Sustainability Commons^™

Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability Under Climate Change: A Multi-Scale Framework Integrating Climate Extremes, Resource Efficiency, And Data-Driven Modeling, Shahryar Fazli

Computational and Data Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Agricultural systems are increasingly challenged by climate variability, where shifting temperature regimes, hydrological variability, and the rising frequency of compound and cascading extremes threaten global food security and resource sustainability. Addressing these challenges requires integrated frameworks that bridge biophysical monitoring, predictive modeling, and adaptive decision-making. This dissertation develops a data-driven, multi-scale framework to quantify and enhance agricultural resilience by integrating remote sensing, climate analytics, and machine learning across the United States, with a focus on California and the Western U.S.

First, hyperspectral and thermal remote sensing data from EMIT and OpenET are integrated to characterize crop nitrogen–water interactions and assess …

A Macroergonomic Analysis Of Autonomous Robotic Construction For Affordable Housing, Ricardo Leon Jimenez

Sustainability Conference

As communities seek to increase housing supply, the construction sector continues to grapple with rising costs, skilled labor shortages, and growing pressure to improve environmental sustainability. Meeting these demands will require new approaches that increase productivity while lowering environmental impact throughout the building lifecycle. Recent advances in autonomous systems developed for space exploration offer alternative ways to design, assemble, and maintain residential buildings. This study examines the potential application of NASA's Automated Reconfigurable Mission Adaptive Digital Assembly Systems (ARMADAS) technology from space construction to terrestrial affordable housing construction.

While most construction automation research focuses on technical performance, this study considers …

Growing Climate Literacy In Urban Green Spaces: An Extension Youth Climate Education Experience, Brad Bessler, Justin Hougham

Journal of Extension

Capturing Your Environment (CYE) is an environmental education framework that engages youth in place-based climate exploration. CYE was implemented with youth participating in a Milwaukee summer internship program funded by the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects grant. The primary objective of CYE was to create an engaging climate-centered experience for youth. The experience aimed to improve science efficacy, climate content knowledge, science skills, and confidence using scientific tools. A paired t-test compared the learners' pre- and post-experience responses on a 16-item self-report survey. Following participation in CYE, youth reported increases across all measured outcomes.

Two Modes Of Sustainable Development Transition, Shuai Zhang, Dajian Zhu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Sustainable development has become a global consensus. Every country should carry out sustainable development transition. Due to large differences in development stages and the ecological impacts imposed on the Earth, developed countries and developing countries ought to adopt different modes of sustainable development transition. By using the Doughnut model as an analytical tool, which has made a significant impact at the forefront of sustainable development research, this paper thoroughly discusses the two modes of sustainable development transition. The Transition Mode of Developed Countries (Mode B) refers to transition from the outer circle to the middle circle of the Doughnut model. …

Resource Security Research In China In The New Era: Evolving Concepts, Paradigm Shifts, And Strategic Pathways, Dong Jiang, Jinwei Dong, Yanzhao Yang, Jingying Fu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Resource security serves as a critical foundation for safeguarding national security and underpinning high-quality socioeconomic development. Major geopolitical conflicts, such as the Russia–Ukraine conflict and the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, have intensified turbulence across global resource supply chains, positioning resource security as a central arena of strategic competition among nations. As a major consumer and trading power in global resource markets, China faces persistently high import dependence for critical mineral resources, and the pressure to ensure resource security amid the pursuit of high-quality development continues to mount. Against this backdrop, resource security is evolving from a narrow focus on supply …

Progress, Challenges, And Policy Recommendations For China’S Climate Investment And Financing Pilot Zones In Context Of Carbon Neutrality, Xianchun Tan, Zhaoyang Deng, Chenxu Wang, Zhe Peng

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

To implement the decisions and arrangements of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on addressing climate change and to channel more capital toward climate action, China launched its first batch of 23 climate investment and finance pilot areas in 2022. Through the end of 2025, this study tracks and assesses of pilot development, synthesizes innovative models, identifies major challenges, and proposes policy recommendations. The results show that the pilot areas have made solid progress, with more than 260 supporting policy documents issued and over 6 300 projects, representing total planned investment exceeding RMB …

Agrivoltaics: Combining Food And Solar Power On Agricultural Lands, Dharla Soteros, Kendall Becker, Spencer J. Good, Ngoni Mufute, Matt Yost, Logan Mitchell, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Utah’s ranchers and farmers face pressure to sell land to developers, conserve water, and manage increasing production costs (Li et al., 2019). One way producers can keep growing food while diversifying and increasing revenue is by integrating agriculture and solar electricity generation on the same land, a practice known as agrivoltaics. In this fact sheet, the authors describe agrivoltaic setup options, summarize agrivoltaics' impacts on livestock and crop production, and discuss implementation economics.

Sustainable Landscaping And Sustainability Education On A College Campus: A Case Study In Place-Based, Collaborative Ecosystem Science, Christine S. O'Connell, Shannon Hahn, Evelyn Jauregui, Michael V. Frazier, Anika R. Bratt, Mary A. Heskel, Megan Butler, Christie M. Manning

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Sustainability education on college campuses can leverage interdisciplinary collaborations between facilities services, sustainability offices, environmental studies researchers, and students to provide hands-on opportunities for place-based learning. In an effort led by student researchers that could be replicated in academic practice at other academic institutions, we collaborated across campus groups to improve campus landscaping and turfgrass management. Turfgrass is an ideal cover for high-traffic areas and recreation, but is energy intensive to maintain, inefficient at carbon sequestration, and requires fertilizing which contributes to nutrient pollution. Here, we outline a student-led research effort that combined experiential learning, using a college campus as …

Web-Mapping Viewers To Enhance Environmental Education And Watershed Planning, Austin L Holland, John Strauser, Eric Olson

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals have been using web-based geographic information system (GIS) viewers to aid in education, outreach, and planning. This article highlights the Center for Land Use Education's new Watershed & Conservation Planning Web-Viewer, which was created in collaboration with Extension Lakes using publicly available GIS data. The tool has two objectives: to enhance public education on the relationship between land and water resources and to support the use of geospatial data in conservation planning. This article outlines the justification for the tool, its usefulness, and a path forward for those who can create their own version for their region or …

Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring In South Florida Using Water And Aerosol Payloads On Uncrewed Aircraft, Kayla D. Taylor, Justin Fratto, Avinash Muthu Krishnan, David Zink, Blake Neal, Jose Cabrera, Emel Sen-Kilic, Marc Compere, Kevin Adkins

Student Works

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) threaten aquatic ecosystems, public health, and tourism and fishing industries throughout the United States, including Florida. Because HABs can develop and spread rapidly, geographically representative sampling efforts can be very difficult and labor-intensive, and traditional monitoring methods, such as satellite-based remote sensing, often lack the spatiotemporal resolution needed to characterize bloom dynamics. This project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (Grant No. 05D36825), aims to develop an uncrewed aircraft (UA)-based water and aerosol sampling approach to improve HAB monitoring and support prediction and mitigation efforts. One year into our funding period, we have integrated a multi-depth, …

Community-Based Water Management Through Cultural Ecosystem Services: Traditional Wisdom And Modern Adaptation In Senjoyo Spring, Indonesia, Puji Winarti, Sri Haryani, Sri Wardani, Langlang Handayani

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Small-scale freshwater ecosystems play vital ecological and cultural roles. However, community-based water management (CBWM) often lacks a clear analytical approach to integrating cultural ecosystem services (CES) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), limiting the practical understanding of culturally grounded governance. To address this gap, this qualitative study explores the interactions between CES and TEK, analyzes their roles within CBWM, and identifies their implications for sustainable water governance. The integration between cultural value and local ecological knowledge makes Senjoyo Spring an appropriate location for this study. Data were collected through interviews with 20 key informants, field observations, forum group discussions (FGDs), and …

The Impact Of Urban Morphology On Spatial Configuration And Socio-Spatial Structure: A Comparative Space Syntax Analysis, Tazra Kamaran Ismael, Abdulrazaq Zamil Menshid Al-Saedi

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Urban morphology plays a crucial role in shaping the spatial configuration, movement patterns, and socio-spatial interactions within cities. However, despite the extensive development of Space Syntax research, limited research has comparatively examined how contrasting urban morphologies influence spatial hierarchy, accessibility, and intelligibility within the same urban context, particularly in the rapidly transforming cities of the Global South. This study investigates the configurational characteristics of two contrasting urban sectors in Koya City, Iraq: the organically developed historic city centre and the planned grid-based Zanko neighbourhood. A Space Syntax analysis was conducted using axial maps generated in DepthmapX. The analysis was supported …

Good Governance In The Concept Of Climate Justice: Decarbonisation Policies In Economic Considerations Of Losses And Sacrifices, Daryanti Daryanti, Albertus Sentot Sudarwanto, Erna Dyah Kusumawati, Rosita Candrakirana

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Projections of losses resulting from the impacts of climate change in Indonesia are estimated to reach USD 30.5 million, affecting four key sectors: agriculture, water supply, health, and the maritime sector. This study shows that good governance based on climate justice in the implementation of decarbonization policies is the most important factor in avoiding long-term economic losses caused by the adverse impacts of climate change or investing in climate resilience. This study employed a normative methodology using a statutory approach to examine efforts related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The findings of this research indicate that regulations in Indonesia, …

Machine Learning Models For Estimating The Consumed And Remaining Useful Life Of Haul Trucks In An Open-Pit Mine In Peru, Marco Cotrina, Jairo Marquina, Mario Sandoval, Jose Mamani, Johnny Ccatamayo

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The purpose of this study was to develop a machine learning-based model to predict the consumed useful life and estimate the remaining useful life of haul trucks in an open-pit mining operation in Peru. A comparative analysis of multiple machine learning models was conducted, including multiple linear regression (MLR), random forest + PSO, support vector regression (SVR), gradient boosting machine (GBM), decision tree + PSO, and artificial neural networks (ANN-MLP). The models were evaluated using performance metrics such as R², RMSE, and MAE, selecting the optimal model to estimate the remaining useful life based on a theoretical lifespan …

Development Of A Spectral Index And Web Application For Automated Marble Quarry Monitoring: A Sentinel-2 Based Approach For Change Detection And Monitoring, Konstantinos Ntouros, Vasileios Drimzakas - Papadopoulos, Georgios Gkologkinas, Georgios Ntouros, Dimitrios Markou

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This study introduces an automated workflow to monitor marble quarry operations using Sentinel-2 satellite data, providing a cost-effective and efficient tool for regulatory oversight focused on environmental sustainability. At the core of this workflow is the Quarry Change Detection Index (QCDI), a new spectral index specifically developed to leverage the unique spectral characteristics of quarry sites, enhancing the detection of land cover changes associated with quarry expansion. To facilitate practical application, a web-based tool was developed using Google Earth Engine and Streamlit. The user-centric design of this platform features an intuitive interface, allowing users to easily select parameters, visualize data, …

From Innovation To Impact: Evaluation Of The Shape Accelerator Cohort, Iryna V. Lendel, Chloe Wieber

Upjohn Institute Technical Reports

The Solutions Hub for an Alternative Packaging Ecosystem (SHAPE), a Michigan-Ohio partnership operated by the Michigan State University Research Foundation as part of a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engine, co-funded a special cohort of the NextCycle Accelerator focused on sustainable packaging and circular economy ventures. This report evaluates how the accelerator contributed to firm-level advancement and ecosystem-level change, drawing on program data and interviews with participating companies, program facilitators, stakeholders, and SHAPE management.  Participants most consistently credited coaching, network connections, and the Pitch Showcase with meaningfully impacting their business trajectory, gaining market traction, advancing technology readiness, and gaining access …

Bio-Oil Production From Palm Kernel Shell By Pyrolysis: Feedstock Characterization And Potential For Sustainable Transportation Fuel Production, Monday Ejiga, Helen Olayinka Ogunsuyi, Taiwo Mary Oriyomi, Ayodele Adekunle Faiyetole

Journal of Bioresource Management

Transportation energy constitutes a substantial share of global energy consumption, and its associated contribution to emissions and, by extension, climate change, necessitates intensified efforts toward the development of sustainable transportation fuels. This study investigated the suitability of Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) biomass for pyrolytic bio-oil production as a potential precursor for transportation biofuels. Laboratory-scale pyrolysis at 450-500 °C produced bio-oil, while proximate analysis (wt.%) showed low moisture (5.59), moderate fixed carbon (20.11), high volatile matter (66.25), and relatively high ash (8.05) contents. Ultimate analysis (wt.%) revealed 49.25 carbon, 5.17 hydrogen, 43.90 oxygen, 0.79 nitrogen, and 0.89 sulphur, with Van Krevelen …

Evaluating Peak Metamorphic Conditions Of The Kyanite-Bearing Rocks At Willis Mountain, Virginia, Usa, Emma J. Hunt, Peter Horvath, Connor R. Gregory, Jade D. Sabillon, Ethan H. Watson

Earth and Environmental Sciences Publications

Willis Mountain, near Dillwyn in central Virginia, is the world’s largest kyanite deposit located in the Chopawamsic Fm. of the Piedmont province. However, little is known about the temperature and pressure conditions under which the kyanite deposit and its surrounding rocks formed, compared with similar-aged rocks in the Blue Ridge province to the southwest. Willis Mountain is composed of kyanite-bearing muscovite schists to kyanite quartzites which contain up to 55% kyanite. The following methods were used to evaluate the metamorphic conditions, with multiple calibrations for each: phase equilibrium modelling; trace element thermometry (titanium in quartz and zirconium in rutile); garnet-biotite …

Geotechnical Enhancement Of Noncohesive Coal Mine Overburden Using Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation And Fly Ash Stabilization For Sustainable Pavement Applications, Atul Gautam, Laxmikant Yadu

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The majority of the waste generated from opencast mining, termed as overburden (OB), is dumped adjacent to the mine boundary and poses long-term stability issues. Various studies have been carried out to assess the risk of dump slope failure, and treatment strategies have been accordingly recommended to strengthen this OB dump. However, scant works are reported to sustainably utilize this OB for construction works. This study aims to quantify the performance of stabilized noncohesive coal mine OB collected from Gondegaon opencast mine (OCM) in India. Stabilization was achieved using two techniques, namely microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) through Sporosarcina pasteurii …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Unique Connotation Of Geological-Engineering Dual Sweet Spot Evaluation For Effective Coalbed Methane Exploitation, Luo Pingya, Zhu Suyang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In China, the exploitation of deep and shallow coalbed methane (CBM) still relies on the evaluation approach oriented to the geological-engineering dual sweet spots of unconventional hydrocarbons. However, exemplary CBM production technologies delivered unsatisfactory performance in other blocks and failed to find wide application even in zones with overlapping geological and engineering sweet spots. This issue represents the principal theoretical and technical challenge confronting the comprehensive development of the CBM industry in China. Methods This study aims to elucidate the causes of this issue and provide corresponding solutions, as well as clarifying the conditions for the effective linkage between …

Exploration And Prospects Of Engineering Technologies For Deep Coal Seam Development Based On The Well Factory Mode, Gao Deli, Dong Xuelin, Bi Yansen

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Given China's energy and mineral resource endowment, the efficient and green development and utilization of deep coal resources are expected to become a significant strategic option for facilitating the country's green energy transition and achieving its goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality. This significant demand may be satisfied through development using a structurally complex well factory mode. Method This study introduces the basic concept of a three-dimensional, multi-functional, and precisely controllable underground structurally complex well factory, designed for the efficient and green development of unconventional energy and mineral resources. It then discusses the well factory engineering …

Differential Accumulation Of Coalbed Methane In Medium- To Low-Rank Coal Seams In A Strongly Compressional Tectonic Setting In The Tarim Basin, Liu Honglin, Wang Hongyan, Wang Haichao, Deng Ze

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The Tarim Basin contains abundant coal and coalbed methane (CBM) resources. However, the geological accumulation patterns of CBM in the basin remain poorly understood. This leads to a relative lack of targeted technologies for the exploration and development of both deep coal reservoirs and steeply dipping coal seams, further rendering it challenging to achieve breakthroughs in CBM development in the basin. Methods Based on test data from 92 coal samples, data on the drilling and production tests of more than 10 exploration wells, and 3D seismic interpretation results, this study systematically investigated the distribution of coal-bearing strata, as well …

Variable-Temperature And Variable-Pressure Adsorption Characteristics Of Deep Coalbed Methane And Their Implications, Jiang Wenping, Sun Siqing, Jin Xianglan, Tian Bofan, Tian Xinjuan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Investigating the adsorption characteristics of coalbed methane (CBM) helps bridge key geological information concerning deep CBM, including occurrence state, free gas proportion, and gas-bearing properties, with the gas production potential and commercial exploitation of CBM wells. Such investigation represents a key component of the evaluation, exploration, and exploitation of CBM reservoirs. Methods Using deep coal samples collected from three representative regions, this study designed high-temperature and high-pressure methane isothermal adsorption experiments, together with variable-temperature and variable-pressure methane adsorption experiments, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The adsorption characteristics of the coal samples derived using the different experimental methods were subsequently …

Occurrence Pattern Of Adsorbed And Free Gas In Deep Coal Seams Under The Control Of Pore Structure: A Case Study Of The No. 8 Coal Seam In The Daning-Jixian Block Along The Eastern Margin Of The Ordos Basin, Bian Liheng, Shen Jian, Shi Rui, Zhang Wei, Ma Zhuang, Liang Xuemin, Dong Jiying, Zhu Peipei, Ma Tianyu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Deep coalbed methane (CBM) holds an important strategic position in China's unconventional natural gas system. However, concerning deep CBM occurrence, there remains a lack of systematic quantitative understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the controlling effects of pore structure. Methods This study investigated high-rank coal samples collected at a burial depth of approximately 2000 m from the No. 8 coal seam in the Daning-Jixian block along the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin. Using multiscale pore characterization techniques, including low-temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption, high-pressure mercury injection, and low-temperature CO₂ adsorption, the full-scale pore size distribution of the coal …

Controlling Effects Of Ash Yield On The Adsorption-Desorption Behavior And Production Potential Of Methane In Deep Coal Reservoirs, Huang Daojun, Liu Xinshe, Chen Shida, Sun Wen, Jiao Pengshuai, Wang Huaichang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The lithotype and quality characteristics of coals significantly affect the reservoir permeability and production potential of coalbed methane (CBM). However, there remains a lack of clear understanding of the controlling effects of ash yield on the gas-bearing properties and methane adsorption-desorption behavior of coal seams under comparable thermal maturity. Focusing on coal samples obtained through continuous sealed coring from the No. 8 coal seam in well M172 in the east-central part of the Ordos Basin, this study aims to clarify the impacts of ash yield on the pore structure, adsorption capacity, desorption process, and resource recoverability. This effort is …

Components And Isotope Fractionation Of Deep Coalbed Methane And Their Geological Implications In The Daning-Jixian Block, Ordos Basin, Wang Chengwang, Zhang Yun, Wang Hongna, Chen Yiyu, Chen Gaojie, Wang Jun, Liu Lingqi, Li Panxue, He Hongcheng, Li Wenbiao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The components of deep coalbed methane (CBM), along with its isotopic composition and fractionation patterns, hold great significance for revealing the genetic types, occurrence characteristics, flow, and production patterns of CBM. Methods This study investigated the Shanxi and Benxi formations in the Daning-Jixian block, Ordos Basin. A range of analyses and tests were conducted, including field CBM desorption experiments on coal samples from the deep parts of both formations, continuous monitoring of wellhead gas from two production wells, physical property tests on the samples, organic petrological experiments, and geochemical analysis. Furthermore, this study analyzed the components and isotopes of …

Investigating The Mechanisms Controlling Gas Flow In Coal Reservoirs Based On Multi-Scale Digital Rocks, Han Lei, Huang Dongxiang, Zhang Xiaodong, Shen Jian, Zhang Shuo, Ni Xiaoming, Liu Xiao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Deep coal reservoirs exhibit highly heterogeneous pore-fracture structures. However, limited by a single imaging resolution, conventional digital rock techniques struggle to characterize complex pore-fracture networks across multiple scales. This poses significant scientific challenges for the fine-scale characterization of deep coal reservoirs and the investigation of their seepage mechanisms. Methods This study investigated deep coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs in the north-central Qinshui Basin. The pore-fracture structures of coal samples were characterized by integrating X-ray computed tomography (CT), mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Digital rock models incorporating multi-scale pores and fractures were then constructed by integrating …

Investigating The Characteristics Of Ch4 Adsorption In Coal Reservoirs Based On Interpretable Machine Learning, Chen Ruibin, Zhou Sandong, Zhang Weixin, Yan Detian, Wang Hua

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Accurately predicting methane (CH₄) adsorption capacity in coal reservoirs is critical to the efficient exploration and exploitation of coalbed methane (CBM). Existing studies largely rely on experimental data from a small number of samples and theoretical adsorption models such as Langmuir. However, these studies exhibit time-consuming and laborious processes, as well as conclusions with limited generalizability, posing challenges to their widespread applications across different basins. Methods Based on 1150 sets of experimental data on CH₄ adsorption in coals, this study investigated five machine learning models, namely artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbor …

Mechanical Anisotropy And Depth Effects Of Deep Coal Seams, Mei Xiaofan, Wang Cong, Wang Kaifeng, Tang Shuheng, Zhang Songhang, Xi Zhaodong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The mechanical properties of coal seams determine the stability, fracability, and fracturing performance of deep coal reservoirs. Since the in situ stress applied to coal increases with burial depth, deep coal differs from its shallow counterpart in damage behavior, key mechanical parameters, and failure mechanism. Furthermore, deep coal exhibits pronounced mechanical anisotropy.Methods Focusing on the No. 9 coal seam in the Linxian area along the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin, this study carried out triaxial compression tests at 60℃ under different confining pressures to determine the mechanical anisotropy of deep coal. By comparing the full stress-strain curves, …