Perceptions of facilitators, barriers and solutions when preparing to implement a home visiting program in Sweden: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Although there is growing awareness that early childhood development programs are important for a sustainable society, there is a knowledge gap about how to implement such programs. Successful implementation requires attention to implementation drivers (competency, organization, and leadership) during all phases of the implementation. The purpose of this study was to describe cross-sectoral operational workgroups' perceptions of facilitators, barriers and solutions related to implementation drivers in the preparationphase of implementing an evidence-based early childhood home visiting program. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from twenty-four participants, divided into 5 groups, during implementation planning workshops. The workshops were guided by a structured method informed by the principles of Motivational Interviewing and within a framework of implementation drivers. Groups sorted cards with statements representing implementation drivers according to perceptions of facilitators and barriers, and percentages were calculated for each type of implementation determinant, for each type of driver. The groups discussed their card sorting and wrote action plans to address barriers, yielding documentation that was analyzed using deductive qualitative content analysis. Results: A mixed-methods analysis resulted identification of facilitators, barriers, unknowns and solutions in two to three subcategories under each main category of implementation driver. A competent and confident workforce, and enthusiasm and commitment were key facilitators. Key barriers were unclear roles and responsibilities, and insufficient articulation of local vision and goals. Many factors were described as yet unknown. Specific solutions were generated to support the implementation. Conclusions: Our study furthers the scientific understanding of how to take evidence-based early childhood programs from research to practice within an implementation drivers framework. Facilitators, barriers and solutions in key areas during the preparation phase were identified with the help of a novel tool. The results provide useful knowledge for decision makers and organizations preparing similar initiatives in communities striving to attain sustainable development goals.

Agricultural value chain and households' livelihood in Africa: The case of Nigeria.

One of the critical issues of concern is how African countries can take agriculture as a business that creates wealth which can help transform rural communities, increase income, reduce poverty and help the continent achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) of no poverty (SDG-1) and food and nutrition security (SDG-2) by 2030. Hence, this study examines how participation in agriculture through cassava value chain can improve households' livelihood income in Africa using the case of Nigeria. To achieve its objective, the study utilised quantitative analysis approach to address the linkages among economic agents within the agricultural value chain. The logit regression and propensity scores matching technique are used for the quantitative analysis. The result show that, while more significant proportion of male cassava production household heads sell cassava in its fresh form, their female counterparts add value by processing cassava further into finished staple foods. Another key insight is the high involvement of youth and women in cassava production, processing and marketing. Thus, they have greater influence in promoting and improving households' livelihood income. Therefore, more targeted efforts should be made by all stakeholders to ensure that youth and women have better, less expensive and dependable assess to facilities at lower interest rates to participate in agricultural value chain. This will engender inclusiveness of the vulnerable groups in agricultural value chain.

A review of extant literature and recent trends in residential construction waste reduction.

The residential construction sector in New Zealand and worldwide is experiencing increased criticism for generating substantial waste that poses environmental concerns. Accordingly, researchers have advocated implementing residential construction waste reduction (RCWR) strategies as a sustainable solution to managing construction waste (CW). This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of RCWR by analysing 87 articles from the Scopus database using bibliometric and critical review methods. The co-occurrence analysis of keywords revealed five clusters, in which five main themes emerged: (i) waste generation and management performance, (ii) prefabrication and life cycle assessment concepts, (iii) design concepts, (iv) circular economy and (v) decision-making concepts. The findings suggest that sustainable practices such as designing for waste reduction, prefabrication, waste quantification, three-dimensional printing and building information modelling can effectively achieve RCWR. The study also highlights the benefits of RCWR, including reducing environmental impacts, and identifies management, economic, legislative, technology and cultural barriers that affect the implementation of RCWR strategies. These results provide valuable insights to support future policy formulation and research direction for RCWR in New Zealand.

Powering the Future by Iron Sulfide Type Material (FexSy) Based Electrochemical Materials for Water Splitting and Energy Storage Applications: A Review.

Water electrolysis is among the recent alternatives for generating clean fuels (hydrogen). It is an efficient way to produce pure hydrogen at a rapid pace with no unwanted by-products. Effective and cheap water-splitting electrocatalysts with enhanced activity, specificity, and stability are currently widely studied. In this regard, noble metal-free transition metal-based catalysts are of high interest. Iron sulfide (FeS) is one of the essential electrocatalysts for water splitting because of its unique structural and electrochemical features. This article discusses the significance of FeS and its nanocomposites as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and overall water splitting. FeS and its nanocomposites have been studied also for energy storage in the form of electrode materials in supercapacitors and lithium- (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The structural and electrochemical characteristics of FeS and its nanocomposites, as well as the synthesis processes, are discussed in this work. This discussion correlates these features with the requirements for electrocatalysts in overall water splitting and its associated reactions. As a result, this study provides a road map for researchers seeking economically viable, environmentally friendly, and efficient electrochemical materials in the fields of green energy production and storage.

Navigating sustainable horizons: exploring the dynamics of financial stability, green growth, renewable energy, technological innovation, financial inclusion, and soft infrastructure in shaping sustainable development.

This paper examines sustainable development, which employs an integrated approach to tackle environmental, social, and economic challenges. It provides a theoretical underpinning by examining sustainable development's inception, fundamental tenets, and conceptual structures. This study highlights the interdependence of social equity, economic prosperity, and environmental conservation, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach. Quantitative methodology is utilized in this study, and the dependent variable is sustainable development. Financial risk, green growth, technological innovation, renewable energy, financial inclusion, and soft infrastructure are all independent variables. The analysis is predicated on secondary data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and World Development Indicators databases spanning 2004 to 2019. An entropy-weighted method used for the green growth index is a metric that enhances the precision of variable indicators. Cointegration, correlation, VIF, cross-sectional dependency, and stationarity tests are among the diagnostic tests that inform the selection of methods for the panel data set. It is determined that fully modified ordinary least squares is the suitable technique. The findings suggest statistically significant positive correlations among greenhouse gases, financial inclusion, and soft infrastructure. Conversely, significant negative correlations exist between financial risk, green growth, renewable energy, and technological innovation. An estimated 55% long-run variance is present. The study's key finding is that financial risk has an adverse effect on sustainable development, while an impactful relationship where increased green growth is linked to decreased GHG emissions. This association is notably significant. Results show that renewable energy has a negative coefficient and significant negative impact on greenhouse gases, showing an active relation to enhancing sustainable development. In contrast, financial inclusion has a significant positive effect on sustainable development. The implications imply that providing incentives to institutions engaged in alternative energy, precisely renewable sources, could positively impact the environment. Government policies and funding regulations oriented toward sustainable development are indispensable for environmental sustainability. Government policies and incentives are pivotal in advancing an environmentally conscious and sustainable future. This study's contribution lies in elucidating the positive correlation between government interventions and promoting renewable energy adoption, thereby paving the way for a greener tomorrow.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Chagas a Neglected Tropical Disease in Rural Communities of the Colombian Caribbean, CHAGCOV Study.

PURPOSE: Chagas disease (CD) a Neglected Tropical Diseases is an important public health issue in countries where is still endemic, included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Traditionally restricted to rural areas with diverse routes of transmissions from vectorial to oral with acute manifestations but being more common diagnosed in chronic stages. The aim of this investigation was to characterize the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) related to Chagas disease (CD) in two rural settlements of the Colombian Caribbean with previous records of the disease and/or the parasite. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was made in two rural settlements in Colombia and surveillance instrument was developed to measure Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) related to Chagas disease (CD). RESULTS: In a population with > 60% women and access to social security around 66.5%; 81,6% were homeowners with access to water and electricity > 90% but only 9% of sewerage. The level of knowledge about CD was around 62% but lack of specificity about comprehension of transmission routes (74,6%), and symptoms (85,3%) were found; concluding that 86% of the surveyed sample had very poor level of knowledge about the disease despite preventive campaigns carried out in the two communities studied. CONCLUSIONS: Despite of a low frequency of CD in this Caribbean areas, the presence of vector, risk factors plus poor level of knowledge about the disease justify that public health intervention strategies should be implemented and monitored over time to maintain uninterrupted surveillance of Chagas Disease.

Evaluating plans for sustainable development in Arctic cities.

Cities located in the Arctic often have extreme geographic and environmental contexts and unique sociopolitical and economic trajectories that, when combined with amplified effects of climate change in the region, impact future sustainable development. Well-recognized and standardized sustainable development indicator (SDI) frameworks such as ISO 37120 or UN-Habitat City Prosperity Index are often used to compare data across cities globally using comprehensive sets of indicators. While such indexes help characterize progress toward development and guide short- and long-term decision-making, they often lack relevance to specific contexts or characterize future visions of urban growth. To evaluate the extent of these deficiencies and to provide a comparative analysis of approaches to sustainable urban growth in the Arctic, this paper analyzes city planning documents for five northern cities - Anchorage (USA), Utqiagvik (USA), Reyjavik (ISL), Iqaluit, (CAN), Whitehorse, (CAN) - for goals, targets, and indicators and compare these to thematic areas and indicators defined by ISO 37120:2018 Sustainable Cities and Communities. The results confirm that although international SDI frameworks may be useful for comparative analysis of cities across diverse regions, they exclude important local factors that influence goal-oriented urban sustainability planning strategies employed in the Arctic region.

Unveiling insights: A dataset analysis of Islamic quality management systems in educational institutions toward SDG-aligned education.

This article presents data derived from a survey conducted to assess the validity and reliability of a newly developed instrument for Quality Management System items in the context of educational institutions. By analyzing the descriptive statistics, a concise overview of the main characteristics of the data set is provided, which facilitates the implementation and interpretation of the newly developed Quality Management System. Considering the need for quality education highlighted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, organizations need to prioritize quality management, which can be achieved through the implementation of Quality Management Systems. The present data set focuses on Islamic Quality Management Systems in Malaysian educational institutions and includes responses from 35 Islamic private elementary school in different states in Malaysia. This dataset covers a wide range of variables relevant to the education sector and provides valuable insights for education stakeholders and curriculum developers. By aligning with the principles of quality education advocated by the SDGs, these findings offer significant opportunities to support educators and improve the quality of education.

Research on the spatiotemporal evolution and non-stationarity effect of urban carbon balance: Evidence from representative cities in China.

Accelerating the attainment of carbon balance in Chinese cities has become pivotal in addressing global climate change and promoting green, low-carbon development. This study, encompassing 277 prefecture-level and above cities from 2007 to 2020, reveals a positive overall trend in China's urban carbon balance index. The evolution unfolds in two stages, demonstrating a distinct "tiered development" pattern across the eastern, central and western regions. Moreover, significant spatial agglomeration characteristics characterize China's carbon balance hot and cold spots throughout the study period, with their spatial agglomeration degree remaining stable. The standard deviation ellipse analysis confirms these hot and cold spots' alignment with China's economic development level and population distribution. The GTWR test results highlight the pronounced non-stationary characteristics of different driving factors in space and time, exhibiting variations in strength and direction among regions. Consequently, enhancing China's urban carbon balance requires tailored measures based on different areas' unique conditions and development characteristics, emphasizing a hierarchical and classified approach to leverage distinct driving factors and foster a green development system in China.

Efficiency Enhancement in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: A Comparative Study of Heat Exchanger Designs for Bi2Te3-Based Thermoelectric Generators.

This research focuses on enhancing the efficiency of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric generators (TEGs) in ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems through innovative heat exchanger designs. Our comparative study uses computer simulations to evaluate three types of heat exchangers: cavity, plate-fins, and longitudinal vortex generators (LVGs). We analyze their impact on thermoelectric conversion performance, considering the thermal energy transfer from warm surface seawater to TEGs. The results demonstrate that heat exchangers with plate-fins and LVGs significantly outperform the cavity heat exchanger regarding thermal energy transfer efficiency. Specifically, plate-fins increase TEG output power by approximately 22.92% and enhance thermoelectric conversion efficiency by 38.20%. Similarly, LVGs lead to a 13.02% increase in output power and a 16.83% improvement in conversion efficiency. These advancements are contingent upon specific conditions such as seawater flow rates, fin heights, LVG tilt angles, and locations. The study underscores the importance of optimizing heat exchanger designs in OTEC systems, balancing enhanced heat transfer against the required pump power. Our findings contribute to a broader understanding of materials science in sustainable energy technologies.

GIS-based intelligent planning approach of child-friendly pedestrian pathway to promote a child-friendly city.

Pedestrian safety, particularly for children, relies on well-designed pathways. Child-friendly pathways play a crucial role in safeguarding young pedestrians. Shared spaces accommodating both vehicles and walkers can bring benefits to pedestrians. However, active children playing near these pathways are prone to accidents. This research aims to develop an efficient method for planning child-friendly pedestrian pathways, taking into account community development and the specific needs of children. A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing the Datang community in Guangzhou, China, as a case study. This approach combined drawing techniques with GIS data analysis. Drawing methods were utilized to identify points of interest for children aged 2-6. The qualitative and quantitative fuzzy analytic hierarchy process assessed factors influencing pathway planning, assigning appropriate weights. The weighted superposition analysis method constructed a comprehensive cost grid, considering various community elements. To streamline the planning process, a GIS tool was developed based on the identified factors, resulting in a practical, child-friendly pedestrian pathway network. Results indicate that this method efficiently creates child-friendly pathways, ensuring optimal connectivity within the planned road network.

A state-of-the-art review on interactive mechanisms and multi-scale application of biopolymers (BPs) in geo-improvement and vegetation growth.

The global trend toward sustainable development, coupled with growing concerns about environmental pollution and the depletion of fossil energy resources, has contributed to the widespread implementation of biopolymers (BPs) as bio-solutions for geo-infrastructures stabilization. In this respect, previous attempts proved that soil treatment with BP can guarantee the strength improvement of geo-materials by satisfying environmental standards. However, the applications, mechanisms, and interactions of BPs within geo-environments need more investigations on their suitability for specific sites, long-term durability, and economic viability. The present study aims to provide an in-depth and up-to-date analysis of BPs and outline potential future paths toward BP applications. To this end, after examining the process of producing BPs, we investigate bio-physicochemical behavior and their function mechanism within the soil matrix. In addition, the impact of environmental conditions on soil stabilization with BPs is evaluated. Finally, some recommendations are offered for selecting the types and doses of BPs to improve soil against erosion and to obtain high hydrodynamic resistance. The results outline that bio-chemical mechanisms (including bio-cementing, bio-clogging, bio-encapsulation, and bio-coating) play significant roles in stabilizing cohesive and non-cohesive soil properties. Besides, the findings suggest that the efficacy of BPs depends upon various factors, including the composition and concentration of BPs, soil characteristics, and the magnitude of electrostatic and van der Waals forces formed during bio-chemo-reaction, biocrystallization, and bio-gel production. Between various BPs, using Xanthan gum (XG) and Guar gum (GG) exhibited optimal efficacy, enhancing mechanical strength by up to 300%. Furthermore, BPs concurrently reduced permeability, erosion, compressibility, and shrinkage characteristics. Applying BPs in soils improves germination and vegetation growth, lowers the wilting rate, and reduces soil acidity (considering their natural origin). Overall, selecting suitable BPs was found to be dependent on key factors, including temperature, curing time, and pH. The findings from this study can provide a scientific foundation for planning, constructing and preserving of bio-geo-structures in various construction sites.

Risk allocation schemes between public and private sectors in green energy projects.

In this research, we analyse how project risk allocation strategies impact the volume of private investment in renewable energy projects with the participation of both the public and private sectors. To this purpose, we analyse a sample formed by 2215 projects performed in 73 developing countries in the period 1997-2019 involving the following technologies: solar, hydro, wind, waste, biogas, biomass, and geothermal. Our findings reveal that those projects performed through governance schemes in which the private partner takes more project responsibilities attract more private money. Additional drivers for attracting private investment at the project level and institutional level are found. Furthermore, we reveal that the transference of project risks to the private partner emerges as a very relevant project feature that interacts with some of the project and institutional factors, revealing both complementary and substitution effects. The significance of this research extends beyond academia, since there are factors influencing private investment that can be controlled by various stakeholders in projects (such as policymakers, private investors, and project managers). Understanding their impact, significance, and interaction effects-factors that sometimes moderate or accentuate private investment-is crucial. The identified patterns illuminate optimal risk allocation practices, offering practical insights to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of projects.

Revolutionizing energy practices: Unleashing the power of artificial intelligence in corporate energy transition.

Corporate energy transition is crucial for long-term sustainable development. The widely discussed Artificial Intelligence (AI), as a disruptive technological innovation, is highly potential for enhancing environment performance. However, the specific impact of AI on the process of corporate energy transition and its underlying mechanisms have not been fully explored. This study focuses on A-share listed corporates in Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets in China spanning from 2011 to 2021. Based on corporate annual report information and information from over 200,000 patent application texts, we innovatively construct indicators for corporate energy transition and AI technology application. Furthermore, we empirically investigate the impact of AI technology on corporate energy transition and its potential mechanisms through combining information asymmetry theory and institutional theory. The empirical results indicate that: 1) AI can drive corporate energy transition and the promoting effect of AI collaborative innovation on corporate energy transition should not be ignored. 2) AI can help corporates achieve energy transition through pathways such as mitigating information asymmetry, reducing financing constraints, adjusting sustainable development concepts and practices. 3) The driving effect of AI on corporate energy transition varies depending on the characteristics of different types of corporates, industries, and regions. This study provides strategic guidance and decision support for business managers and policymakers, assisting both corporates and governments in better utilizing AI technology during the social energy transition process to achieve a dual optimization of environmental and economic goals.

The environmental awareness of nurses as environmentally sustainable health care leaders: a mixed method analysis.

BACKGROUND: People worldwide are concerned with the possibility of climate change, microplastics, air pollution, and extreme weather affecting human health. Countries are implementing measures to reduce environmental impacts. Nurses play a vital role, primarily through Green Teams, in the process of promoting sustainable practices and minimizing the environmental footprint of health care facilities. Despite existing knowledge on this topic, assessing nurses' environmental awareness and behavior, including the barriers they face, is crucial with regard to improving sustainable health care practices. AIM: To analyze the environmental awareness and behavior of nurses, especially nurse leaders, as members of the Green Team and to identify areas for improvement with regard to the creation of a sustainable environment. METHODS: A sequential mixed-method study was conducted to investigate Spanish nurses. The study utilized an online survey and interviews, including participant observation. An online survey was administered to collect quantitative data regarding environmental awareness and behavior. Qualitative interviews were conducted with environmental nurses in specific regions, with a focus on Andalusia, Spain. RESULTS: Most of the surveyed nurses (N = 314) exhibited moderate environmental awareness (70.4%), but their environmental behavior and activities in the workplace were limited (52.23% of participants rarely performed relevant actions, and 35.03% indicated that doing so was difficult). Nurses who exhibited higher levels of environmental awareness were more likely to engage in sustainable behaviors such as waste reduction, energy conservation, and environmentally conscious purchasing decisions (p < 0.05). Additionally, the adjusted model indicated that nurses' environmental behavior and activities in the workplace depend on the frequency of their environmental behaviors outside work as well as their sustainable knowledge (p < 0.01). The results of the qualitative study (N = 10) highlighted certain limitations in their daily practices related to environmental sustainability, including a lack of time, a lack of bins and the pandemic. Additionally, sustainable environmental behavior on the part of nursing leadership and the Green Team must be improved. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that most nurses have adequate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to environmental sustainability both inside and outside the workplace. Limitations were associated with their knowledge and behaviors outside of work. This study also highlighted the barriers and difficulties that nurses face in their attempts to engage in adequate environmental behaviors in the workplace. Based on these findings, interventions led by nurses and the Green Team should be developed to promote sustainable behaviors among nurses and address the barriers and limitations identified in this research.

Environmental risk analysis of a Ramsar site: a case study of east Kolkata wetlands with PSR framework.

The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKWT), designated as a Ramsar Site for its crucial role in sewage water purification, agriculture and pisciculture, faces escalating environmental threats due to rapid urbanisation. Employing the pressure-state-response (PSR) framework and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA), this study spans three decades to elucidate the evolving dynamics of EKWT. Using Landsat TM and OLI images from 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021, the research identifies key parameters within the PSR framework. Principal component analysis generates environmental risk maps, revealing a 46% increase in urbanisation, leading to reduced vegetation cover and altered land surface conditions. The spatial analysis, utilizing Getis-Ord Gi* statistics, pinpoints risk hotspots and coldspots in the EKWT region. Correlation analysis underscores a robust relationship between urbanisation, climatic response and environmental risk. Decadal ERA exposes a noteworthy surge in high-risk areas, indicating a deteriorating trend. Quantitative assessments pinpoint environmental risk hotspots, emphasizing the imperative for targeted conservation measures. The study establishes a direct correlation between environmental risk and air quality, underscoring the broader implications of EKWT's degradation. While acknowledging the East Kolkata administration's efforts, the research recognises its limitations and advocates a holistic, multidisciplinary approach for future investigations. Recommendations encompass the establishment of effective institutions, real-time monitoring, public engagement and robust anti-pollution measures. In offering quantitative insights, this study provides an evidence-based foundation for conservation strategies and sustainable management practices essential to safeguard the East Kolkata Wetlands.

Sensors on Internet of Things Systems for the Sustainable Development of Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a critical component of smart cities and a key contributor to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The IoT is an infrastructure that enables devices to communicate with each other over the Internet, providing critical components for smart cities, such as data collection, generation, processing, analysis, and application handling. IoT-based applications can promote sustainable urban development. Many studies demonstrate how the IoT can improve smart cities' sustainable development. This systematic literature review provides valuable insights into the utilization of the IoT in the context of smart cities, with a particular focus on its implications for sustainable urban development. Based on an analysis of 73 publications, we discuss the role of IoT in the sustainable development of smart cities, focusing on smart communities, smart transportation, disaster management, privacy and security, and emerging applications. In each domain, we have detailed the attributes of IoT sensors. In addition, we have examined various communication technologies and protocols suitable for transmitting sensor-generated data. We have also presented the methods for analyzing and integrating these data within the IoT application layer. Finally, we identify research gaps in the literature, highlighting areas that require further investigation.

Monitoring and influencing factors of grassland livestock overload in Xinjiang from 1982 to 2020.

It is crucial to estimate the theoretical carrying capacity of grasslands in Xinjiang to attain a harmonious balance between grassland and livestock, thereby fostering sustainable development in the livestock industry. However, there has been a lack of quantitative assessments that consider long-term, multi-scale grass-livestock balance and its impacts in the region. This study utilized remote sensing and empirical models to assess the theoretical livestock carrying capacity of grasslands. The multi-scale spatiotemporal variations of the theoretical carrying capacity in Xinjiang from 1982 to 2020 were analyzed using the Sen and Mann-Kendall tests, as well as the Hurst index. The study also examined the county-level grass-livestock balance and inter-annual trends. Additionally, the study employed the geographic detector method to explore the influencing factors. The results showed that: (1) The overall theoretical livestock carrying capacity showed an upward trend from 1982 to 2020; The spatial distribution gradually decreased from north to south and from east to west. In seasonal scale from large to small is: growing season > summer > spring > autumn > winter; at the monthly scale, the strongest livestock carrying capacity is in July. The different grassland types from largest to smallest are: meadow > alpine subalpine meadow > plain steppe > desert steppe > alpine subalpine steppe. In the future, the theoretical livestock carrying capacity of grassland will decrease. (2) From 1988 to 2020, the average grass-livestock balance index in Xinjiang was 2.61%, showing an overall increase. At the county level, the number of overloaded counties showed an overall increasing trend, rising from 46 in 1988 to 58 in 2020. (3) Both single and interaction factors of geographic detectors showed that annual precipitation, altitude and soil organic matter were the main drivers of spatiotemporal dynamics of grassland load in Xinjiang. The results of this study can provide scientific guidance and decision-making basis for achieving coordinated and sustainable development of grassland resources and animal husbandry in the region.

Optimizing coal mine planning and design for sustainable development in the context of mass exploitation of coal deposits.

Sustainable mining practices is a concept that embeds the principles of sustainable development into the whole mine life-cycle, from exploration, extraction and processing through to mine closure. The optimization of coal mine planning and the developing a standardized design for its sustainable development is very challenging and requires more effort. The present research attempts to address the conditions of sustainability and necessary measures for sustainable development, thereby providing appropriate solutions for each stage of mining operation besides expressing the necessity of sustainable development integration at different stages of mining life cycle (MLC). The approach of systems engineering is essential to assist the sustainability goals which are integrated with the expected results. Hence a method depending more on systems engineering principles and optimization can be incorporated to attain better results. Several socio-environmental factors associated with sustainability depends on the geographic condition and few mining engineering considerations such as mine location, topography, coal seam characteristics and so on. These systems engineering approach can be further enhanced by incorporating tools like Geographic Information System (GIS), which provides more accuracy and precision of the geographic conditions of the site identified for the coal mining plan. In order to begin this way of approach towards the sustainability development and mining planning, the appropriate optimization parameters should be identified. The outcome of these optimization parameters can be also achieved by optimizing coal mining system models.