Future Sustainability

The role of infrastructure in enhancing urban resilience to natural hazards: a case study of Tehran

Navid Navidpour — 2025-03-31

Urban resilience is paramount in mitigating the vulnerability of worn urban fabrics to natural hazards and safeguarding cities against irreparable damage. This study focuses on worn-out areas of Tehran city, analyzing their social and physical resilience dimensions. Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, the research employs statistical methods such as one-sample t-tests, Pearson correlation, and regression coefficient analysis using SPSS and GIS. The statistical population comprises 230 randomly selected citizens residing in the study districts. The findings show that the physical dimension, with a score of 3.31, is more important than the social dimension, with a score of 2.81, which emphasizes the need to strengthen urban resilience. According to the results of this study, the studied areas do not have sufficient stability and resilience against natural disasters. Prospective analyses conducted using Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Mic Mac strategic studies model indicate the complexity of factors affecting urban resilience. These analyses reveal the high impact of variables and the interrelationships between them. In particular, it has been found that indicators related to infrastructure and management have a more significant impact in Region 7 compared to Region 15, which emphasizes the need to develop targeted intervention strategies. This comprehensive study provides a better understanding of urban resilience mechanisms and emphasizes the importance of coordinated planning and preventive measures to strengthen vulnerable urban areas. Ultimately, the results of this study show that adopting appropriate and coordinated measures is essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of cities.

Development and characterization of nanocellulose-incorporated Chitosan-starch-based composite films for sustainable packaging for food

Rusiraka Ranasinghe — 2025-04-03

A series of edible chitosan-starch (CS-S) biocomposite films were developed by simple integration of monomers and casting process, which was tested for its physicochemical integrity through tensile strength, FTIR analysis, TGA analysis, water vapor permeability, and opacity. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) were used to improve the film's properties. The film with the highest tensile strength was 2:3 (CS:S) - CNF, which had a value of 8.99 MPa. According to the FTIR data, all nine types of film samples produced were found to have good integration of the added materials robust structure. Also, the film types 2:1 (CS:S) and 2:1 (CS:S) - MCC exhibited the lowest water vapor transmission rate of 0.01 ml/hr. When the prepared films were tested using a UV spectrophotometer, the film samples that did not contain MCC and CNF had the lowest reported opacity. The 2:3 (CS:S) - CNF film type exhibited the highest tensile strength, an average water vapor transfer rate, and an average opacity for all the film samples developed. The developed film has a high potential to be employed as a biocomposite film in edible coatings for food preservation.

Design and develop an IoT automated nutrient control in a hydroponic system

Shim Lih Ching — 2025-04-30

Hydroponics farming is becoming increasingly popular due to its consistent ability to produce healthier plants in a controlled environment and nutrient solution. However, precise and frequent monitoring of the pH, temperature, and nutrient level is required in traditional hydroponic systems, which makes the labor monitoring process more complex and time-consuming. The aim of this study is to present the prototype of an automated nutrient control system that is applied in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic systems. The control system combines different sensors to monitor pH and EC levels continuously with the assistance of an Arduino Uno R3 microcontroller to process real-time monitoring data to adjust nutrient ratios dynamically. Meanwhile, the observation of lighting duration on indoor plant growth was recorded to justify the usage of indoor lighting for growing commercial crops. In this study, we used Dwarf Bak Choy (Brassica rapa chinensis) to evaluate the effects of various nutrient solution concentrations and lighting on plant growth.

Unifying thermodynamic and mechanical stability in perovskites: a computational approach for advanced applications

Coskun Firat — 2025-05-16

Perovskite materials hold immense potential for advanced technologies, yet their practical deployment is hindered by an insufficient understanding of the interplay between thermodynamic and mechanical stability. This study bridges this critical gap by developing a unified computational framework that integrates both stability dimensions, enabling the rational design of perovskites for demanding applications. Leveraging pre-computed density functional theory data from The Materials Project and AFLOW databases, 44 perovskite materials are analyzed. Thermodynamic stability is assessed via formation energy and energy above hull, while mechanical stability is quantified through bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Pugh’s ratio. A novel combined stability index is introduced, employing geometric mean aggregation of normalized metrics to prioritize balanced performance. Key findings reveal that Ba-based perovskites exhibit superior thermodynamic stability and mechanical resilience. This work provides a computational blueprint for synthesizing perovskites tailored to applications requiring durability under thermal and mechanical stress, such as photovoltaics and catalysis. By correlating composition-structure-property relationships, the study advances the design of next-generation materials, emphasizing the necessity of holistic stability metrics.

An overview of the sustainability of emerging energy technologies in mitigating climate change

Deven Barton — 2025-05-31

The increasing reliance on fossil fuels has led to unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas emissions, environmental degradation, and public health risks. This paper explores renewable energy technologies and carbon capture methods as essential strategies for mitigating climate change and transitioning toward a low-carbon future. This paper evaluates the carbon emissions associated with various renewable sources, including solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass, considering their full life cycles and regional variations. The paper also examines the role of carbon capture technologies, battery storage, smart grids, decentralized systems, and blockchain innovations in enhancing energy resilience and reducing emissions. While renewable energies significantly reduce carbon output compared to traditional fuels, the analysis highlights that no energy system is without environmental consequences. Policy support, technological advancements, and coordinated infrastructure improvements are identified as critical factors for successful large-scale adoption. Through integrated approaches that combine clean energy production, carbon management, and modernized energy systems, a sustainable and equitable energy transition is achievable.