Sustainability Network Theory and Industrial Systems
Sustainability Network Theory and Industrial Systems
Junbeum Kim, Braden Allenby, and Ming Xu May 15, 2007 A Center for Sustainable Engineering Education Module
SUMMARY
The integrated human/natural/built systems that characterize the anthropogenic earth are highly complex, interconnected, and overlapping. One way to understand and visualize these complex systems is through conceptualizing them as networks. The theory of networks, and network analysis, have been applied widely, providing a unifying language to describe disparate systems ranging from social interactions to power-grids. Thus, the science of networks is a promising vehicle by which to study, and advance our understanding of, the complicated systems that are at the heart of sustainability and sustainable engineering. A major challenge of sustainability is to visualize all the relevant information on various issues and demonstrate the connections between seemingly disparate factors. Network theory and analysis can support identification of causal loops, help with prioritization of conflicting factors, and facilitate intervention at the right levels. This module is about a set of models and tools collectively based on, and illustrating, a new competency we call “sustainability network theory” or “SNT”. The first part of the module introduces network concepts and examples of their application. The second part develops SNT as a means to reflect and model complex aspects of industrial networks, including interconnections between environmental, economic and social aspects. As this is a cutting edge integration of theory and practice in sustainable engineering, students and practitioners should be encouraged to develop their own applications. The target audiences of this module are advanced undergraduate engineering classes, and graduate classes in sustainable engineering and industrial ecology. This module is part of a series designed for the Center for Sustainable Engineering (CSE). Instructor’s guides
Junbeum Kim, Braden Allenby, and Ming Xu May 15, 2007 A Center for Sustainable Engineering Education Module
SUMMARY
The integrated human/natural/built systems that characterize the anthropogenic earth are highly complex, interconnected, and overlapping. One way to understand and visualize these complex systems is through conceptualizing them as networks. The theory of networks, and network analysis, have been applied widely, providing a unifying language to describe disparate systems ranging from social interactions to power-grids. Thus, the science of networks is a promising vehicle by which to study, and advance our understanding of, the complicated systems that are at the heart of sustainability and sustainable engineering. A major challenge of sustainability is to visualize all the relevant information on various issues and demonstrate the connections between seemingly disparate factors. Network theory and analysis can support identification of causal loops, help with prioritization of conflicting factors, and facilitate intervention at the right levels. This module is about a set of models and tools collectively based on, and illustrating, a new competency we call “sustainability network theory” or “SNT”. The first part of the module introduces network concepts and examples of their application. The second part develops SNT as a means to reflect and model complex aspects of industrial networks, including interconnections between environmental, economic and social aspects. As this is a cutting edge integration of theory and practice in sustainable engineering, students and practitioners should be encouraged to develop their own applications. The target audiences of this module are advanced undergraduate engineering classes, and graduate classes in sustainable engineering and industrial ecology. This module is part of a series designed for the Center for Sustainable Engineering (CSE). Instructor’s guides
References: Allenby, B.R. (2005), Reconstructing Earth (Washington, DC: Island Press). Brown, James, (1995), Macroecology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, An ecologist seeks an appropriate framework to reflect the multidimensional intricacy of natural habitats. Brown, James (1999), Macroecology: Progress and Prospect, OIKOS. 87/1, An update on the discovery of similar, repeatable networks and scales throughout flora and fauna. Chen, Wai-Kai (1990), Theory of Nets: Flows in Networks, John Wiley & Sons. Don T. Phillips and Alberto G.D., (1981), “Fundamentals of Network Analysis”, Prentice-Hall, Inc. Frosch, R and Nicholas G., (1989). "Strategies for Manufacturing". Scientific American. September, 1989, pp. 144-152. Graedel, T.E. and Allenby, B.R. (2003), Industrial Ecology, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ,. Graedel, T.E. and Allenby, B.R. (1998), Industrial Ecology and the Automobile, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. Hanneman, Robert A. and Mark Riddle, (2005). Introduction to social network methods. Riverside, CA: University of California, Riverside. Henning, G., (1997), ‘The Industrial Symbiosis at Kalundborg, Denmark’, in Deanna J. Richards (ed.), The Industrial Green Game: Implications for Environmental Design and. Management, Washington, DC: National Academy Press Heyman K.(2006), “Making connections,” Science 313:604-606. Kim, J. and Allenby, B R., Development of Sustainability Network Theory (SNT) and Model for Managing Electronics Industrial System, Proceeding, IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment” Orlando, FL., pp 336-339. Nagurney A. and Dong J., (2002), Supernetworks: Decision-Making for the Information Age, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd Pesonen, H.-L. (1999), “Material Flow Models as a Tool for Ecological-Economic Decision Making.” Eco-Management and Auditing 6: 34-41. Schaltegger, S., Burritt R.(2000), Contemporay Environmental Accounting, Sheffield, UK, 2000. Sheffi, Y., 1984, Urban Transportation Networks Analysis, PRENTICE-HALL, INC., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632 Song C., Havlin S. and Makse H. (2005), “Self-similarity of complex networks,” Nature 433:392-395. 14 Wallner, Heinz Peter, (1999), Towards sustainable development of industry: networking, complexity and eco-clusters, Journal of Cleaner Production, 7, pp 49-58. Wasserman, S. and K. Faust, 1994, Social Network Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development) (1987), Our common future. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987. www.orgnet.com (accessed Feb 2007) www.fhwa.dot.gov (accessed Feb 2007) www.eiolca.net (accessed Feb 2007) 15