics
    • Education in ICT for sustainability
    • Inclusion, privilege and power
    • Democracy and politics
    • Open and ethical data
    • Social (in)justice
  • Balance of responsibility
    • Incentives for individual change
    • Stakeholders from all sectors
    • Individual and collective responsibility
    • Values, mindsets
    • Ethical choices for consumers
    • Supporting workforces
    • Impact at scale

Prof. Samuel Mann
Dr. Annika Wolff
Prof. Jari Porras
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ICT
  • regenerative
  • responsible business
  • transformation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 1342 KiB  
Article
An Action Research for Improving the Sustainability Assessment Framework Instruments
by Nelly Condori-Fernandez, Patricia Lago, Miguel R. Luaces and Ángeles S. Places
Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1682; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041682 - 24 Feb 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5334
Abstract
In the last years, software engineering researchers have defined sustainability as a quality requirement of software, but not enough effort has been devoted to develop new methods/techniques to support the analysis and assessment of software sustainability. In this study, we present the Sustainability [...] Read more.
In the last years, software engineering researchers have defined sustainability as a quality requirement of software, but not enough effort has been devoted to develop new methods/techniques to support the analysis and assessment of software sustainability. In this study, we present the Sustainability Assessment Framework (SAF) that consists of two instruments: the software sustainability–quality model, and the architectural decision map. Then, we use participatory and technical action research in close collaboration with the software industry to validate the SAF regarding its applicability in specific cases. The unit of analysis of our study is a family of software products (Geographic Information System- and Mobile-based Workforce Management Systems) that aim to address sustainability goals (e.g., efficient collection of dead animals to mitigate social and environmental sustainability risks). The results show that the sustainability–quality model integrated with the architectural decision maps can be used to identify sustainability–quality requirements as design concerns because most of its quality attributes (QAs) have been either addressed in the software project or acknowledged as relevant (i.e., creating awareness on the relevance of the multidimensional sustainability nature of certain QAs). Moreover, the action–research method has been helpful to enrich the sustainability–quality model, by identifying missing QAs (e.g., regulation compliance, data privacy). Finally, the architectural decision maps have been found as useful to guide software architects/designers in their decision-making process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ICT4S— ICT for Sustainability)
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26 pages, 1421 KiB  
Article
Social Interaction of Indonesian Rural Youths in the Internet Age
by Rista Ardy Priatama, Kenichiro Onitsuka, Ernan Rustiadi and Satoshi Hoshino
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010115 - 22 Dec 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5714
Abstract
The internet penetration on young villagers gives rise to question about its effects on the social interaction and behavior patterns as it accelerates the interaction with the wider network. However, the internet could possibly decrease both the social interaction with local people at [...] Read more.
The internet penetration on young villagers gives rise to question about its effects on the social interaction and behavior patterns as it accelerates the interaction with the wider network. However, the internet could possibly decrease both the social interaction with local people at the village and the dependency toward native villagers as internet utilization allows the users to be more selective in terms of interactions according to their interests. This research aims to examine the impacts of the Internet through a dystopian view by comparing the degrees of senses of place, participation in local activities, and social capital among internet and non-internet users using a statistical approach. The analysis of variance and linear regression were employed in the present study. The results revealed that the internet did strengthen both broad and local social capital. It also supported young villager’s participation in local activities. Nevertheless, the internet was observed to decline the villager’s sense of place, especially the desire to remain a resident in the native village. Better access to information and network gained by the users elevated their chances to move outside the village when better opportunities were observed elsewhere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ICT4S— ICT for Sustainability)
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21 pages, 312 KiB  
Article
Green ICT Adoption Using a Maturity Model
by Albert Hankel, Gaston Heimeriks and Patricia Lago
Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7163; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247163 - 13 Dec 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3832
Abstract
The field green ICT focuses on the greening of ICT and using ICT to optimise the energy footprint of the ICT-supported processes. For organisations, applying green ICT in the broadest sense presents them with challenges. In this paper we explore what factors are [...] Read more.
The field green ICT focuses on the greening of ICT and using ICT to optimise the energy footprint of the ICT-supported processes. For organisations, applying green ICT in the broadest sense presents them with challenges. In this paper we explore what factors are influencing the adoption of green ICT. We follow three organisations that used a green ICT tool, the SURF Green ICT Maturity Model, to identify such factors. Tools like the maturity model help organisations identify the what and how. We found other factors, such as strategic alignment, culture and leadership, determine the why. As ICT is a general purpose technology, it potentially affects all processes in an organisation. To have a greening impact, the main challenge for green ICT is to take a systemic approach and involve all (relevant) parties. ICT departments often position themselves as support (followers, not leaders); this proves to be a big hurdle in the adoption of green ICT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ICT4S— ICT for Sustainability)
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Review

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27 pages, 383 KiB  
Review
The Revolution of Mobile Phone-Enabled Services for Agricultural Development (m-Agri Services) in Africa: The Challenges for Sustainability
by Ezinne M. Emeana, Liz Trenchard and Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz
Sustainability 2020, 12(2), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020485 - 8 Jan 2020
Cited by 69 | Viewed by 13223
Abstract
The provision of information through mobile phone-enabled agricultural information services (m-Agri services) has the potential to revolutionise agriculture and significantly improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in Africa. Globally, the benefits of m-Agri services include facilitating farmers’ access to financial services and sourcing agricultural information [...] Read more.
The provision of information through mobile phone-enabled agricultural information services (m-Agri services) has the potential to revolutionise agriculture and significantly improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in Africa. Globally, the benefits of m-Agri services include facilitating farmers’ access to financial services and sourcing agricultural information about input use, practices, and market prices. There are very few published literature sources that focus on the potential benefits of m-Agri services in Africa and none of which explore their sustainability. This study, therefore, explores the evolution, provision, and sustainability of these m-Agri services in Africa. An overview of the current landscape of m-Agri services in Africa is provided and this illustrates how varied these services are in design, content, and quality. Key findings from the exploratory literature review reveal that services are highly likely to fail to achieve their intended purpose or be abandoned when implementers ignore the literacy, skills, culture, and demands of the target users. This study recommends that, to enhance the sustainability of m-Agri services, the implementers need to design the services with the users involved, carefully analyse, and understand the target environment, and design for scale and a long-term purpose. While privacy and security of users need to be ensured, the reuse or improvement of existing initiatives should be explored, and projects need to be data-driven and maintained as open source. Thus, the study concludes that policymakers can support the long-term benefit of m-Agri services by ensuring favourable policies for both users and implementers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ICT4S— ICT for Sustainability)
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