Analysis of complementary methodologies to assess the environmental impact of Luxembourg’s net consumption

in Environmental Science and Policy (2013), 27

The choice of accounting methods and indicators to support national stakeholders and public authorities in environmental decision-making policies is made difficult by the extensive number of available ... [more ▼]

The choice of accounting methods and indicators to support national stakeholders and public authorities in environmental decision-making policies is made difficult by the extensive number of available tools and the general divergence of scientific opinions on their effectiveness. In this paper, a set of life cycle-based approaches are compared and a methodological framework is recommended to support policy makers in the evaluation and choice of environmental impact mitigation strategies. The net consumption (=production + imports exports) of Luxembourg, taken as a case study, is inventoried based on different Environmentally Extended Input–Output (EE-IO) scenarios and further assessed using the Ecological Footprint (EF), ReCiPe and Solar Energy Demand (SED). All the compartments of resources extraction and pollutant emissions and the main environmental impacts gener- ated by the Luxembourgish economic trade-offs are evaluated. Results highlight the need for higher consistency in the use of EE-IO tables mainly because of the uncertainty affecting the environmental extensions (EEs). This aspect plays a major role when applying different assessment methods and relevant changes in terms of overall environmental impact are observed according to different sets of resources and emissions inventoried. These changes, however, do not substantially influence the results at the level of single economic sector’s contribution. Regardless the consumption scenario and the indicator considered, the financial and banking sectors contribute to more than 40% to the total EF, SED and ReCiPe results. Strengths and weaknesses of each indicator are discussed, and direct and indirect contribution analyses by sector allowed outlining strategies for impact mitigation. [less ▲]

Analysis of composite plates through cell-based smoothed finite element and 4-noded mixed interpolation of tensorial components techniques

in Computers and Structures (2014), 135

The static bending and the free vibration analysis of composite plates are performed with Carrera's Unified Formulation (CUF). We combine the cell-based smoothed finite element method (CSFEM) and the 4 ... [more ▼]

The static bending and the free vibration analysis of composite plates are performed with Carrera's Unified Formulation (CUF). We combine the cell-based smoothed finite element method (CSFEM) and the 4-noded mixed interpolation of tensorial components approach (MITC4). The smoothing method is used for the approximation of the bending strains, whilst the mixed interpolation allows the calculation of the shear transverse stress in a different manner. With a few numerical examples, the accuracy and the efficiency of the approach is demonstrated. The insensitiveness to shear locking is also demonstrated. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

AN ANALYSIS OF DESIGN PROCESS MODELS ACROSS DISCIPLINES

in Proceedings of the 12th International Design Conference - DESIGN 2012 (2012)

This paper presents a comparison of design methodologies and process models from nine disciplines. The evolutionary development of the approaches, which can be traced back to similar roots, lead to ... [more ▼]

This paper presents a comparison of design methodologies and process models from nine disciplines. The evolutionary development of the approaches, which can be traced back to similar roots, lead to process models which are now adapted to specific design disciplines but still have many similarities. Most of the established approaches have not been adapted to many of the challenges of current design practice and represent isolated views on the design process. This comparison is intended to provide a basis for consolidation and reformation of design methodology. [less ▲]

An Analysis of Functional Modelling Approaches Across Disicplines

in AI EDAM: Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design Analysis and Manufacturing (2013), 27(3),

Authors across disciplines propose functional modeling as part of systematic design approaches, in order to support and guide designers during conceptual design. The presented research aims at ... [more ▼]

Authors across disciplines propose functional modeling as part of systematic design approaches, in order to support and guide designers during conceptual design. The presented research aims at contributing to a better understanding of the diverse functional modeling approaches proposed across disciplines. The article presents a literature review of 41 modeling approaches from a variety of disciplines. The analysis focuses on what is addressed by functional modeling at which point in the proposed conceptual design process (i.e., in which sequence). The gained insights lead to the identification of specific needs and opportunities, which could support the development of an integrated functional modeling approach. The findings suggest that there is no such shared sequence for functional modeling across disciplines. However, a shared functional modeling perspective has been identified across all reviewed disciplines, which could serve as a common basis for the development of an integrated functional modeling approach. [less ▲]

Analysis of MaaS membership attributes: an agent-based approach

in Transportation Research Procedia (2021)

Analysis of thermoelastic waves in a two-dimensional functionally graded materials domain by the Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method

in Computer Modeling in Engineering and Sciences (2010), 65(1), 27-74

This contribution focuses on the simulation of two-dimensional elastic wave propagation in functionally graded solids and structures. Gradient volume fractions of the constituent materials are assumed to ... [more ▼]

This contribution focuses on the simulation of two-dimensional elastic wave propagation in functionally graded solids and structures. Gradient volume fractions of the constituent materials are assumed to obey the power law function of position in only one direction and the effective mechanical properties of the material are determined by the Mori–Tanaka scheme. The investigations are carried out by extending a meshless method known as the Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method which is a truly meshless approach to thermo-elastic wave propagation. Simulations are carried out for rectangular domains under transient thermal loading. To investigate the effect of material composition on the dynamic response of functionally graded materials, a metal/ceramic (Aluminum (Al) and Alumina (Al2O3) are considered as ceramic and metal constituents) composite is considered for which the transient thermal field, dynamic displacement and stress fields are reported for different material distributions. [less ▲]

Analyzing the correlation between commuting satisfaction and travelling utility

Scientific Conference (2016, July 13)

The interest for travel satisfaction has rapidly grown during the past two decades. Since the development of Discrete Choice Theory, doing a trip was mostly described as a pure derived activity without ... [more ▼]

The interest for travel satisfaction has rapidly grown during the past two decades. Since the development of Discrete Choice Theory, doing a trip was mostly described as a pure derived activity without utility per se but nowadays many scholars have demonstrated that individuals might be satisfied in performing the trip itself. However, little is still known on the relation between the travelling utility and the stated satisfaction for a specific trip. The objective of this paper is to analyse the relation between the stated commuting satisfaction and the utility of the associated trip thanks to the Logsum function, which is often used to represent the aggregated utility of a set of travel alternatives. The results of a travel survey implemented at the University of Luxembourg in 2012, show that the utility function, expressed through its Logsum, is positively correlated with the stated commuting satisfaction. While the Logsum function of the travelling utility might, to some extent, approximate the travelling satisfaction, some variations in the correlation magnitude, due to context particularities and socio-demographic attributes, are observed and discussed in this study. [less ▲]

Anticipation of brain shift in Deep Brain Stimulation automatic planning

in IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (2015)

Deep Brain Stimulation is a neurosurgery procedure consisting in implanting an electrode in a deep structure of the brain. This intervention requires a preoperative planning phase, with a millimetric ... [more ▼]

Deep Brain Stimulation is a neurosurgery procedure consisting in implanting an electrode in a deep structure of the brain. This intervention requires a preoperative planning phase, with a millimetric accuracy, in which surgeons decide the best placement of the electrode depending on a set of surgical rules. However, brain tissues may deform during the surgery because of the brain shift phenomenon, leading the electrode to mistake the target, or moreover to damage a vital anatomical structure. In this paper, we present a patient-specific automatic planning approach for DBS procedures which accounts for brain deformation. Our approach couples an optimization algorithm with FEM based brain shift simulation. The system was tested successfully on a patient-specific 3D model, and was compared to a planning without considering brain shift. The obtained results point out the importance of performing planning in dynamic conditions. [less ▲]

Application of Design Models in Mechatronic Product Development and Building Design Reflection of Researchers and Practitioners

in Krause, Dieter, Paetzold, Kristin (Ed.) Beiträge zum 22. DfX-Symposium (2011)

Design models are an essential means for abstract representation and visualisation of information in the design process. Comprehension of design models in interdisciplinary engineering design teams is ... [more ▼]

Design models are an essential means for abstract representation and visualisation of information in the design process. Comprehension of design models in interdisciplinary engineering design teams is often hindered by different terminology and different discipline-specific modelling approaches. This paper presents the results of an interview study conducted with practitioners and researchers from engineering design and building design. The study elaborates the different ways of collaboration and use of design models in building design as compared to engineering design, in order to derive the potentials for cross-fertilisation between both areas of product development. [less ▲]

Application of robust model validation using SOSTOOLS to the study of G-Protein signalling in yeast

Scientific Conference (2005)

Two major methodological challenges in modeling biological systems are model (in)validation and parameter estimation. The traditional approach is to fit the model parameters to data. An alternative ... [more ▼]

Two major methodological challenges in modeling biological systems are model (in)validation and parameter estimation. The traditional approach is to fit the model parameters to data. An alternative approach pioneered by Packard, Frenklach, Seiler and colleagues (Frenklach et al., 2002) defines the range of parameter values that is consistent with the data while taking into account parametric and data uncertainty. If an invalidation certificate is found, the feasible parameter space is proved empty; otherwise, attempts to describe the feasible parameter space are carried out. We refer to this methodology as Robust Model Validation (RMV). Here we perform RMV using sum of squares (SOS) programs implemented by the MATLAB toolbox SOSTOOLS (Prajna et al., 2002). The principal advantage of SOS over conventional semidefinite programming (SDP) techniques such as the Sprocedure is the possibility of using higher-order multipliers to obtain tighter parameter bounds. We applied SOSTOOLS to a simple model of the yeast heterotrimeric G-protein cycle. We were able to invalidate the model based on real experimental data. Furthermore, using synthetic data that did not invalidate the model, we explored different techniques for representing the feasible parameter space. [less ▲]