Integrated environmental assessment of tertiary and residuals treatment - LCA in the wastewater industry

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Beavis ◽  
S. Lundie
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Financial Analysis ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Aerobic Digestion ◽  
Unit Process ◽  
Treatment Train ◽  
Integrated Environmental Assessment

In the wastewater industry, decision-makers lack access to an environmental tool that can assist in further informing the non-financial analysis of a system. Such a tool should incorporate impacts beyond the effluent quality and look at the supporting processes of a plant as well as plant specific operations. Life Cycle Assessment can provide the means to fill a gap in pertinent information towards more sustainable decision-making. The project “Best Practice LCA in the Wastewater Industry” is commissioned by the CRC for Waste Management and Pollution Control at UNSW with representatives from Sydney Water Corporation(SWC), NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation and the NSW Department of Public Works. Two case studies were researched to provide a post-implementation review of changes in wastewater treatment. Case study 1: The conversion from chlorine gas to hypochlorite and UV disinfection has been completed for several inland wastewater plants at SWC. A review of operational data for each of the options has been incorporated into an LCA of each technology. Under efficient dosing conditions, disinfection with the hypochlorite system has the minimum environmental impact. Case study 2 deals with the conversion from anaerobic to aerobic digestion. Aerobic digestion minimises release of nutrients into a sidestream to be further treated in the plant. However conversion results in more biosolids production and higher electricity requirements. This study includes a consideration of the environmental impacts of biosolids production and application. On the basis of the extended system boundary including consideration of reflux composition, energy requirements and biosolids quality to potentially offset fertiliser production, anaerobic digestion performs best in 6 out of 9 impact categories. These results suggest that environmental LCA has a role in informing decision-making on unit process and treatment train selection by quantifying aspects on non-financial criteria. Also, improvement potentials are foreshadowed but not detailed.

Have we compromised too much? A critical analysis of nutrition policy in Australia 2007–2018

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Brandon I ◽  
Phillip Baker ◽  
Mark Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Nutrition Policy ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Government Documents ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Poor Nutrition

Abstract Objective: A comprehensive nutrition policy containing a broad package of cross-sector and synergistic policy actions is required to attenuate the systemic drivers of poor nutrition. The current study aims to critically analyse trends in the scope of federal nutrition policy actions in Australia between 2007 and 2018 by: (1) describing the changes in nutrition policy actions, benchmarked against an international best-practice policy framework and (2) investigating how and why the scope of these policy actions have changed over time by examining the decision-making processes that led to the establishment of Australia’s Healthy Food Partnership (the Partnership). Design: Qualitative case study involving documentary analysis and key-informant interviews. Australian federal government documents (n 10) were analysed against the NOURISHING framework. Key informants (n 6) were interviewed and asked about the Partnership’s decision-making and establishment processes. Setting: Australia. Participants: Executive Committee (the Partnership’s governing body) and working group members. Results: From 2007 to 2018, the scope of Australian national nutrition policy has fluctuated from evidence-informed recommendations for a comprehensive policy to the mostly discrete policy actions of the Partnership. Themes of ‘pragmatism and compromise’, ‘actor relationships and lobbying’ and ‘political context’ were critical drivers for establishing the Partnership. Conclusion: The narrowing of Australian nutrition policy reflects a response to political expediency and compromise. This political dynamic highlights a dilemma facing nutrition policy advocates: should (and if so, how) a balance be sought between the aspirational but possibly unrealistic goals, and the limited but likely deliverable outcomes during policy-making processes? These findings have relevance for developing a future comprehensive national nutrition policy.

scholarly journals Multi-Criteria Approach for Prioritizing and Managing Public Investment in Urban Spaces. A Case Study in the Triple Frontier

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3345
Author(s):  
Noé Villegas Flores ◽  
Yelinca Saldeño Madero ◽  
Camilo Alberto Torres Parra ◽  
Isidoro Fasolino ◽  
Hugo Alexander Rondón Quintana
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Urban Infrastructure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Urban Spaces

The aspirations of public administrations to meet quality parameters and standards in urban spaces have fostered new strategies and tools that allow users to give safety and well-being. The participation and interaction of different actors during decision-making in the context of allocation of public resources implies a significant degree of complexity when prioritizing actions in public works. The objective of the study focuses on obtaining an urban street condition index (USCI) that allows an efficient diagnosis of urban infrastructure. The study provides an innovation component for decision-making through the construction of guidelines to prioritize spending on investment in urban infrastructure. The case study has been developed in three countries, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina (Triple Border) with the aim of drawing management guidelines during the process in public entities. The results for Brazil and Argentina present streets with satisfactory USCI. Paraguay reflects a significant lack of urban infrastructure and compliance of accessibility regulations. Regarding the city of Foz de Iguazú, it has been observed that 50% of the roads require prevailing actions to improve the mobility of the roads; 40% of these reflect reduced mobility and deterioration of urban components, configured as an urgent action, and only 10% of the roads studied reflect adequate mobility conditions.

scholarly journals The Significance of Financial Analysis Methods in the Rationalization of Investment Decisions in Stock Market – The Case of Khartoum Stock Exchange, During the Period from 2014  to 2018 –: أهمية استخدام أساليب التحليل المالي في ترشيد قرارات الاستثمار في سوق الأوراق المالية – دراسة حالة سوق الخرطوم للأوراق المالية خلال الفترة 2014 - 2018 –

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Mohammed Zain, Asim Hassan Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Stock Market ◽  
Financial Analysis ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Data ◽  
Descriptive Approach

This research aimed primarily to clarify the extent of the significance of financial analysis tools in the rationalization of investors’ decisions in the Khartoum Stock Exchange. This is, however, will be effected by identifying the role of financial analysis using financial ratios to provide information to make a sound decision. To achieve this objective, the research used the analytical descriptive approach, since the same conforms to such types of researches. To affect this, the research relied basically on the annual financial data of the case study. Based on said account, the research has reached a number of findings, the most significant of which, are the following: The utilization of trend analysis reporting in the Khartoum Stock Exchange has a great significance in the performance evaluation of the stock market. The liquidity ratios as a tool for financial statements analysis deemed as a perfect indicator in the process of decision making in the stock market. The debt ratios are the most significant tools in the financial analysis of the published financial statements, which help investors to take sound investment decisions.

scholarly journals Application of Fuzzy Best Worse Multi Criteria Decision Making Method for Flood Prioritization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarita Gajbhiye Meshram ◽  
Ali reza Ildoromi ◽  
Mehdi Sepehri
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Power Index ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Curve Number ◽  
Multi Criteria Decision Making ◽  
Stream Power ◽  
Stream Power Index ◽  
Flooded Areas

Abstract Flood is one of the major problems of the sad ekbatan watershed, northern of Hamadan province, Iran. This problem imposes high damages to the economic issue. Therefore, prioritization of the study area based on the flooding degree can be considered for identifying hot spot flooded areas for performing soil and water conservation practices. In this study, in order to prioritize sub-watersheds of the case study from viewpoint of flooding degree, five flood-related criteria i.e. entropy of drainage network (En), index of connectivity (IC), stream power index (SPI), curvature (C) and curve number (CN) were considered, then fuzzy based Best Worse Multi Criteria Decision Making (F-BWM) Method was used to assigning weights to used criteria and combination them to achieve flooding degree for each sub-watershed. The results of prioritization of sub-watersheds indicated that the sub-watersheds 14 and 21 are most and least susceptibility areas to flooding correspondingly.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Clinical Decision Making From a Motor-Based Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Stoeckel ◽  
Susan Caspari
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Assessment And Treatment

Purpose This article uses two case studies to illustrate clinical decision making using the best available evidence to approach the assessment and intervention for children with childhood apraxia of speech. The cases represent children seen in the authors' clinical practice, with personal information altered or omitted to protect the identity of the individuals. The case discussions exemplify choices that may be made for children of different ages, highlighting common elements across ages, as well as treatment aspects that may differ by age. Conclusions While research regarding best practice for assessment and treatment for childhood apraxia of speech has not been conclusive and, in fact, at times has been equivocal, there is empirical evidence from which to develop a rationale for assessment and treatment decisions. Accountability is important even as decisions are being made based on the best available evidence. In each case study, modifications in treatment depended on data that allowed the clinician to evaluate the children's response to therapy and adapt accordingly.

scholarly journals Use of Evidence in Acute Stroke Decision-Making: Implications for Evidence-Based Medicine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothe Langlois-Therien ◽  
Brian Dewar ◽  
Ross Upshur ◽  
Michel Shamy
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Medical Decision Making ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Physician Decision Making ◽  
Prescriptive Model ◽  
Based Medicine

Evidence-Based Medicine proposes a prescriptive model of physician decision-making in which “best evidence” is used to guide best practice. And yet, proponents of EBM acknowledge that EBM fails to offer a systematic theory of physician decision-making. In this paper, we explore how physicians from the neurology and emergency medicine communities have responded to an evolving body of evidence surrounding the acute treatment of patients with ischemic stroke. Through analysis of this case study, we argue that EBM’s vision of evidence-based medical decision-making fails to appreciate a process that we have termed epistemic evaluation. Namely, physicians are required to interpret and apply any knowledge — even what EBM would term “best evidence” — in light of their own knowledge, background and experience. This is consequential for EBM as understanding what physicians do and why they do it would appear to be essential to achieving optimal practice in accordance with best evidence.

PAPER PHYSICS. Bi-level optimization in papermaking process design

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 774-782
Author(s):  
Mikko Linnala ◽  
Jari Hämäläinen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Process Design ◽  
Water System ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Unit Process ◽  
Single Level ◽  
Optimization Formulation ◽  
Process Structure

Abstract Model-based optimization is a sophisticated design tool for papermaking processes. In this paper, the method is extended from the unit process design and single-level optimization to the simultaneaus design of the process structure and operations. This is enabled by using a bi-level optimization formulation which allows to avoid unnecessary iterations between the process and automation designs. The bi-level optimization approach is studied here from the perspective of multiobj ective optimization and decision making. The method is illustrated by a case study in which the broke and water system structures and the papermaking process operations are optimized simultaneously.

Communication, coordination, decision-making and knowledge-sharing: a case study in construction management

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1764-1781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moza Tahnoon Al Nahyan ◽  
Amrik Sohal ◽  
Yaser Hawas ◽  
Brian Fildes
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Director General ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Management Processes

Purpose This paper aims to examine four key management processes, namely, communication, coordination, decision-making and knowledge-sharing, to determine how these impact on transportation infrastructure project success. The context for this study is the construction of a major highway in the United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach Multiple sources of data are used in this case study that include the following: examination of various documents relating to the project in question; interviews with ten key stakeholders involved with the construction of the project; observations made during the site visit and interviews conducted with four site engineers; a focus group conducted with six key stakeholders involved in the project; and finally interviews conducted with the Minister of Public Works and the Director-General of the Ministry of Public Works. Analysis was conducted using NVivo. Findings Identification and involvement of key stakeholders, particularly in the early phases of a construction project, is found to be highly critical. Managers must develop detailed understanding of stakeholders’ influence in terms of their legitimacy, power and urgency in achieving effectiveness of the management processes. Originality/value The study highlights how different stakeholders influence communication, coordination, decision-making and knowledge-sharing at different stages of the construction project. Hence, understanding stakeholder’s level of legitimacy, power and urgency across the different stages of a project is highly critical.

Blockchain in Supply Chain: Case Study of Lottemart Ciputat

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Handoyo ◽  
M. R. Mashudi ◽  
H. P. Ipung
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Production Processes

Current supply chain methods are having difficulties in resolving problems arising from the lack of trust in supply chains. The root reason lies in two challenges brought to the traditional mechanism: self-interests of supply chain members and information asymmetry in production processes. Blockchain is a promising technology to address these problems. The key objective of this paper is to present qualitative analysis for blockchain in supply chain as the decision-making framework to implement this new technology. The analysis method used Val IT business case framework, validated by the expert judgements. The further study needs to be elaborated by either the existing organization that use blockchain or assessment by the organization that will use blockchain to improve their supply chain management.

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