S. Oguzdjan “Environmental impact assessment model for substitution of hazardous substances by using life cycle approach” doctoral dissertation defence

Author, Institution: Semih Oguzdjan, Kaunas University of Technology

Science area, field of science: Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004

Scientific Supervisors:

Prof. Dr. Jolanta Dvarionienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004),

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Tugnoli (University of Bologna, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004).

Dissertation Defence Board of Environmental Engineering Science Field:

Prof. Dr. Žaneta Stasiškienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004), chairperson,
Dr. Alessando Dal Pozzo (University of Bologna, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004),
Prof. Dr. Jūratė Kriaučiūnienė (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004),
Dr. Valeria Casson Moreno (University of Bologna, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004),
Prof. Dr. Arvydas Povilaitis (Vytautas Magnus University Agricultural Academy, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004),
Dr. Francesco Scorza (University of Basilicata, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering T 004).

The doctoral dissertation is available at the libraries of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio g. 20, Kaunas) and Vytautas Magnus University (K. Donelaičio g. 52, Kaunas), and at tLithuanian Energy Institute (Breslaujos   g. 3, Kaunas).

Annotation:

The main scientific novelty of this research is the developed environmental impact assessment model that for the first time enables companies with limited resources to perform simplified life cycle impact assessments concerning environment and occupational safety, and incorporates life cycle accidental and fugitive emission impacts in these assessments. Also, for the first time in environmental impact assessment literature, an error reduction and data gap management method based on the ‘wisdom of the crowds effect’ has been proposed. The developed model applied to real case studies concerning the substitution of hazardous substances. In addition, for the first time an intercompany expert-system has been proposed with a novel ‘combined total functional demand’ to increase the applicability of the model by inexpert assessors. The developed model can potentially be used by any industrial company to help to reduce the environmental impacts and occupational safety risks of production chains. The proposed model also renders SMEs more competent in evaluating their life cycle environmental impacts. The proposed error reduction method can be used to reduce errors in environmental impact results, as well as to fill in the data gaps in certain areas such as life cycle inventories.