Sustainability fills a gap in the literature in order to provide an important guide to the fundamental knowledge and practical applications of sustainability in a wide variety of areas. The authors - noted experts who represent a number of sustainability fields - bring together in one comprehensive volume the broad range of topics including basic concepts, impact assessment, environmental and the socio-economic aspects of sustainability. In addition, the book covers applications of sustainability in environmental, industrial, agricultural and food security, as well as carbon cycle and infrastructural aspects.

Sustainability addresses the challenges the global community is facing due to population growth, depletion of non-renewable resources of energy, environmental degradation, poverty, excessive generation of wastes and more. Throughout the book the authors discuss the economics, ecological, social, technological and systems perspectives of sustainability. This important resource:

Explores the fundamentals as well as the key concepts of sustainability;
Covers basic concepts, impact assessment, environmental and socio-economic aspects, applications of sustainability in environmental, industrial, agricultural and food security, carbon cycle and infrastructural aspects;
Argues the essentiality of sustainability in ensuring the propitious future of earth systems; and
Authored by experts from a range of various fields related to sustainability.

Written for researchers and scientists, students and academics, Sustainability: Fundamentals and Applications is a comprehensive book that covers the basic knowledge of the topic combined with practical applications.

Autorentext

RAO Y. SURAMPALLI, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, Hon D.WRE, F.AAAS, Dist.M.ASCE, is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, USA.

TIAN C. ZHANG, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, F.ASCE, F.AAAS is Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.

MANISH KUMAR GOYAL, Ph.D. is presently working as an Associate Professor in Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, India.

SATINDER K. BRAR, Ph.D. is Love Chair Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, York University, Canada.

R. D. TYAGI, Ph.D. is Professor with Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (Eau, Terre, et Environment), University of Quebec, Canada.

Inhalt

Editor Biographies xxiii

List of Contributors xxvii

Preface xxxiii

Part I Fundamentals and Framework 1

1 Introduction to Sustainability and Sustainable Development **3
**Prangya R. Rout, Akshaya K. Verma, Puspendu Bhunia, Rao Y. Surampalli, Tian C. Zhang, R.D. Tyagi, S.K. Brar, and M.K. Goyal

1.1 Background and Definition 3

1.2 Basic Concepts and Issues 4

1.3 Evolution of Sustainability and Sustainable Development 7

1.4 Challenges and Solutions 8

1.5 Adaptation and Resilience 8

1.6 Economic, Ecological, Social, Technological and Systems Perspectives 13

1.7 Conclusions 16

References 17

2 The Need, Role and Significance of Sustainability **21
**Anita Talan, A.N. Pathak, and R.D. Tyagi

2.1 Introduction 21

2.2 Three Pillars of Sustainability 21

2.3 Primary Goals of Sustainability 27

2.4 Significance of Sustainability 34

2.5 Challenges Toward Sustainability 35

2.6 Sustainable Future 39

2.7 Conclusions 39

References 40

3 Sustainable Development: Dimensions, Intersections and Knowledge Platform **43
**Pritee Sharma and Kanak Singh

3.1 Introduction 43

3.2 Understanding Complex Systems 44

3.3 Dimensions of Sustainable Development: Economic Dimension 47

3.4 Dimensions of Sustainable Development: Environmental Dimension 53

3.5 Dimensions of Sustainable Development: Social Dimension 56

3.6 Mapping Social Development Through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 58

3.7 Sustainable Development Indicators 60

3.8 Exploring Knowledge Systems for Sustainability 61

3.9 Conclusion 65

References 65

4 Measurement of Sustainability **69
**Rajneesh Singh, Akash Kumar Gupta, Puspendu Bhunia, Rao Y. Surampalli, Tian C. Zhang, Pengzhi Lin, and Yu Chen

4.1 Introduction 69

4.2 Types and Choice of Indicators 70

4.3 Framework of Lifecycle-Based Sustainability Metrics 72

4.4 Technological Aspects of Supply Chain and Process Sustainability 73

4.5 Sustainable Economy Indices 74

4.6 Environmental Indicator for Manufacturing Competitiveness 75

4.7 Monitoring and Evaluation Processes 77

4.8 Conclusion 79

References 79

5 Sustainable Impact Assessment **83
**L.R. Kumar, Anita Talan and R.D. Tyagi

5.1 Introduction 83

5.2 Types of Impact Assessment (IA) 83

5.3 Sustainable Impact Assessment (SIA) 86

5.4 Advantages of Conducting Sustainable Impact Assessment 89

5.5 Recent Evolution of Impact Assessment 90

5.6 Different Approaches of SIA 91

5.7 Determining Criteria for Sustainability 93

5.8 Procedure to Follow Impact Assessment 94

5.9 ToSIA Software Tool for Sustainable Impact Assessment 99

5.10 Case Studies for Use of Sustainable Impact Assessment 103

5.10.1 Sustainable Impact Assessment in International Trade Negotiations 103

5.10.2 Watershed Program Case Study 104

5.11 Conclusions 106

References 107

6 Analytical Tools and Methodologies to Evaluate Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations with Special Reference to Asia **111
**Gamini Herath

6.1 Introduction 111

6.2 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 112

6.3 Planning and Decision Making Methodologies for the Sustainable Development Goals 112

6.4 Tools to Tackle Interlinked Goals and Policy Incoherence 113

6.5 Carrying Capacity (CC) 116

6.6 Evalution Models Under Uncertainty 117

6.7 Adaptive Management 119

6.8 Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) 119 6.9 Multiattribute Utility Theory 121</p&gt...