Impact of closed-loop network configurations on carbon footprints: A case study in copiers

Growing concerns about the environment make a supply chains’ eco-footprint increasingly important, presuming that footprints are a more effective (policy) instrument than those currently in use. The eco-footprint comprises all kinds of environmental impact, but often is narrowed down to one aspect; e.g. the carbon footprint, material footprint, the water footprint, and so on. Although returns give rise to an additional goods flow from customers back to producers, it usually improves the eco-footprint due to the substitution effect. The reverse channel supplies high quality (recovered) products, components and materials to the forward channel thereby reducing the need for virgin sourcing and production. We refer to this as closed-loop recovery, as opposed to recovery for cascade markets which lacks substitution. To maximize substitution, the recovered items must re-enter the original supply chain. The feasibility of closed-loop recovery depends partly on the geographical proximity of forward and reverse facilities. We develop a decision framework for optimizing closed loop network configurations, i.e. the combined disposition and location–transport decision. We apply the framework to a single case study concerning one type of footprint (namely the carbon footprint) of a copier (closed-loop) supply chain. The main implication is that a regional network, with combined forward and reverse facilities per continent, proves most efficient and most robust in view of uncertain exogenous variables, but only when a full set of closed-loop options is available (including closed-loop recycling). As an embedded case, main contribution value of it lies in the discovery of a new phenomenon with generic implications; namely that not only the closed-loop supply chains footprint strongly depends on the substitution effect, but that in turn the feasibility of closed-loop recovery options depends heavily on the network design. From delineations of the study we derive issues for further research.     

A harvest failure approach to assess the threat from an invasive species

We present the idea of using potential infringements on annual allowable harvest targets as an approach to estimate threats from invasive species to the forest products sector. The approach uses present-day harvest levels as a reference level to estimate when and where the impact of a nonnative forest pest could become economically damaging. We use a generic model that simulates spread and damage by nonnative invasive species, basic harvest and forest growth through time. The concept is illustrated with a case study of a new nonnative invasive pest, Sirex noctilio Fabricius on pine resources in eastern Canada. Impacts of invasion on wood supply, in particular, the point at which present-day harvest levels are not attainable, were identified for 77 non-overlapping geographical regions that delimit the primary wood supply areas around large mills and wood processing facilities in eastern Canada. The results identify the minimum area of a pest outbreak that could trigger harvest shortages (approximately 12.5–14 M ha of pine forests in Ontario and Quebec). Beyond this level, the amount of host resource available for harvesting in any given year declines rapidly. The failure to sustain broad-scale harvest targets may be an attractive and intuitive indicator for policy makers and regulators interested in developing control and “slow-the-spread” programs for non-native forest pests.     

Sustainable recycling model: A comparative analysis between India and Tanzania

Higher economic growth in developing countries has caused higher amounts of wastes. Local government authorities in these countries usually fail to provide adequate services to dispose the increasing amounts of waste, resulting in threats for both the population and environment health. There is therefore an urgent need for recycling as a form of waste management in order to stop the devastating effects of solid waste in developing countries. Using a qualitative method of analysis, this study presents a model to measure and rank the sustainability of recycling programs in India and Tanzania. The model consists of six main constructs including “production, economic, governmental, social, technological, and international factors”. The results showed that India outperforms Tanzania in sustainable recycling programs: per capita waste generated per day in Delhi is higher than in Dar es Salaam; the government of India focuses more on developing recycling plans and techniques as compared to the government of Tanzania where the country is not actively involved in the recycling process; and the solid waste management planning in India is being performed better than Tanzania.     

成都龙泉山地区建设用地生态适宜性评价

随着景观格局与生态过程之间的关系日益受到重视,传统的评价方法已经不能满足生态适宜性评价的发展需要。本文以成都市龙泉山地区为例,从景观类型、生态功能、生态价值、土壤侵蚀敏感性和地质灾害敏感性5个方面建立评价指标体系,分别采用最小累积阻力模型和模糊综合评判法描述水平生态过程和垂直生态过程下的生态适宜性,综合两种评价结果进行建设用地的生态适宜性评价。研究结果表明,模型机理的差异使评价结果有着很大的区别,两种方法的综合应用可以有效弥补彼此的不足,本文将研究区的生态适宜性评价结果划分为禁止开发区、严格限建区、一般限建区、重点开发区和优化开发区5个分区,各区的面积分别为259．70km^2、793．89km2、1220．35km2、739．68km2和490．42km2。以往的生态适宜性评价方法往往单一地考虑水平或者垂直生态过程,本文构建的这种综合水平和垂直生态过程的评价方法为生态适宜性评价的方法研究提供了有益的尝试和补充。     

基于GIS技术的生态环境脆弱性模糊综合评价

研究过程中摒弃了以往生态环境脆弱性分析中常有的以乡、镇为研究单元的传统模式,改用栅格单元为基本研究单元,切实反映了区域自然环境特征的非均衡性和连续性,使研究结果打破行政区界限从而具有＂空间性＂;并基于栅格单元首次提出了将＂地理信息系统技术＂和＂AHP-模糊综合评价模型＂互相融合的生态环境脆弱性研究的＂分解-合成＂新方法,使得原本数据信息有限的模糊矩阵扩展成包含大量网格信息的巨型空间矩阵,较好的解决了图层属性单一化与模糊隶属最大原则之间的矛盾。文章从＂模糊隶属度＂层面进行生态环境脆弱性综合分析评价。     

化工园区重大危险源分级方法研究

以常州市新北区化工园区为例,对重大危险源的分级方法进行了研究.根据化工园区自身的特点,制定了重大危险源分级方法、程序,建立重大危险源分级模型,并利用建立的模型对该化工园区进行了重大危险源分级的实例研究.     

基于模糊数学的机务维修中人的可靠性综合评价

基于有关资料数据统计、现场调查研究和理论分析,结合许多专家在人为因素上的研究成果,建立了机务维修中人可靠性评价指标体系,应用层次分析法(AHP)确定了各指标权重.运用模糊综合评价原理构建了机务中人的可靠性模糊综合评价模型,并进行了实例验证,得出了可靠性的综合评价等级.结果表明,该方法简单,易操作,能实现动态的综合评价,...     

建筑施工安全效能ADC计算方法

为计算建筑施工安全系统的效能,基于ADC效能评估模型,尝试构建建筑施工安全系统效能的测算方程,该系统方程包括建筑施工安全可用度A的测算、建筑施工安全可信度D的测算、建筑施工安全固有能力C的测算和建筑施工安全效能干扰因子G的测算,进而推导出建筑施工安全系统效能评估的一般数理模型及特定模型,并以脚手架搭设系统为例进行效能测算。算例表明该数理模型可以较准确计算建筑施工安全子系统的效能。     

尾矿库洪水漫顶溃坝演化规律试验研究

为分析尾矿库洪水漫顶溃坝的演化规律,采用物理模型试验方法建立尾矿库漫顶溃坝演化模型。在自主研制的尾矿库溃坝模拟试验平台上,以国内某尾矿库为研究对象,基于非恒定水流泥沙非平衡非饱和冲刷机理,根据模型相似理论和溃决侵蚀模型原理,模拟尾矿库洪水漫顶溃坝过程,建立尾矿库漫顶溃坝演化模型。试验结果表明,尾矿库洪水漫顶溃坝位移与坝体饱和程度有关,坝体浸润线越高,尾矿库溃坝时滑动位移越大,溃口破坏程度取决于溢流对坝体的冲刷侵蚀作用;在该试验条件下,获得尾矿库洪水漫顶溃坝过程中坝体位移、浸润线高度、溃口最大流速和溃口的演化规律。降低坝体浸润线高度、增大安全干滩长度、铺设坝面引流明渠等措施有助于减少尾矿库洪水漫顶溃坝的灾害破坏。     

基于数据场和云模型的洪水灾害风险等级评估

根据灾害风险系统的定义以及洪水灾害的特点,用灾情损失与地形危险性的综合作用描述洪水灾害风险。针对研究单元风险的内在联系和等级概念的模糊性、随机性,提出基于数据场和云模型的洪水灾害风险等级评估方法,以期为洪水灾害风险管理提供科学依据。以苏州市和上海市(崇明县除外)为例,首先用数据场对灾情数据进行扩散;再用云模型对地形进行等级划分;最后对两者进行耦合得到该地区的洪水灾害风险等级划分。结果表明:苏州市中心偏北区域和上海市中心区域综合风险等级最高,并向四周呈递减趋势;总体上中部风险等级最高,北部次之,南部最低。