Ao mesmo tempo em que o turismo é reconhecido como uma atividade potencialmente causadora de danos ao meio ambiente, motivando diversas pesquisas e ações que visam fomentar a sustentabilidade do setor, a imaterialidade permanece como característica amplamente aceita no entendimento da natureza dos serviços em geral. Nesse sentido, a pesquisa tem como objetivo discutir, à luz de teorias da economia de serviços, a materialidade dos serviços de hospedagem. Para tanto, utiliza se revisão da literatura e a estrutura analítica do conceito de ciclo de vida para abordar as entradas e saídas associadas aos aspectos ambientais do produto fornecido pelos meios de hospedagem. Foram considerados os estágios de produção e uso dos serviços de hospedagem. Assim, diferentes entradas e saídas associadas às fontes de materialidade desses serviços podem ser identificadas. As entradas são: consumo de energia, água, alimentos e bebidas, produtos de higiene pessoal, produtos de limpeza, produtos químicos, combustíveis fósseis e outros produtos. Já as saídas identificadas são: geração de resíduos orgânicos e inorgânicos, descargas de efluentes, emissões atmosféricas, emissões de ruídos e emissões de odores. Tais entradas e saídas decorrem do conteúdo material dos serviços de hospedagem, o qual se manifesta nos locais físicos de produção e na operação dos fatores de produção utilizados. Discutir a materialidade dos serviços e impulsionar um bom desempenho ambiental dos meios de hospedagem é parte importante de um contexto de promoção do turismo sustentável / While tourism is recognized as a potential cause of damage to the environment and motivates several researches and actions designed to promote the sector\'s sustainability, the immateriality remains a widely accepted feature in understanding the nature of the services. In this sense, the research aims to discuss, in the light of service economy theories, the materiality of the accommodation services. Therefore, the research uses literature review and the analytical framework of the life cycle concept to address the inputs and outputs associated with the environmental aspects of the product provided by the accommodation businesses. The stages of production and consumption of accommodation services were considered. Thus, different inputs and outputs associated to the materiality sources of accommodation services can be identified. The inputs are: consumption of energy, water, food and beverage, personal care products, cleaning products, chemicals, fossil fuels and other products. The outputs are organic and inorganic waste generation, effluent discharges, atmospheric emissions, noise emissions and odor emissions. These inputs and outputs are derived from the material content of the accommodation services, which is manifested in the physical sites of production and in the production factors operations. Discussing the services materiality and promoting a good environmental performance of accommodations businesses is important in a context of promoting sustainable tourism

<p>Realizovana istraživanja disertacije mogu se podeliti na tri<br />osnovne celine. Prva celina predstavlja teorijski deo disertacije, u<br />okviru kog su postavljene osnovne podloge za razvoj sistema za<br />inteligentnu vi&scaron;ekriterijumsku analizu kod ocenjivanja životnog<br />ciklusa proizvoda i procesa. Drugu celinu predstavlja razvoj<br />modela i programskog sistema za inteligentnu vi&scaron;ekriterijumsku<br />analizu. U okviru treće celine prikazani su rezultati primene<br />razvijenog modela i programskog re&scaron;enja na primerima<br />ocenjivanja životnog ciklusa i procene opterećenja životne<br />sredine.</p> / <p>Dissertation reserch has been carried out in three main sections.<br />The first section presents the theoretical part of the dissertation,<br />where the base for the development of intelligent multicriteria<br />analysis within life cycle assessment of the products and<br />processes is set up. The second part presents the development of<br />model and software system for intelligent multicriteria<br />analysis.<br />Within the third section the results of applying the developed<br />model and software solution are presented on the case studies of<br />life cycle analysis and assessment of environmental burdens.</p>

O Brasil é um país que se destaca pela pujança da pecuária e como importante ator no mercado de biodiesel. Entretanto, há uma carência de estudos que investiguem o desempenho ambiental do biodiesel produzido a partir de gordura animal segundo uma lógica sistêmica. Trata-se de um tema controverso em função do tratamento dado à gordura pois, embora haja demanda e mercado bem estabelecido, há casos em que esta substância é tratada como um rejeito da produção de carne, desconsiderando-se os impactos ambientais pregressos. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a criticidade de diferentes abordagens para as situações de multifuncionalidade da cadeia de produção do biodiesel obtido de gordura animal. Para tanto, fez-se uso da técnica de Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida de produtos segundo o enfoque atribucional com escopo do \"berço-ao-portão\" para se determinar o desempenho do biodiesel produzido nas regiões Sul, Centro-Oeste e Sudeste, e disponibilizado (tanto puro quanto na forma das misturas B15 e B8) para a região metropolitana de São Paulo entre os anos de 2013 e 2015. As situações de multifuncionalidade foram analisadas a partir da aplicação de critérios físicos (proporção mássica e conteúdo energético), de critérios econômicos e do Método Surplus, além da expansão das fronteiras do sistema e substituição de cargas ambientais evitadas. Os resultados foram expressos em termos das categorias de impacto de Mudanças Climáticas, Acidificação terrestre, Eutrofização aquática, Formação fotoquímica de oxidantes, Demanda de Energia Primária. Adicionalmente, foram feitas considerações a respeito do indicador de Energy Return On Investment (EROI) e do balanço de emissões de gases de efeito estufa. Os resultados indicaram que a alocação das cargas ambientais do processo de refino de petróleo - para a produção do diesel fóssil usado em atividades de transporte - mostrou-se irrelevante no contexto do presente estudo. No que diz respeito ao processo de transesterificação, os efeitos das abordagens para as situações de multifuncionalidade foram pouco influentes sobre os resultados. Isto porque a magnitude do impacto da atividade pecuária foi tamanha que a amplitude dos resultados variou cerca de 817 vezes (no caso da categoria de Mudanças Climáticas) ou até 1084 vezes (para a Demanda de Energia Primária). / Brazil is a country that stands out for the internal importance of cattle farming and as an important player in the biodiesel market. However, there is a lack of studies focusing the investigation of the environmental performance of biodiesel produced from animal tallow according to a systemic scope. This is a controversial issue, due to the treatment given to tallow as, although there is consistent market demand, there are cases in which this substance is treated as a waste from meat production activities. In this context, this study was conducted aiming the evaluation of the criticality of different approaches to multifunctional situations of the biodiesel production chain from animal tallow. In order to do so, attributional Life Cycle Assessment technique was used according to a \"cradle-to-gate\" scope in order to determine the environmental performance of biodiesel produced in the South, Midwest and Southeast regions, and commercialized (either purely or in the form of B15 and B8 mixtures) at São Paulo metropolitan region between 2013 and 2015. Multifunctionality situations were analyzed based on the application of physical criteria (mass ratio and energy content), economic criteria and the Surplus Method, as well as based on system boundaries expansion and the substitution of avoided environmental burdens. The results were expressed in terms of the following impact categories: Climate Change, Terrestrial Acidification, Aquatic Eutrophication, Photochemical Oxidants Formation, and Primary Energy Demand. In addition, considerations were made regarding the Energy Return On Investment (EROI) indicator and the greenhouse gases emission balance. The results indicated that the allocation of environmental burdens at petroleum refining process - for the production of fossil diesel used in transport activities - proved to be irrelevant in the context of the present study. Regarding the transesterification process, the effects of the approaches for multifunctionality situations were not very influential on the results. This is because the magnitude of the impact of cattle raising activity was such that the results varied by about 817 times (in the case of the Climate Change impact category) or up to 1084 times (considering the Primary Energy Demand).

As questões ambientais têm recebido crescente atenção, levando as práticas ambientais a evoluir desde soluções de \"fim-de-tubo\" até abordagens preventivas, como a Produção mais Limpa (P+L). Nos últimos anos, tem sido observada a adoção de uma postura holística e proativa chamada Visão de Ciclo de Vida (VCV), que é aplicada por meio de práticas da Engenharia e da Gestão do Ciclo de Vida (EGCV). Neste contexto, estratégias ambientais preventivas, como a P+L, devem passar a considerar os impactos ao longo de todo o ciclo de vida para os processos e produtos analisados e melhorias propostas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo contribuir para a inserção da Visão de Ciclo de Vida na P+L por meio da integração de práticas da EGCV às etapas e atividades da P+L. Para atingir este objetivo, dividiu-se o trabalho em três etapas. A primeira etapa, Estado da Arte, consistiu no estudo do estado da arte da Produção mais Limpa, da Engenharia e da Gestão do Ciclo de Vida e da integração entre estes dois temas. Na segunda etapa, Estudo de Caso, foi estudada a integração entre os dois temas na prática, por meio de um estudo de caso em uma empresa referência na adoção da Visão de Ciclo de Vida. A terceira etapa, Integração, consistiu na identificação de oportunidades de integração entre as práticas da EGCV e as etapas da P+L, com base na comparação dos dados e informações de entrada e saída das etapas da P+L e de práticas da EGCV selecionadas. Estas oportunidades são apresentadas na forma de um quadro. Os resultados obtidos reforçam a pertinência e atualidade da questão levantada. Embora diversos trabalhos tenham sido dedicados a esta questão nos últimos anos, ainda se fazem necessários estudos que contribuam de forma prática, fornecendo diretrizes e recomendações. Os resultados da proposta de integração indicam que a adoção das práticas da EGCV nas etapas da P+L pode suprir a lacuna identificada, inserindo da forma sistêmica a Visão de Ciclo de Vida na P+L. Diversas oportunidades de integração de práticas da EGCV ás etapas da P+L puderam ser identificadas, além disso, vinte e uma recomendações para a integração da Visão de Ciclo de Vida na Produção mais Limpa foram elaboradas com base nos resultados das revisões simples e sistemática, na análise dos casos de sucesso de P+L e no estudo de caso realizado. / With the intensification of economic activities and resulting impacts, environmental issues are receiving growing attention and environmental practices are evolving from \"end-of-pipe\" solutions to more preventive approaches such as Cleaner Production (CP). More recently, a paradigm shift is taking place with the adoption of a more holistic and proactive approach towards environmental impacts, where all the impacts throughout the life cycle of products have to be considered resulting in the creation of the so called Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), which is put into practice though Life Cycle Engineering and Management (LCEM) practices. In this new context, environmental improvements in production process have to consider the life cycle impacts of the analyzed processes and proposed improvements. Even though Cleaner Production is often mentioned as a LCEM practice, LCT is not systematically integrated in CP implementation stages. Therefore, the goal of this research is to contribute to the integration of LCT in the CP framework through the integration of LCEM practices in the stages and activities of CP. The first step was to perform an analysis of the CP implementation guides and the selection of a \"model guide\" to be used. Subsequently, compatible LCEM practices were selected though a literature review and selection criteria. A comparison of the inputs and outputs of both the stages of CP and the selected LCEM practices was performed for the identification of compatibilities and integration opportunities. Based on a systematic review of the literature between the two subjects, a CP success stories analysis and a case study in a company which is benchmark in LCT, recommendations for the integration of LCT in CP were derived. The simple and systematic review of the literature reinforced the pertinence and relevance of the research\'s question. The results show that the lack of a life cycle perspective in CP is a significant gap both in theory (in the CP implementation guides) and in practice (in the CP success stories) and that, despite the fact that many authors have dedicated to the subject, as shown in the systematic review of the literature, further research is still necessary to help fill this gap. The results of the proposed integration show that the application of LCEM practices in the stages of CP is an efficient way to help fill this gap, systematically integrating LCT in the CP framework. Many opportunities for the integration were identified and twentyone recommendations were derived from the results.

A sustentabilidade pode ser uma realidade para a concepção e construção de uma rodovia, especialmente quanto ao pavimento. Dentro deste contexto, a análise do ciclo de vida - LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) e a análise do custo do ciclo de vida - LCCA (Life Cycle Cost Analysis) dos pavimentos são formas de prover meios para avaliar aspectos relativos à sustentabilidade de uma solução de pavimentação, seja no setor ambiental ou econômico. Na pesquisa apresentada, essas ferramentas são utilizadas para identificar os compromissos em tomada de decisão, uma vez que permitem a apreciação de indicadores de sustentabilidade e viabilidade de investimento, a partir do momento da produção das matérias-primas, até implantação do pavimento, manutenção, conservação e uso da rodovia. Portanto, nessa pesquisa foram avaliadas e comparadas três estruturas típicas de pavimento (flexível, semi-rígido e rígido) propostas para uma rodovia que se encontra em fase de implantação. Após verificação e comparação dos dados obtidos foi feita a integração desses resultados sob âmbito de sustentabilidade e viabilidade de implementação, através do método multicritério AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process). Tal integração permitiu uma avaliação analítica de indicadores, por meio da verificação das emissões de CO2 equivalentes, e também através da constatação do VPL (valor presente líquido) para cada alternativa considerada. De maneira geral, sob as condições estabelecidas nesta pesquisa, os resultados permitiram observar, por exemplo, qual estrutura levaria a uma maior liberação de CO2 na atmosfera e qual pavimento apresentaria viabilidade de investimento menos atrativa, o que poderia auxiliar na tomada de decisão quanto à estrutura a ser adotada naquele projeto. / Sustainability can be a reality for the design and construction of a highway, especially considering the pavement. Within this context, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) of pavements may provide means to evaluate aspects related to the sustainability of a solution, both in the environmental or economic sectors. In the presented research, these tools are used to identify the commitments in decision making, since they allow the evaluation of sustainability indicators and feasibility of investment, since production of raw materials, until the pavement construction, maintenance, conservation and highway operation. Therefore, in this research, three typical pavement structures (flexible, semi-rigid and rigid) were proposed and compared (undergoing project). After verification and comparison of the obtained data, the integration of LCA and LCCA under sustainability and feasibility aspects was done through the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) multi-criteria method. This integration allowed an analytical evaluation of indicators, through the verification of the equivalent CO2 emissions, and also through the verification of the NPV (net present value) for each alternative considered. In general, under the conditions established in this research, the results showed, for example, which structure would lead to a higher release of CO2 into the atmosphere and which pavement would present less attractive investment feasibility, which could help in decision making of which pavement structure could be adopted in that project.

The Utah Department of Transportation developed life-cycle benefit-cost analysis spreadsheets that allow engineers and analysts to evaluate multiple safety countermeasures. The spreadsheets have included the functionality to evaluate a roadway based on the 11 facility types from the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) with the use of crash severity distributions. The HSM suggests that local agencies develop crash severity distributions based on their local crash data. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University worked with the Statistics Department to develop crash severity distributions for the facility types from the HSM.The primary objective of this research was to utilize available roadway characteristic and crash data to develop crash severity distributions for the 11 facility types in the HSM. These objectives were accomplished by segmenting the roadway data based on homogeneity and developing statistical models to determine the distributions. Due to insufficient data, the facility types of freeway speed change lanes and freeway ramps were excluded from the scope of this research. In order to accommodate more roadways within the research, the facility type definitions were expanded to include more through lanes.The statistical models that were developed for this research include multivariate regression, frequentist binomial regression, frequentist multinomial, and Bayesian multinomial regression models. A cross-validation study was conducted to determine the models that best described the data. Bayesian Information Criterion, Deviance Information Criterion, and Root-Mean-Square Error values were compared to conduct the comparison. Based on the cross-validation study, it was determined that the Bayesian multinomial regression model is the most effective model to describe the crash severity distributions for the nine facility types evaluated.

Pyrenophora semeniperda is a generalist fungal pathogen that occurs primarily on monocot seed hosts. It is in the phylum Ascomycota, which includes both self-compatible (homothallic) and self-incompatible (heterothallic) species. Homothallic fungal species contain complementary mating-type (MAT) idiomorphs in a single unikaryotic strain, while heterothallic strains contain a single MAT idiomorph requiring interaction between strains of complementary mating-types for sexual reproduction to occur. Because the majority of P. semeniperda strains contained either MAT1 or MAT2, this species was provisionally categorized as heterothallic. However, many strains contain both MAT idiomorphs and appear to be homothallic. These results warranted a closer look at the MAT idiomorphs and the structure of the P. semeniperda genome in order to assure accurate characterization of the MAT locus. Additionally, an assessment of the geographic distribution of MAT idiomorphs provides us with insight into the genetic diversity of P. semeniperda and the reproductive strategies that it employs. In this study, we characterized the P. semeniperda MAT locus and assessed the idiomorph distribution of 514 isolates from 25 P. semeniperda populations collected from infected Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) seeds. Additionally, we used simple sequence repeat (SSR) and MAT idiomorph length polymorphisms to demonstrate the existence of dikaryotic strains and pseudohomothallism in this fungus. We identified a unique variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) within each idiomorph of the MAT locus of P. semeniperda. Presence of the VNTR in all MAT loci analyzed from strains collected in the Intermountain West suggests ancient proliferation of this repeat. The persistence and effectiveness of P. semeniperda strains in the cheatgrass pathosystem depend not only on the density of the fungus in the soil, but also on the genetic heterogeneity of each population. Our study suggests that P. semeniperda genetic diversity is increased both through MAT locus-dependent sexual reproduction and asexually through anastomosis.

Biomass is an attractive renewable energy resource for electricity generation, which has the potential to protect air quality, reduce dependence on fossil fuel, and improve forest health. Biomass gasification is a technology that transfers solid or liquid biomass into gaseous energy carrier (syngas) to increase the efficiency of electricity generation. The objective of this thesis is to supply a detailed feasibility study and provide a state-of-the-art economical pathway on biomass gasification application. The work of this dissertation can be separated into two parts: commercial-scale biomass integrated gasification combined cycle (BIGCC) power plants comparison and other biomass gasification system design. The first part compares eight BIGCC systems with three groups of technology variations of gasification agent, syngas combustion method, and CO2 capture and storage. By comparing on performance, economic, and environmental indicators of these systems, it is found that BIGCC systems have higher exergy efficiency and lower emissions than biomass combustion electricity production system and electricity grid. However, its levelized cost of electricity is around 27% higher than the average electricity market price. To reduce the BIGCC system’s cost, in the second part of this thesis, the potential for waste material gasification has been discussed. This part discussed the tire gasification and the gasification technology application for avian influenza poultry management. Results showed that tire gasification has a lower cost than natural gas which has the potential to reduce the BIGCC system’s cost. Moreover, gasification is an effective and economical available approach for avian influenza poultry management.

Uncertainty in the global energy market and negative environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels has led to renewed interest in alternative fuels. The scalability of new technologies and production pathways are critically being evaluated through economic feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments. This work investigated the conversion of agricultural wast, delactosed whey permeate (delac), with yeast fermentation for the generation of biofuel via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). The feasibility of the process was demonstrated at laboratory scale with data leveraged to validate systems models used to perform industrial-scale economic and environmental impact analyses. Results showed a minimum fuel selling point of $4.56 per gasoline gallon equivalent (CGE), a net energy ratio (NER), defined as energy required to process biofuel divided by energy in the biofuel produced, of 0.81 and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 30.03 g CO2-eq MJ-1. High Production costs can be attributed to operational temperatures of HTL while the high lipid yields of the yeast counter these heating demands, resulting in a favorable NER. The operating conditions of both fermentation and HTL contributed to the majority of GHG emissions. Further discussion focuses on optimization of the process, on the metrics of TEA and LCA and the evaluation of the process, on the metrics of TEA and LCA, and the evaluation of the process through a sensitivity analysis that highlights areas for directed research to improve commercial feasibility.

According to the USDA Economic Research service, farm-level prices are on the decline. This decline in prices particularly hurts smaller scale operators with many needing to rely on off-farm income in order to ensure they remain in operation. This thesis studies two problems of key interest to the Southeast region and the State of Kentucky by investigating dairy management practices and the environmental benefits of hemp production. As dairy prices have been on the decline and dairy co-ops have tightened their restrictions on somatic cell count (SCC) levels, dairy farmers and farm managers must decide the best course of action for maintaining milk quality in order to maintain their contract and profitability. Maintenance decisions as well as factors like sanitation and animal living conditions can all contribute to bulk tank SCC and depending on the type of incentives or penalties instituted by the co-op they can have an impact on net farm income. The objective of the dairy study is to determine which dairy management practices have the largest impact on SCC levels. Industrial hemp is produced worldwide. Historically, the major producers of hemp have been China, Europe, and Russia. In 2014, the passage of the Farm Bill opened the door to the production of Industrial hemp through the development of state pilot programs. Then the 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp from the Scheduled Drug list. This has further expanded the opportunities and excitement for this crop. The plant’s versatility and the variety of products that can be made from it are coming to light. Sustainability is one of the key attributes touted concerning industrial hemp. Specifically, in the state of Kentucky, it is expected to be a replacement for tobacco and other traditional crops. However, how does the crop compare to tobacco production in terms of sustainability? The objective of the hemp study is to develop a life cycle analysis on the planting and harvesting of hemp and compare its impacts to more traditional crops.