| Title: |
Analytical tools for environmental design and management in a systems perspective
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| Resource Type: |
document --> technical publication --> report
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| Country: |
EU Projects
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| Year: |
2002 |
| Availability: |
Analytical tools for environmental design and management in a systems perspective. Report of the CHAINET Project (European Network on Chain Analysis for Environmental Decision Support) to the European Union, October 2000. Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science , Vol. 10
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| Author 1/Producer: |
CHAINET
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| Other Authors/Producers: |
Wrisberg, N., Udo de Haes, H.A., Triebswetter, U. and Eder, P. - Editors
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| Author / Producer Type: |
Professional / trade / industry associations, institutes or networks
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| Publisher: |
Springer
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| ISBN: |
978-1-4020-0453-7
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EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Contaminated land-->Cost benefit analysis-->Cost benefit analysis overview
Contaminated land-->Cost benefit analysis-->Tools
Contaminated land-->Risk assessment-->Tools and procedures
Contaminated land-->Wider impacts / sustainability-->Assessment tools
Contaminated land-->Wider impacts / sustainability-->Economic
Contaminated land-->Wider impacts / sustainability-->Environmental
Contaminated land-->Wider impacts / sustainability-->Social
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| Short description: |
The aim of this book is to link demand and supply of environmental information in the field of Life Cycle Management. The book is based on the results of the CHAINET concerted action financed by EU-DGXII for the work period 1998-2000, and is intended to build bridges between the different scientific communities in the field of Life Cycle Management. A structured approach is followed, meaning that both demand and supply of environmental information are characterised, after which the two are linked.
Chapter 2 deals with the demand side; a number of characteristics are identified including the object of analysis, different question types, consecutive decision steps, and the cultural context of the decision at hand. Chapter 3 gives an overview of the supply side, distinguishing between concepts, analytical tools, procedural tools, technical elements, and data. The focus of the book is on analytical tools. In Chapter 4 and in a 34-page annex, eleven analytical tools are systematically described, including LCA, MIPS, ERA, MFA, SFA, CERA, IOA, analytical tools for ecodesign, LCC, TCA, and CBA.
In Chapter 5, demand and supply are linked, starting from the question types and indicating which types of tools are particularly suited for which type of question. For instance, it is shown that LCA is particularly useful for operational questions, but less so for more strategic questions. Other aspects concern the distinction between a broad overview and a detailed analysis, and, interestingly, the cultural context of the decision. It appears that without agreement on the criteria to be used, quantitative analytical tools such as LCA, ERA, or CBA may not be very helpful as support for decision-making. Rather more robust quantitative, or even qualitative, tools may then be used instead.
Chapter 6 makes a number of concluding remarks. A plea is made for the combined use of tools, rather than the development of a super tool. Another important topic concerns the customisation of tools, which is seen as quite useful if combined with a periodic validation against a more detailed analysis.
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Submitted By:
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Paul Bardos WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 17/08/2007
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