Thesis. 1978. M.C.P.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / M.C.P.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been successfully used as an environmental assessment tool for the development of ecologically sustainable products. The application of LCA in the early design stage has been constrained by the requirement of large amounts of data and time for carrying out the assessment. In addition, the complexity of LCA causes further difficulties for product developers. In order to integrate the environmental assessment into the process of product development, this research proposes an integrated decision model for sustainable product development and a simplified LCA approach for the application in the early stage of product design. The main advantage of the proposed model is that it incorporates the environmental aspects of product development into the existing product development framework. It enables designers to strike a balance between the product???s environmental performance and other traditional design objectives. The simplified LCA approach is based on the concept and application of Environmental Impact Drivers. Material-based environmental impacts and Energy-based environmental impacts are used to predict the total environmental impact of a product. Two sets of impact drivers were developed accordingly. The Material-based Impact Drivers were identified by classifying materials into 16 groups according to the nature of the materials and their environmental performance. Energy-based Impact Drivers were developed for various energy sources in major industrial regions. Product LCA cases were used to verify the proposed methods. The results computed by the application of the impact drivers were compared with the results of full LCA studies. It is concluded that with the proposed approach, the product???s environmental performance can be assessed in a very short time and with very basic data input requirements and acceptable accuracy.

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) was introduced to inform decision-makers of the potential environmental effects of the decision before them. It has been adopted worldwide and functions as one of the primary instruments for taking account of environmental consequences in project approval decision-making. To date, there has been very little systematic investigation that explores whether the decision-makers for whom the EIA information is produced actually use it, although there are indications that EIA information is not always effective in influencing decisions. This thesis examines how, and indeed if, environmental effects information influences the decision-making processes for which it is produced, and which factors determine the use of this information. Three main areas of concern are identified and investigated: the responses of individual decision-makers to environmental effects information; the characteristics of the effects information that influence these responses; and the processes by which the effects information is dealt with. At the core of the methodology employed for this research is the development of an exploratory model of EIA-based decision-making. This model builds on the insights into decision processes from a variety of disciplines, including psychology and planning. To test the utility of the model, it is evaluated against the New Zealand system of resource consent approval decision-making under the Resource Management Act, by means of case studies. Through interviews, direct observation, and analysis of written documents the decision processes in these cases are analysed. These techniques have been augmented by psychosocial methods that allow further probing into the decision processes that takes place in a decision-maker�s head. The research results show that the effort that is spent on the preparation of EIA reports and the improvement of EIA processes is not wasted. The EIA information clearly influences the decision processes for which it is intended but it is not influencing decisions optimally. EIA information often competes with information on environmental effects from other sources that is of higher quality, more credible, or better tailored to the decision-makers� information needs. A number of ways in which the use of EIA information could be enhanced is explored in this thesis. Foremost, the improvement of the effectiveness of EIA requires a wider adoption of a decision-making perspective on EIA, and a broader recognition of the information needs of the different decision processes for which EIA is prepared.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Activities, conducted in the logistics sector, contribute to pollute the world. Especially, road transportation contaminates the environment with the release of exhaust emissions. Transport volumes as well as the proportion of the road sector are constantly rising, which intensifies its environmental impacts. In order to determine the main culprits of pollution, Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) are used. These concepts are mostly ambiguous, fuzzy and hard to present in a comprehensive way. The main purpose of the present thesis is to develop an analysis in order to investigate the environmental impacts of road transportation along a certain supply chain. An academic resource was used as database, in order to develop and test an exhauste mission calculation in cooperation with a case company. Besides CO2, this assessment also focuses on the measurement of other exhauste missions like Nox, PM or CO. Furthermore, economic factors like, costs caused per transport are calculated. Aspects, like capacity utilization, the use of environmentally friendly tires or eco-friendly driving styles, are included in the analysis. These factors influence fuel consumption and thus the final production of exhaust emissions. A detailed description of each factor and calculation step is illustrated in this thesis. Due to a high complexity of transportation, this analysis is limited to road transportation. The fundament of the analysis builds the categorization of crafts due to the Euro standards. Hence, just transports conducted with crafts, manufactured within the European Union, can be evaluated. A validation test and in-depth interviews were conducted in order to approve the practicability of the developed assessment. During this process, strengths and weaknesses of the analysis were identified. Finally, the analysis is critically examined by showing its application constraints as well as prospective development opportunities. An enlargement, to include other transport modes, material handling activities in order to measure impacts during intermodal transportation along a whole transportation chain, is a prospect outlook.

Thesis (PHD)--University of Montana, 2009. / Contents viewed on November 25, 2009. Title from author supplied metadata. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. / Matthew J. Realff, Committee Member ; Farrokh Mistree, Committee Member ; Berdinus A. Bras, Committee Chair. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-195).

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves iv-iv).

Non-native parasites pose a significant threat to aquatic bio-diversity and fishery development. Many factors have facilitated the introduction of non-native parasites into England and Wales. Identifying the effects of these parasites and the importance of any changes to wild fish populations represents a considerable challenge. However, in order for the Environment Agency to identify future disease threats, effectively manage resources and implement practical and sustainable control measures, the risks posed by these parasites to fisheries must be better understood. A structured, risk-assessment process for non-native freshwater parasites is proposed. This approach includes procedures for hazard identification, impact assessment, risk management and communication. A quantitative approach to hazard identification provides an initial prediction of impact at the time of introduction to inform decisionmaking and guide preliminary control measures. This is followed by a more comprehensive framework for impact assessment that promotes understanding of changes at host, population and fishery levels. These are placed into context with the economic and ecological value of native resources. An independent 'non-native parasite review group' has been convened to ensure consistency of policy decisions and clear communication of disease risks to interested bodies. It is hoped that this wil assist the management of future invasions and provide a scientifically robust foundation on which to base proportionate control measures. The Category 2 parasites are defined as "species having a significant disease potential when introduced into waters where they do not already exist, or are non-indigenous species with unknown pathogenicity and distribution". Understanding of the dangers posed by these parasites varies considerably. Ergasilus sieboldi, Anguilicola crassus, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi and Lernaea cyprinacea, are well recognised non-native fish pathogens that pose a considerable threat to fisheries. Conversely, the effects of other introduced parasites remain poorly understood. In many cases, a paucity of published literature at the time of introduction has limited a reliable assessment of impact. Four non-native parasites were considered a priority for further study. These were Paraergasilus longidigitus (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida), Ergasilus briani (Copepoda: Caryophylldae) Poecilostomatoida ), Atractolytocestus huronensis (Cestoda: and Philometroides sanguinea (Nematoda: Philometridae). Pathological, epidemiological and experimental investigations were undertaken to assess the effects of these parasites at host and population levels. P. longidigitus can cause pronounced pathological changes to the olfactory epithelium of infected fish. Although this damage provides the potential for disruption to spawning through reduced sensitivity to reproductive chemical cues, experimental observations combined with seasonality studies suggest that the parasite is unlikely to disrupt reproduction within infected cyprinid fisheries. Similarly, studies conducted on the caryophylidean cestode A. huronensis provide little evidence to suggest that the parasites poses a threat to car fisheries. Damage within the intesinal tract was characterised by relatively mild mechanical and inflammatory changes. Infections of up 213 parasites had no adverse affect upon the conditon of common carp. Based on these findings and the application of the aformentioned risk model, P. longidigitus and A. huronensis are considered to be of low disease risk to fisheries. The pathology of E. briani and P. sanguinea are described for the first time. Literature suggests that both parasites are pathogenic to juvenile fIsh. E. briani causes a number of pathological changes within the gils of juvenile cyprinids, although these remain localised due to the very strict site specificity of the parasite. Migrations of the nematode P. sanguinea causes damage to the fins and caudal musculature of juvenile crucian car. For both parasites, the extent and severity of pathological changes are inversely proprtional to host size. Further studies at the population level are needed before an assessment of impact to fisheries can be made. The difficulties associated with studying the effects of introduced parasites to juvenile fish populations in the wild are recognised. Recommendations for further study are given.

No description available.