How Can Operations Research Help to Achieve Sustainability ?

How Can Operations Research Help to Achieve

Sustainability ?

Operations Research I Tools

Linear Programming

Integer Programming

Goal Programming

Network Analysis

Dynamic Programming

Nonlinear Programming

Operations Research I Approach to SustainabilityFor a given topic:

What are the issues that impact sustainability? What is currently known about these issues?

What are relevant objectives for sustainability?Do we want to minimize, maximize, or meet a target?

What are possible actions to achieve sustainability?What are practical issues and constraints for

implementing these?

How can operations research tools be used to guide more sustainable decisions?

Example:Groundwater Sustainability

50% of the U.S. depends on groundwater for daily drinking water.

Sustainability Issues:

Maintaining groundwater levels

Keeping groundwaterfree of contaminants

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Groundwater Sustainability

What is currently known about groundwater levels?

Climate change is primarily quantified by a rise in the Earth’s near-surface air temperature.

The rise in temperature will cause glaciers, ice sheets, and snowcaps to melt, causing added runoff into oceans.

The runoff into oceans will increase sea level.

The primary sources of fresh water (glaciers, etc.) will be reduced.

Fresh ground water supplies at coasts could be contaminated by salt water from oceans.


What are sources of groundwater contamination?

Surface water contamination and runoff.

Combined sewer/stormwater systems that overflow during significant storm events.

Malfunctioning or leaking septic systems, lagoon systems, centralized wastewater treatment systems.

How does nature prevent contamination?

Native shrubs, perennials, flowers absorb water and filter out contaminants.

Trees, shrubs, and grasses can form buffers to protect clean water sources.


What are relevant objectives for sustainability?

Minimize contaminants in groundwater.

Maintain the supply of fresh water.

Minimize runoff.

Minimize overflow from combined sewer/stormwater systems.

Maximize use of natural habitats and native plants.

Minimize life cycle economic cost.


What are possible actions to achieve sustainability?

Practical issues? Constraints?

To reduce contamination from malfunctioning systems, implement a maintenance program.

Issues: Need regulation or economic incentives to implement such a program.

To reduce runoff, use porous pavements that mimic nature (e.g., Cowboys stadium) or rain gardens that use native plants.

Issues: Need to study the choices relative to the situation and consider cost.




To maintain the supply of fresh water under the effects of climate change, consider desalination.

Issues: Desalination is currently not cost-effective.

To reduce the impact of sewer/stormwater overflow, keep fresh water supplies upstream or use trees and shrubs as buffers or re-design these systems.

Issues: The appropriate choice depends on the location and incidence of overflows.



Use dynamic programming to optimize a system’s maintenance plan over time.

Use goal programming to design a cost-effective desalination process.

Use network analysis to study the network of groundwater sources and their potential for contamination.

Use integer programming to select among options for a combined sewer/storm water system.

Topic 1: Transportation Systems

Emissions from vehicles have been cited as major contributors to greenhouse gases and land use.


Air pollution

Land use

Telecommuting

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Transportation Systems

What is currently known?

Public transportation consumes less energy and uses land more efficiently than private transportation.

Public transportation is accessible to all members of society.

Public transportation encourages cities to grow more compactly.

Telecommuting replaces the daily work commute with telecommunication links.

Adding HOV lanes reduces vehicle traffic.


How do transportation systems impact pollution?

Vehicle emissions are one of the leading contributors to air pollution.

Adding HOV lanes reduces vehicle traffic.

Under-utilized public transportation systems fail to reduce vehicle traffic.

Idling, acceleration, and deceleration of vehicles contributes higher emissions per mile traveled.

Cars are most fuel efficient at 40-60 mph.

Disposal of old vehicles is not sustainable.



Maximize telecommuting.

Maximize carpooling.

Maximize the utilization of public transportation.

Minimize vehicle stops/starts and congestion.

Maintain constant speeds at 40-60 mph.

Maximize vehicle life length.

Maximize recycling of old vehicles.




To maximize telecommuting, create incentives for businesses to enable their employees to telecommute.

Issues: Some activities require face-to-face meetings.

To maximize the carpooling, increase facilities for carpooling vehicles like HOV high speed lanes.

Issues: Not possible in all areas.




To maximize the utilization of public transportation, design the system to be accessible and allow concessions (tax benefits) for riders.

Issues: People often do not want to live near public transportation.

To reduce waste from disposed vehicles, identify ways to recycle vehicle materials.

Issues: Harmful materials must be removed.



Use goal programming to identify cost-effective incentives for businesses to enable telecommuting.

Use linear programming to determine where to put HOV lanes to encourage carpooling.

Use network analysis to study the utilization of potential public transportation systems.

Use integer programming to locate facilities for recycling old vehicles.

Topic 2: Cleaner Energy

Alternative energy sources are critically important for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a more independent energy economy.


Renewable energy

Electric vehicles

Biodiesel

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Cleaner Energy


Our present fuel resources are mostly made up of fossil fuels, which are not considered renewable. (The world’s consumption of fossil fuels is 100,000 times faster than their natural production.)

The combustion of fossil fuels releases air pollutants.

Renewable energy sources are naturally renewable, such as solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal.

In 2010, only a small portion of electricity generation, about 18%, was from renewables.

Renewables have high variation and higher cost.

Cleaner Energy

What are alternatives for vehicles?

Biodiesel is a mixture of diesel and biomass from plant oils, animal fats and even recycled grease, and can reduce vehicle emissions of greenhouse gases by 75%, but the cost-effectiveness of biodiesel processes is still unclear.

Diesel vehicles can directly use biodiesel blends without any engine modifications.

Battery electric cars have zero tail pipe emissions, but their battery storage still needs improvement.

Hybrid gas-electric cars can improve fuel-efficiency, but require special engines.

Cleaner Energy


Minimize emissions (CO2, NOx, others).

Maximize utilization of renewables or more sustainable alternatives.

Maintain electricity levels to avoid black-outs.

Maximize efficiency of alternative fuels.


Cleaner Energy



To minimize emissions from coal power plants, use emission control technologies.

Issues: New technologies are still needed.

To maximize the utilization of renewables and maintain electricity levels, generate power from renewables first, and utilize fossil fuels only when needed.

Issues: Energy from renewables is highly variable, and better storage technologies are needed.

Cleaner Energy



To maximize efficiency of biodiesel fuels, study different types of biomass.

Issues: Need to consider the economic impact of using specific types of biomass.

To minimize the life cycle cost of solar cells, consider costs of different types of solar cells from construction through disposal/recycling.

Issues: Solar cells are not highly efficient (< 30%).

Cleaner Energy


Use goal programming to select emission control technologies to meet emission reduction targets.

Use dynamic programming to maintain electricity levels, maximizing the use of renewables.

Use linear programming to optimize the efficiency of biodiesel mixtures using different biomass types.

Use integer programming to identify the solar cell structure that minimizes life cycle cost.

Topic 3: Logging

The U.S., with less than 5%of the world's population, consumes 17% of the world's output of timber and is the third largest importer of tropical timber.


Deforestation

Forest biodiversity

Pulp/paper production

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Logging


The forest products industry is a large part of the economies in developed and developing countries.

Wood is considered a renewable resource.

The primary material for making paper is wood pulp. Alternatives include recycled pulp and field crop fiber.

Wood is also used for construction and is hard to replace.

Logging

What is known about deforestation?

Deforestation is one the major contributors to global warming.

Deforestation disturbs the water cycle (i.e., rainfall) and increases soil erosion.

Reforestation replenishes forests, but can diminish biodiversity.

Tropical deforestation is still a problem. The restriction of trade in certain species is enabled by listing with CITES(the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna), but this is still controversial.

Logging


Minimize the need for new wood.

Minimize soil erosion.

Maintain the water cycle.

Maintain biodiversity.

Maximize the use of land for both growing trees and crops.

Logging



To reduce the need for new wood, identify ways to recycle wood scraps and used wood products.

Issues: Creating new products out of scraps typically still requires some new raw material.

To minimize soil erosion, design new logging processes to maintain soil properties.

Issues: Logging inherently impacts soil.

Logging



To maintain the water cycle and biodiversity, balance logging, wood demand, and reforestation.

Issues: Need to separate wood demand that is “necessary” vs. demand that is “extravagant.”

To maximize land use, identify groups of trees and plants that grow well together.

Issues: Need to study the properties of many trees and plants.

Logging


Use linear programming to identify formulas for recycled wood products.

Use network analysis on the network of trees being cut down, so as to study the impact on the soil.

Use dynamic programming to optimize reforestation over time to maintain balance.

Use integer programming to group trees and plants that grow well together.

Topic 4: Fisheries

The global fishing fleet is estimated to be 250% larger than what the ocean can sustainably produce.


Overfishing

Ocean conservation

Food supply

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Fisheries


Fish currently supply the greatest percentage of the world's protein consumed by humans.

Seafood guides help consumers make informed choices.

Fish farming, an alternative to sea fishing needs more development.

Management of ocean ecosystems as a whole is needed, including prohibiting fishing in certain zones.

Management requires communication between national governments and markets.

Fisheries

What is known about overfishing?

Depleted fish stocks can be restored only if the species' ecosystem remains intact.

Overfishing disturbs the life cycle (food web) of aquatic flora and fauna.

Overfishing and by-catches made during fishing may result in depletion of certain species, leading to possible extinction and a reduced food supply for predators.

Advanced technologies have contributed to overfishing.

Fisheries


Maintain the food web.

Maximize breeding of overfished species.

Minimize by-catches.

Improve fish farming.

Maximize education of the public using seafood guides.

Fisheries



To maintain the food web, identify the appropriate quotas for different species.

Issues: Difficult to monitor the actual populations.

To maximize breeding of overfished species, regulate fishing to minimize impact on the ecosystems of these species.

Issues: Difficult to enforce regulations.

Fisheries



To minimize by-catches, design mesh sizes depending on the sizes of the variety of fish.

Issues: Costs more to create a variety of mesh sizes.

To improve fish farming, identify the best farming techniques for different species.

Issues: Farmed fish may not be as nutritious as sea fish.

Fisheries


Use dynamic programming to optimize quotas for different species over time.

Use network analysis to study breeding habits in different regions.

Use linear programming to identify the best mesh size given the fish populations in the fishing area.

Use integer programming to select among fish farming technologies.

Topic 5: Waste Management

In 2006, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced approximately 4.6 pounds of waste per person per day.


Landfills

Recycling

Bioreactors

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What is currently known?Reuse, recycle, reduce, recover.Landfill mining and reclamation (LFMR) is a process

whereby solid wastes that have previously been landfilled are excavated and processed.

Landfills are monitored to minimize groundwater contamination.

Methane from landfills is a natural energy source.The decomposition of plastics takes about 1000

years.Landfills occupy land that could be used for other

purposes.

Waste Management

What are bioreactors?

Bioreactors recirculate moisture to enhance the waste degradation process, but more research is needed to design safe bioreactor landfills.

Different biological processes are performed to decompose different types of waste.

Different types of waste (e.g., recyclables, food, textiles, drugs, e-waste) can be treated more efficiently if separated, but this is a difficult to achieve in practice.

Waste Management

Waste Management


Maximize recycling.

Maximize the speed of waste decomposition.

Maximize the conversion of waste into useful products.

Minimize the disposal of plastics and other non-biodegradable items.

Minimize the use of harmful elements in electronics.

Waste Management



To maximize recycling, implement recycling incentives.

Issues: Need to balance the benefits of recycling with the cost of incentives.

To maximize the speed of decomposition, implement the appropriate use of bioreactors.

Issues: Not all types of waste can be decomposed using bioreactors.

Waste Management



To maximize the conversion of waste into useful products, study waste compositions in landfills to identify potential products (e.g., fuel, fertilizer).

Issues: Much research is needed.

To minimize the disposal of non-biodegradable materials, use them for more long-term products (e.g., recycled plastic park benches).

Issues: Not all can be substituted or recycled.

Waste Management


Use integer programming to select a cost-effective recycling program.

Use nonlinear programming to identify bioreactor settings that maximize waste decomposition.

Use linear programming to study different waste compositions and the potential of converting them into useful products.

Use goal programming to achieve long-term targets for reducing disposal of plastics.

Topic 6: Green Building

Buildings account for a large amount of land use, energy and water consumption, and air and atmosphere alteration.


Environmental Impact

Life Cycle Cost

Sustainable Design

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Green BuildingWhat is currently known?

Green building typically costs more to implement, but costs less to maintain, and is more economical over the entire life cycle (cradle-to-grave).

There are already many green building guides (e.g., LEED in U.S., BREEAM in U.K., Green Star in Australia).

Green building uses non-toxic recycled materials and rapidly renewable plants (like bamboo), and seeks to reduce waste during construction.

Green BuildingWhat are the impacts of green building?

Reduced energy usage via solar energy, insulation, high-efficiency windows, natural lighting/shading.

Reduced water usage via on-site water treatment or a greywater system for irrigation.

Better indoor air quality improves human health.

Reduced waste generation.

Green Building


Minimize energy usage.

Minimize fresh water usage.

Minimize waste generation.

Maximize use of renewable, recycled, and local materials for building construction.


Green Building



To reduce energy usage in summer, study glass compositions or glazings that reduce heat from sunlight and still allow natural lighting.

Issues: These are conflicting objectives.

To minimize water usage, utilize greywater systems and balance the flow of fresh water and greywater.

Issues: There are regulations on the use of greywater.

Green Building



To minimize waste during building construction, select renewable and recyclable materials.

Issues: Renewable and recyclable materials often have higher cost.

To minimize the life cycle building cost, include construction, operation, and demolition/renovation.

Issues: Depends on usage and building lifelength.

Green Building


Use linear programming to optimize glass compositions and glazings.

Use network analysis to study the flow of fresh water and greywater throughout the building.

Use goal programming to meet targets for renewable and recycled materials.

Use integer programming to identify building technologies that minimize life cycle cost.

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How Can Operations Research Help to Achieve Sustainability ?