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Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2019) | Viewed by 52744

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kevin H. Gardner

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Guest Editor

Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
Interests: sustainable engineering and science; knowledge to action; transdisciplinarity; community engaged research; water energy nexus

Prof. Dr. Weiwei Mo

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Guest Editor

University of New Hampshire, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Durham, NH 03824, USA
Interests: sustainable and resilient infrastructure; infrastructure–human–resource interdependency; water–energy nexus; complex systems modeling; life cycle assessment; system dynamics modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on understanding and analyzing infrastructure systems and their interdependencies to guide sustainable and resilient design and management. Manuscripts may focus on the analysis of systems and/or systems of systems, with a particular emphasis on system interdependence and implications for sustainability and resilience. Manuscripts may also focus on either generic or place-based solutions to wicked problems that may include considerations of culture, demography, geography, and social structures. Some types of questions that may be relevant to the theme of this special issue include: How can we think about the interplay of systems focused on provision of energy, water, food, transportation, and others? How might infrastructure systems be shaped by social systems, and how do they feed back to the society? What are and how do we manage the trade-offs among many different desirable ends involved with investment in different types of, or approaches to, infrastructure to meet human needs in various social and cultural settings?

Prof. Dr. Kevin H. Gardner
Prof. Dr. Weiwei Mo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Sustainable, resilient infrastructure
systems of systems
food–energy–water nexus
social and cultural systems
infrastructure design and management

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Guide for Climate-Resilient Cities: An Urban Critical Infrastructures Approach

by Cinta Lomba-Fernández, Josune Hernantes and Leire Labaka

Sustainability 2019, 11(17), 4727; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174727 - 29 Aug 2019

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 6014

Abstract

Climate change (CC) is one of the most challenging issues ever faced, as it affects every system worldwide at any scale. Urban areas are not an exception. Extreme weather-related events have seriously affected urban areas in recent years, and they have a significant impact on the welfare of people. According to UN projections, by 2050 more than 68% of the world’s population could be concentrated in urban areas. Additionally, daily life in urban areas is highly dependent on certain critical services and products provided by critical infrastructures (CIs). Therefore, it is especially relevant to understand how CC affects urban CIs in order to develop mechanisms to improve their capacity to handle crises derived from CC. In this context, resilience-based strategies provide a holistic approach, considering both predictable and unpredictable threats. This paper proposes a guide for assessing and enhancing the resilience level of cities against CC, considering urban CIs as key agents in improving the city’s capacity to face and recover from CC-related crises. The guide was developed through a co-creation process in which two cities in the Basque Country (Spain) worked together with CI providers and other relevant stakeholders in the resilience-building process. The resulting guide is to be used by city stakeholders at a strategic level, providing them with: (1) a qualitative assessment of the city’s current resilience level in the CC context; (2) better knowledge about urban CI sectors, their interdependency relationships and the chain of impacts due to cascading effects in the short, medium and in the long term and; (3) a set of policies that enhance city resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

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21 pages, 2313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Navigating Transitions for Sustainable Infrastructures—The Case of a New High-Speed Railway Station in Jingmen, China

by Xinyu Liu, Daan Schraven, Mark de Bruijne, Martin de Jong and Marcel Hertogh

Sustainability 2019, 11(15), 4197; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11154197 - 3 Aug 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5854

Abstract

Sustainable development and Circular Economy (CE) have drawn massive attention worldwide. Construction practices consume large amounts of materials, resources and energy. Sustainability and CE could play a big role in reduction efforts. However, the potential influence of both concepts on the planning and construction of large infrastructures remains unexplored. This paper investigates how professionals involved in a high-speed railway station project in the Chinese city of Jingmen envision the use of sustainability and CE for the planning and construction of the railway station and its surrounding areas. We reviewed policy documents and interviewed local professionals with the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework. The analysis reveals opportunities for improvement towards sustainability and the interdependence between the dimensions in the TBL framework for the railway station and its surroundings. The case shows that local professionals identify ample opportunities for improvement (presented as “sustainability ideas”), but none appear truly sustainable. These insights provide evidence that the hierarchical introduction of transition(s) creates a cognitive silo for local professionals when envisioning sustainability ideas. In the TBL framework, this study finds a useful and novel approach to break down the silos, because the TBL stresses the interdependence between the various sustainability dimensions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

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13 pages, 3937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermodynamic Cycle Concepts for High-Efficiency Power Plants. Part B: Prosumer and Distributed Power Industry

by Krzysztof Kosowski, Karol Tucki, Marian Piwowarski, Robert Stępień, Olga Orynycz and Wojciech Włodarski

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2647; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092647 - 9 May 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3848

Abstract

An analysis was carried out for different thermodynamic cycles of power plants with air turbines. A new modification of a gas turbine cycle with the combustion chamber at the turbine outlet has been described in the paper. A special air by-pass system of the combustor was applied, and in this way, the efficiency of the turbine cycle was increased by a few points. The proposed cycle equipped with an effective heat exchanger could have an efficiency higher than a classical gas turbine cycle with a regenerator. Appropriate cycle and turbine calculations were performed for micro power plants with turbine output in the range of 10–50 kW. The best arrangements achieved very high values of overall cycle efficiency, 35%–39%. Such turbines could also work in cogeneration and trigeneration arrangements, using various fuels such as liquids, gaseous fuels, wastes, coal, or biogas. Innovative technology in connection with ecology and the failure-free operation of the power plant strongly suggests the application of such devices at relatively small generating units (e.g., “prosumers” such as home farms and individual enterprises), assuring their independence from the main energy providers. Such solutions are in agreement with the politics of sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

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21 pages, 3751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reviewing the Poyang Lake Hydraulic Project Based on Humans’ Changing Cognition of Water Conservancy Projects

by Yao Wu, Lidan Guo, Ziqiang Xia, Peiran Jing and Xunzhou Chunyu

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2605; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092605 - 6 May 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4691

Abstract

Water conservancy projects occupy an extremely important status in human development history. Human cognition about water conservancy projects has been in constant evolution along with the changing relationship between humans and nature (water). Based on a literature review, this study provides a systemic summary of the evolution of the human need for water resources and of water conservancy projects, as well as the equilibrium between humans and nature (river and lake ecosystems). More importantly, the transformation of cognition concerning the governance of nature and river and lake ecosystems is reviewed. Taking the perspective of modern rationalism on water conservancy projects, four major changes in human cognition are identified. Further, the most salient water-related issues arising from China’s largest freshwater lake, Poyang Lake, are analyzed and the history and predicament of its governance are described. This is accompanied by a discussion on the countermeasures. Finally, based on the evolution of the human–water relationship and cognitive transformation concerning water conservancy projects, several suggestions are proposed for the planned construction of the Poyang Lake Hydraulic Project. The conclusions of this paper shed new light on the principles of water governance and water conservancy project construction in a new era that has witnessed a growing conflict between socioeconomic development and the water environment. Our suggestions are also valuable for the governance of Poyang Lake. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

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20 pages, 374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Infrastructure in Conflict Zones: Police Facilities’ Impact on Perception of Safety in Afghan Communities

by Rosa T. Affleck, Kevin Gardner, Semra Aytur, Cynthia Carlson, Curt Grimm and Elias Deeb

Sustainability 2019, 11(7), 2113; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11072113 - 9 Apr 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3165

Abstract

The notion of sustainable infrastructure for the delivery of social services is to fulfill basic human needs; in war-torn societies, human safety is a critical basic need. The relationship between sustainable infrastructure development and human safety remains underresearched in Afghan neighborhoods. Therefore, this study examined the effectiveness of the police facilities constructed for stability enhancement in Afghan communities. To do so, this study used Afghans’ polling datasets on the police presence and the public safety perceptions, including newly collected survey data related to the influence of the police facilities on human safety and other factors contributing to the neighborhoods’ well-being. The datasets are organized with a multilevel structure in which different individuals are sampled within neighborhoods and analyzed using a multilevel model approach to capture the randomness of the responses. The results showed that police facilities are more important to perceptions of safety in less safe areas and that Afghans in villages perceived themselves as safer than in urban areas, relative to their own immediate region. Those perceiving themselves as being safer were older, more highly educated, and widowed respondents. Overall, Afghans perceived the police facilities as institutional symbol for promoting improvements and opportunities for fulfilling basic human safety needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

10 pages, 2608 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Designing Wetlands as an Essential Infrastructural Element for Urban Development in the era of Climate Change

by Changwoo Ahn and Stephanie Schmidt

Sustainability 2019, 11(7), 1920; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11071920 - 31 Mar 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6428

Abstract

The increasing development of urban infrastructure has led to the significant loss of natural wetlands and their ecosystem services. Many novel urban development projects currently attempt to incorporate environmental sustainability, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and community engagement into the intricate challenges we all face in an era of climate change. This paper aims to communicate several key findings on design elements that can be adopted or incorporated in the design of created wetlands as infrastructural elements. Three major design elements—microtopography, hydrologic connectivity, and planting diversity—are presented, and their relations to restoring ecosystem services of urban wetlands, in particular water and habitat quality, are discussed. These design elements can be easily adopted or incorporated in the planning, designing, and construction stages of urban development. The success of urban infrastructure projects may require both better communication among stakeholders and a great deal of community engagement. The Rain Project, a floating wetland project on an urban college campus, demonstrates the role of interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement as a model for sustainable stormwater management, a critical part of today’s urban development. Further efforts should be made to advance the science of designing urban wetlands and its communication to transform cultural attitudes toward sustainable urban development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

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16 pages, 2919 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Parcel-Scale Redevelopment Using Linear and Logistic Regression—the Berkeley Neighborhood Denver, Colorado Case Study

by Lisa Cherry, Darren Mollendor, Bill Eisenstein, Terri S. Hogue, Katharyn Peterman and John E. McCray

Sustainability 2019, 11(7), 1882; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11071882 - 29 Mar 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4127

Abstract

Many watershed challenges can be associated with the increased impervious cover that accompanies urban development. This study establishes a methodology of evaluating the spatial and temporal distribution of infill re-development on a parcel scale, using publicly available urban planning data. This was achieved through a combination of linear and logistic regression. First, a “business as usual” linear growth scenario was developed based on available building coverage data. Then, a logistic regression model of historic redevelopment, as a function of various parcel attributes, was used to predict each parcel’s probability of future redevelopment. Finally, the linear growth model forecasts were applied to the parcels with the greatest probability of future redevelopment. Results indicate that building cover change within the study site, from 2004–2014, followed a linear pattern (R² = 0.98). During this period the total building cover increased by 17%, or 1.7% per year on average. Applying the linear regression model to the 2014 building coverage data resulted in an increase of 820,498 sq. ft. (18.8 acres) in building coverage over a ten-year period, translating to a 14% overall increase in impervious neighborhoods. The parcel and building variables selected for inclusion in the logistic regression model during the model calibration phase were total value, year built, percent difference between current and max building cover, and the current use classifications—rowhome and apartment. The calibrated model was applied to a validation dataset, which predicted redevelopment accuracy at 81%. This method will provide municipalities experiencing infill redevelopment a tool that can be implemented to enhance watershed planning, management, and policy development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

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16 pages, 1467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding of Public–Private Partnership Stakeholders as a Condition of Sustainable Development

by Anna Wojewnik-Filipkowska and Joanna Węgrzyn

Sustainability 2019, 11(4), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11041194 - 24 Feb 2019

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 13603

Abstract

The strategic goal of city management is to ensure its sustainable development which requires a balance of rare resources. From the operational perspective, namely projects implementing sustainable development, the balance refers to human resources. They can be classified into the public or private sector and their cooperation is known as Public–Private Partnership (PPP). Building on the concept of sustainable development and stakeholder theory, the research develops a conceptual framework of stakeholder analysis in PPP projects. More generally, the research aims to contribute to a theoretical understanding of the determinants of sustainable city development and PPP success factors. The research claims that the PPP procurement is consistent with sustainable urban development and the PPP model, accompanied by the stakeholder theory, requires evaluation which balances diverse stakeholders’ interests along the triple bottom of sustainable development. The conceptual framework combines stakeholder attributes of preferred benefits and power and urgency. It includes a time and scope perspective. The research has a descriptive but also a normative character as the framework could be helpful to understand and engage stakeholders in sustainable urban development. The developed framework can be considered for the future construction of a model that can be implemented and tested. This theoretical research is based on a literature survey, applying methods of critical analysis and construction. The innovative approach of the research is based on integrated application of already known concepts of sustainable development, stakeholder theory, and Public–Private Partnership, which are all necessary to create a new approach to management of city development consistent with the known facts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

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12 pages, 1167 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Imbalanced Development and Economic Burden for Urban and Rural Wastewater Treatment in China—Discharge Limit Legislation

by Meishu Wang and Hui Gong

Sustainability 2018, 10(8), 2597; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082597 - 24 Jul 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3890

Abstract

Water pollution control is a great challenge for China. Compared with urban regions, the wastewater treatment in rural areas is much undeveloped, which is highly related with the much delayed legislation for rural wastewater. Imbalanced urban-rural development and the economic burden of urban and rural wastewater treatment in China was investigated from the perspective of discharge limit legislation. For now, the national discharge limit for rural wastewater is still vacant, although the national discharge limit for urban wastewater had been released for more than ten years. Recently, local rural wastewater discharge limits from several provinces were released, however, based on quite different principles. Some categories emphasized environmental sensitivity with the discharge limit equal and were more strict than urban standards, while some focused on resource recovery for rural regions with loose discharge limits. This study compared the financial burden between rural and urban regions in 31 provinces under different discharge limit legislation conditions. It was revealed that the resources recovery category discharge principle helped to decrease the financial burden imbalance with a reduced Gini coefficient from 0.37 to 0.17. The reduced economic burden from the implementation of a suitably designed rural discharge limit promoted balancing the rural-urban gap and lowering uncertainties and risk of sustainable rural wastewater treatment. This study also revealed the urgency of rural water legislation and proposed development with a balanced financial burden for urban and rural residents under suitable discharge limits, providing a profound insight for environmental management with a focus on balanced urban-rural development for the policy-makers in developing countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Environmental Engineering: Critical, Interdependent Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience)

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