Sustainable Engineering

Commercial farmers are under increasing pressure to collect data for decision-making, regulatory compliance, and reporting down the supply chains. These data demands are intensifying, as societal pressures grow for greater sustainability, food safety, and accountability. While manual data collection is common, the process is increasingly automated using sensors. Services frequently employ specific interfaces, and collected data is recorded into many, often proprietary databases, limiting interoperability. The result is overwhelming complexity for farmers, duplication of effort, missed opportunities to access and compare different datasets, and potential regulatory and competitive failings. Tensions exist between the business models of agricultural service providers and the farmers they support. These need to be surfaced and addressed if the sector is to fully benefit from digitalization. Web3.0 technologies and protocols – in particular distributed systems – may offer some opportunities as they provide data interoperability, tools to address data ownership issues, edge computing, and decentralized data. With illustrative case examples from New Zealand farms, this chapter identifies some of the key barriers that need to be addressed and critically discusses how digital innovation and adoption may be accelerated in farming systems.

A catchment area or basin represents the space of land where all the surface water joins a body of water such as a river and is the source of water and sediment movement through the river. Aside from the delineation and construction of catchment areas, its sustainability must be a priority. To fulfill the Sustainable Development Goal 2, agriculture being the largest stakeholder in catchment areas requires a consistent water supply to achieve food security and eradicate hunger. This study reviewed some literature on water catchment sustainability leveraging innovative technologies adopted by different sectors which help to maintain and improve the quantity and quality of water available to stakeholders. Such technologies utilized for water treatment in catchment areas seek to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6 by ensuring the purification of water supplied into such areas. Geospatial technologies help in catchment prospecting and landscaping, while digital and intelligent water meters have also been developed to measure and manage water in catchment areas, with recent developments involving the gamification of water meters. In addition to the greening of catchment infrastructures which is a low-cost nature-based method for catchment area sustenance, soil sensors and irrigation management techniques minimize water consumption with very minimal human supervision, while rooftops of buildings close to and around the catchments made from nontoxic materials help to improve water quality and ensure the sustenance of water catchments.

The sustainable practice of recovering nutrients from wastewater is rapidly growing in popularity as it addresses wastewater treatment while simultaneously meeting the urgent demand for nutrients which are often a limited resource. Treatment of nutrient-rich wastewater requires adherence to stringent discharge policies and practices to avoid detrimental environmental and social impacts such as eutrophication and groundwater contamination. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution to challenges faced by conventional approaches through the application of novel nanomaterials with unique characteristics such as greater aspect ratio, tuneable properties, and quantum confinement. This chapter discusses the applications of nanotechnology and nanomaterials associated with nutrient recovery from wastewater. In addition, it presents an overview of the existing established technologies employed by industries for nutrient recovery pointing to their potential use by the food industry. Finally, the study highlights research gaps and future perspectives regarding this field.

Due to the seasonal nature of farming, farm machinery is used for relatively short periods of time, resulting in a need to maximize output and minimize downtime. Since lost time is very costly, agricultural machines are designed for high field availability, reliability, and high maintainability. This is a case study where technical assessment was needed for the cultivation equipment operation system monitoring and control. This was for 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons of 1300 ha to optimize expenditure on maintenance and system operation. Among the calculated values, equipment utilization ranged from 81% to 0%, availability from 100% to 0%, and reliability from 36% to 0%. Additionally, there were maintainability values of 1 (functioning state) and 0 (failure state) for 120 equipment fleets assessed for the cropping seasons. Most of the equipment was well utilized, readily available, reliable, and easy to maintain, while few was underutilized, unavailable, unreliable, and difficult to maintain. All these factors help to improve availability and reliability and decrease equipment downtime for higher agricultural operational productivity. This technical soundness and operational overall effectiveness assessment were crucial to decide what equipment to retain, replace, or trade off.

In recent decades, it has become more crucial to package food products and prevent them from contamination and spoilage, especially understood during the COVID-19 pandemic situation, where the fabrication and transportation shut down. Food packaging materials made of petroleum-based plastics have turned into a massive waste in the environment. Among the global plastic waste, 50% of all plastic consumption belongs to the packaging industry. For a sustainable packaging market, there is a need for the development of inexpensive, biodegradable, and biobased alternative materials possessing food preservation properties. Polysaccharides are the most abundant biopolymers on Earth, and they have become candidates for the replacement of synthetic plastics with their low cost, biopolymeric structure, and abundance. This review summarizes the recent publications about polysaccharide-based food packages. In this chapter, biobased films and coatings made of various types of polysaccharides (cellulose and derivatives, chitosan, starch, alginate, and pectin) are described for food packaging applications. Each section focuses on one of the main polysaccharides and its properties, film formability, film processing methods, and properties as food packaging material. Biodegradable functional materials like plasticizers and additives used in the biofilm formulations are explained with their effects on polysaccharide film processability and further packaging properties. Under these sections, the effects of these films on shelf life of foods are also discussed.

Food poisoning, an antithesis to food consumption, zero hunger, and human sustainability, is generally evaluated in this work. Using cassava processing into gari as a case study, it presents symptoms and factors that precipitate food poisoning with its attendant fatal maladies prevalent globally. Hazard analysis begins with the identification of Critical Control Points (CCPs) in gari production while using Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Quality Analysis Critical Control Point (AQCCP) techniques to, respectively, assess and combat the menace, thus preventing food poisoning and making the realization of sustainable development goals in this sector achievable. Drawing from published works on gari production which provide understanding and guide for the implementation of HACCP and AQCCP, emphasis is placed on plant layout design and materials handling as a veritable way of achieving stipulated quality management for gari production at any level of operation, such that it would meet up with the required certification in conformity with acceptable standards in the food industry. This work establishes that strategic implementation of food safety begins much earlier at the industry design stage rather than later at the operational stage. This is a prerequisite to the much-avowed food security, critical to the sustainability of humans.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are targets for global development adopted in September 2015, set to be achieved by 2030. All countries of the world have agreed to work toward achieving these goals. The health and well-being indicators that are needed to achieve the agenda goals are based on reliable and relevant quantitative data, which are currently rare or even nonexistent in some parts of the world. Therefore, it is now necessary to initiate a more integrative public health and research strategy in order to collect new data, particularly those relating to current wet milling process of food resulting in emerging diseases that affect the public, especially in developing countries. Observation has shown that the disc plate of the attrition mills is regularly taken for regrinding to obtain an optimum required size of the milled food products. It means that the disc plate has a very high rate of wear of the grooves or flutes engraved on it during casting. The fillings that wear out are deposited either in the milled food processed or are washed out after the milling which have adverse effects on the consumption of the food materials. To determine the effects of speed of grinding machine and different types of grinding plates for wet milling of some selected crops, an assessment and evaluation of the extent of wear elements due to the wear rate of the attrition type mill plate on wet milling were conducted. Wear elements with adverse health effects in human metabolism are suspected to be present during wet milling and required to be detected and compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standards in order to achieve one of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), health and well-being. Wear elements rate was studied by conducting the parametric studies (experimentally and computationally) using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Studies were performed with three different crops (beans, millet, and tomatoes) as C₁, C₂, and C₃; three different corn-grinding models (GX 160, GX 200, and GX 390) as G₁, G₂, and G₃; and four different grinding plates (Adex, Nas, Lotus-Zamfara, and Lotus-India) as P₁, P₂, P₃, and P₄ to understand the effect of corn-grinding plate speed (rotational) and wearability of different corn-grinding plates on the depositional level of wear elements on the ground crops during wet corn-milling. When wear occurs by this mechanism, the chemical composition of the metal is a dominating factor. The depositional level of the resulting progeny of particles were analyzed by AAS analysis techniques prior to and after milling. Relationship type of corn-grinding mill and corn-grinding plates was established using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that about 98% of the wear elements variance is explained by the corn-grinding plates and corn-grinding mill (92%), respectively. The type of corn-grinding mills was a major predictor of depositional level of wear elements, and hence the change in the horse power rating of corn-grinding mill predicts the depositional level of the wear elements during the wet corn-milling of crops. Higher depositional level was observed at higher speeds of corn-grinding model GX 390 and corn-grinding plate Lotus-Zamfara which is having negative result to attaining the SDG.

Biochar, as one of the most prominent carbon drawdown technologies to emerge over the past few years, is intensely researched and tested. By no means a new creation, biochar has a rich history as a soil amendment in agriculture across the globe. However, the interest it raises now focuses more on its carbon sequestration potential and beneficial applications in the urban environment. This chapter offers an overview of the material, a literature review of its physical and chemical properties, production technologies, and uses in the urban context. It concentrates on biochar as a component in manufactured soils, water filtering systems, contaminated soil remediation methods, and construction material additives. Additionally, it investigates sewage sludge as an innovative feedstock for biochar production. Sewage sludge disposal is both environmentally and economically costly for wastewater treatment facilities, and biochar represents a viable way of upcycling. A case study of the largest sludge char pilot plant in Europe (in Finland) has been included, providing insights into its technical developments and operations.

In parallel with technological developments, the importance of mechanical rock-cutting machines is increasing as the importance of underground structures in the mining and construction sectors increases day by day. Tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) are commonly used in the tunnelling and mining industries, and TBMs are power-hungry giant machines from 2 m to 16 m in diameter that require 1.5–8 MW of input power depending on their size. The main objective of this study is to conduct comparative experiments between the dynamic cutting tests using the dynamic cutting disc (DCD) fatigue technology and the traditional (non-oscillating) hard rock-cutting tests. When the DCD rock-cutting test results are checked with the cutting results of TBM discs, which are oscillation-free conventional discs, the cutting forces, and the specific energy (SE) are found to decrease by 30% with the 200% increase in excavated material. It is believed through this research that the development of low-energy machine technologies such as the DCD technology in tunnelling, mining, and construction areas where hard rock-cutting machines are constantly used will make great contributions to the sustainable economies of countries and science.

End-of-life tires (EOLTs) are challenging waste sources belonging to a solid waste type, called “bulky” in the management of waste. It presents a variety of eco-friendly problems ranging from fire hazards to health and hygiene risks. Nonetheless, most developing countries are having heaps of EOLT loitering on their streets and dumping sites. An evolution to the circular-based economy suggests the opportunity to provide quality and resource-efficient services and improved material recovery along the value chain. The authors conducted a systemic analysis to ascertain the need for sustainable EOLT management for developing countries, based on literature review and observational data. A group of waste management specialists from six developing countries were semi-structurally interviewed to examine the applicability of the established EOLT waste management strategies in the developed states to the developing countries. The analysis indicated that a “new” model is necessary to promote sustainable EOLT management toward the circular economy. The authors proposed an EOLT management system designed to accommodate the specificities of socioeconomic disadvantages of an emerging economy. The model would be beneficial for the government and other stakeholders in the waste management sector.

Residential external wall assemblies are among the key contributors to embodied carbon emissions in the building industry. Their design, however, is still largely oriented toward linear consumption trajectories of extraction-use-waste. Within this context, this chapter investigates how established material recovery potential assessment metrics could be used to inform design decisions aimed at improving circularity in buildings. A redesign of a typical timber frame assembly is presented, and its material recovery performance is compared to standard systems. Results show a 35–47% improvement in material recovery potential.

This chapter explains in brief what is needed to achieve more sustainable manufacturing processes. It develops both aspects of sustainable, economic, and technical feasibility with most focus on the latter. Remanufacturing processes are described together with relevant factors that enhance their effectivity and efficiency. An overview is given of what kind of shopfloor innovations are required in the near future and some suggestions on how digital and other Industry 4.0 technologies could help to move toward circular manufacturing.

The advent of modern manufacturing technology and the increased consumer demand for custom goods and services are causing a paradigm shift from traditional manufacturing to additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Because additive manufacturing is a relatively new technology, its consequence on sustainable engineering is still a very gray area. This chapter draws on modern-day research and data to provide insights into additive manufacturing and its role in fostering sustainable engineering. It introduces additive manufacturing, its technologies, and its respective benefits, which include the reduction in weight, material, waste, and carbon footprint, coupled with the ease of redesigning, remanufacturing, and the use of renewable and biodegradable green materials. The applications of additive manufacturing in various fields are also discussed, aiming at highlighting how the product design, systems, and operations of additive manufacturing processes promote sustainable engineering practices and impact economic, social, and environmental aspects. This chapter also gives an insight into the future prospects of additive manufacturing processes toward improving sustainable engineering. Lastly, the challenges of additive manufacturing technology toward sustainability have been enumerated with a specific recommendation.

One of the most crucial elements of the mining operation is mineral processing. The majority of mined materials undergo some type of size reduction and/or other beneficiation process, from solid ores to fine minerals such as coal, granite, limestones, and other industrial minerals. Before the invention of large equipment, the operation of “spalling”—the breaking up of raw ore—involved the use of hammers held in the hands. Mechanical methods were soon discovered to do this. Numerous sectors have applied reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) thinking to produce modular, individualized, adaptable, and scalable products. Due to changes in mining equipment users’ needs, the dynamic and complex nature of the mining production environment of the available location, the nature of the mining operation, and the associated risks, RMS is frequently used to produce various product variants of mining equipment with low repair costs, high adaptability, and minimal maintenance costs to meet customer satisfaction. More specifically, the proposed book chapter investigates a variety of literature reviews related to the concepts of reconfigurable manufacturing systems, architectural design features, control capabilities, and its function in the mining machine manufacturing industries, as well as the possible long-term application of RMS in this sector. In addition, related maintenance solutions for proposed machines to functionally assess or predict the condition of machines to ensure the reliability, availability, and maintainability of these machines at any particular time when needed are presented and discussed.

Jeffrey Smart’s paintings encourage engineers to imagine how technical means join with participative and evaluative criteria for achieving responsive and sustainable engineering. Initially, his use of perfect, other-worldly geometries evokes the productive powers of technical systems. But the presence of everyday people implies that engineering needs to consider a range of evaluative perspectives as well. He therefore encourages engineers to grasp the design-as-agency potentials of the discipline. That is to say, his poetics of technology encourages engineers to imagine how diverse faculties might be drawn into convivial relationships with the ultimate goals of creating another emergent synthesis: that of a sustainable world. At base, his art provides a rare instance of metaphorical and divergent thinking about engineering, not least for sustainability, in visual form.

The provision and improvement of housing infrastructure have been identified as a major strategy to advance socioeconomic development (SED) and reduce poverty, unemployment, and inequalities. The study aims to provide insight into incorporating SED factors into the housing infrastructure delivery process in South Africa (SA). The objective examined the context and scope in which SED factors can be integrated into housing infrastructure delivery in SA.

A qualitative data approach was adopted, and content analysis was utilized to extract key elements of socioeconomic development for housing delivery to facilitate accessibility, social cohesion, equity, social services, and well-being. The findings identified barriers to housing infrastructure delivery in terms of political interference, bureaucracies, and corruption.More needs to be done to make housing delivery more inclusive by ensuring that sustainable housing infrastructure strategies are integrated into national development planning from the SED perspective as well as public-private partnerships in housing delivery. The study findings will assist stakeholders in mapping out strategies for delivering sustainable housing infrastructure in SA.

Green infrastructure has emerged as an effective strategy to achieve sustainable development in urban planning strategies. So far, its use has been broadly promoted in cities and has been less or not adopted at the scale of small towns. This chapter intends to bridge this gap by exploring the potential of green infrastructure in providing diverse ecosystem services crucial to human well-being, urban sustainability, and resilience at the small-town scale. By considering Rives-en-Seine (northwestern France) as a case study, it deploys a methodology grounded in an interactive group workshop involving diverse stakeholders, residents, academics, and students with architecture and environmental engineering backgrounds. The results show that green infrastructure offers a wide range of options that can help address climate change threats. These rely on rethinking green areas management strategies, containing erosive runoffs from agricultural plateaus, valuing wetlands as everyday public spaces, and regreening waterways and riverbanks.

Cities are very significant for the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations as they are responsible for more than 70% of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Within this context, the European Union has a mission for climate-neutral and smart cities, including decarbonization of the built environment. This book chapter addresses this mission and aims at livable, climate-neutral, and productive smart cities, aligned with the people, planet, and prosperity aspects of sustainability. It proposes an inclusive approach by engaging quadruple-helix collaboration between the academia, industry, governments, and citizens.

This book chapter has three objectives: first, to articulate a practical concept of smart cities in the construction knowledge domain; second, to clarify the challenges for sustainable engineering of smart cities regarding energy transition, climate resilience, and circular construction; and third, to define a systemic approach enabled by digitalization to tackle these challenges. In the beginning, this book chapter reviews the key innovation agendas on sustainable built environments. It goes further with an empirical case and practical analysis for identifying the innovation challenges, knowledge demands, and research opportunities. Finally, it presents a direction for applied research through living labs and synergy with higher professional education for construction students.

Shotcreting is a technology that has been used in mining and tunnelling for decades and is now being investigated for its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry. This technology involves spraying concrete onto surfaces to reinforce them, and recent advancements in digital manufacturing have made it possible to automate the process, potentially reducing carbon emissions and increasing productivity. This chapter discusses the limitations of 3D extrusion printing of concrete and explores the advantages of shotcreting, such as the ability to produce complex geometric forms without the need for formwork. By eliminating formwork, carbon emissions can be significantly reduced while increasing sustainability and productivity. The chapter also discusses state-of-the-art control systems and identifies suitable cementitious materials designed to optimise shotcreting. The use of shotcrete has the potential to create longer-lasting, more sustainable buildings and can be used to repair or rehabilitate existing structures, delaying the need for demolition and reconstruction. The reduction in carbon emissions associated with the construction industry through the use of shotcrete could contribute to a more sustainable future, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12. However, there are still research challenges that need to be addressed to advance the widespread adoption of shotcreting.

The global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, necessitating a 50% increase in food production. Additionally, damage of crops by pests and diseases leads to 10–20% decrease in the world food supply, casting doubt on efforts to achieve food security. Furthermore, vegetables and fruits, due to their pleasant taste, flavour, and healthful properties, are indispensable elements of our diet. However, during the food distribution process, from pre-harvest practices to transportation and storage after harvesting, vegetables and fruits are susceptible to microbial deterioration and diseases. In this study, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess the scientific advances made in the application of nanoparticles for disease suppression in vegetables and fruits. Publications between 2000 and 2021 were considered for this study from Scopus databases. The publications were sorted based on keywords, titles, and abstracts. The field of study, types of documents, country of origin, and the number of publications were used to identify the current research trend. From the analysis, it was observed that nanomaterials had been extensively studied for drug delivery and food safety; however, their application in disease suppression in fruits and vegetables has been limited. Hence, it was concluded that this knowledge gap should be further explored.

The concept of sustainable development has become a significant concern for policymakers around the world. Biotechnology has the potential to make a substantial contribution to achieving sustainability goals. The primary research and development priorities in biotechnology are rapidly reaching their respective stages of maturity and may soon overlap. This is particularly true in food production, environmental protection, bioremediation, renewable resources, and bioenergy. The application of biotechnology in bioenergy synthesis has contributed to the availability of renewable energy sources. However, issues still need to be resolved at the technological and economic levels. In some cases, the environmental impact of biotechnological processes has been dramatically underestimated; in other cases, the actual result has not yet been able to meet expectations. In this chapter, we discuss the practical application of biotechnology in bioenergy production, its challenges, and prospects for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although biotechnological approaches cannot currently compete with conventional technologies, they significantly promote sustainable bioenergy development and the actualization of SDGs.

Biofuels have been identified as a potential substitute for fossil fuels as the latter are depleting rapidly. Fossil fuels not only pose a serious threat to human health and the ecosystem due to the emission of greenhouse gases during combustion but also are limited in supply. However, the commercial synthesis of biofuels is time-consuming and expensive due to technological limitations. To address this issue, nanoparticles (NPs) offer a promising solution to enhance feedstock utilization in terms of energy efficiency, specificity, and time management at a lower cost. Several of these techniques have been recently applied, and numerous NPs, including metal, magnetic, and metal oxide particles, are currently being employed to enhance biofuel synthesis. NPs are functional additives for biofuels because of their exceptional characteristics including structure, stability, a larger surface area relative to volume, catalytic activity, and reusability. Nanomaterials have emerged as affordable and stable catalysts for immobilizing enzymes that improve biofuel synthesis. This chapter provides a summary of the application of emerging nanomaterials in biofuel synthesis, the contribution of nanotechnology to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the challenges and prospects of nanotechnology.

Digital transformation of manufacturing and similar industrial processes and value-creation methods is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also termed as “Industry 4.0”. “Industry 4.0” is defined as, “A term for the current trend in data interchange and automation in the industrial sector”. Both remote monitoring and tracking are possible with the Industrial Internet of Things. A significant change has been observed in manufacturing sector as a result of this digitized automation. In April 2021, a qualitative research was conducted through a self-developed interview schedule with the main objective to explore the perception of engineering students towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The data collection tool was used to assess the concept and perception towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution with samples aged 18–23 years, from the Engineering Diploma (50 students) and the Engineering Degree (50 students) colleges of Uttar Pradesh, India. Results were derived from the content analysis of the respondents’ responses under three major parts – perception, attitudes, and viewpoints of engineering students towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The study concluded that although the Fourth Industrial Revolution is still at a developmental stage in India, it is having a major positive impact on society and its well-being as expressed by the Engineering Degree students. On the other hand, Engineering Diploma students were not sure about the effectiveness and efficiency of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The facial emotion recognition and alert system discussed in this paper align with several SDGs, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). This technology has the potential to improve mental health outcomes by allowing for early detection of emotional distress, particularly for marginalized communities who may not have access to mental health resources. Additionally, the use of this technology in security and surveillance systems could improve public safety and prevent violent incidents. However, it is important to ensure that the use of this technology is ethically and transparently implemented to avoid misuse and violation of privacy rights.

This work aims to answer questions on how artificial intelligence (AI) may be effectively deployed to transform African solar energy technology. Many researchers have made several advancements in this area on other continents, and so this paper appraises their studies with the aim of looking at how these advancements can be adapted to the African space; to this end, the paper discusses the techno-economic viability of AI-fitted solar systems in the African sphere. Furthermore, this work clearly describes how AI-enabled renewable energy systems can help realize the fulfillment of affordable and clean energy sustainable development goals (SDG) for African countries, the challenges, and the solutions. Lastly, the study encourages budding researchers to participate in this new renewable technology revolution by giving insights into viable research areas that can be explored.

Population aging is arguably one of the most serious challenges facing human society. It is not only a severe crisis in the developed world but also a rigorous threat to emerging economies. Therefore, vigorous measures need to be taken to mitigate the impact of aging society. This chapter proposes a procedure model as the foundation to systematically develop gerontechnological solutions. Based on the analysis of the state-of-the-art assistive smart furniture and smart home solutions and the requirements of older adults, a service system called Ambient Rehabilitation Kit that transforms clinical and care environments into personalized modular sensing, prevention, and intervention systems was proposed, encouraging older adults to become healthier through various activities. To achieve that goal, several modular smart interior devices integrating advanced sensing and assistive technologies were developed which seamlessly materialize the care concepts and functionality. Meanwhile, a strategy for testing and exhibiting the system was proposed. Furthermore, this chapter also introduces a framework for the cost-benefit analysis of the gerontechnological solutions compared to traditional care methods. Finally, in order to mitigate the severe threat imposed by rapid population aging to the social sustainability of emerging economies, the prospects for implementing the Ambient Rehabilitation Kit in China’s market are discussed, and a research and development action plan is proposed based on the results of a nationwide opinion survey.

The researchers have directed their attention to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a specific focus on two critical objectives: hunger and poverty alleviation. While the UN has been vocal about eradicating hunger and poverty, the researchers believe that a fundamental shift in human perspective is needed. They propose a novel approach rooted in holacracy to revolutionize food production, distribution, and management.

At the core of their proposal lies the ancient Indian principle, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, which translates to “The World Is One Family”. While it may seem utopian, the researchers see it as a reachable goal through holacracy. Their hypothesis centres on producing food for all and collectively utilizing it, transcending national boundaries and individual interests.

The researchers advocate for a transformation in the way the UN operates by embracing holacracy as a practical social technology rather than a mere concept. Holacratic organizations, they argue, have the potential to remove barriers obstructing progress.

The implementation of their vision begins with the UN functioning as a global nerve centre for data, with its 193 member nations acting as equal and interdependent contributors. This Centre would display the worldwide food landscape and foster a moral and ethical awakening, emphasizing the shared responsibility for all humanity. Real-time data on food availability, supply chains, and consumption would be accessible on a public website.

Holacracy, they contend, should inspire individuals to prioritize love for humanity as a panacea. Power circles interconnect to collaboratively address issues. The UN could serve as a catalyst for this transformation. The knowledge nerve centre would provide critical data on arable land, water resources, and supply chain infrastructure to facilitate problem-solving at various levels.

Timely responses and actions would be driven by the principles of holacracy and advanced digital technologies, addressing concerns hindering the achievement of UN goals. This data-driven approach, coupled with actionable plans, aims to eliminate food shortages and subsequently combat poverty and hunger worldwide.

In conclusion, the researchers envision a future where holacracy and a shared sense of responsibility propel humanity towards ending hunger and poverty, with the UN playing a pivotal role as a catalyst for change and a provider of essential data and guidance.

Sustainability plays an important role in technology systems in industry. Sustainability means optimal design, cost-performance trade-off, energy, space and time savings, scalability, and interoperability (open systems). One of the designs that focuses on advanced industrial systems is system-of-systems design phenomenon. Immediate examples where the SoS can be applied are business, education, government, healthcare, media, engineering, transportation, agriculture, safety, and so on. The SoS paradigm is configurable, and it requires knowledge base from several disciplines including sociology; physics; chemistry; biology; biochemistry; instrumentation engineering; mechanical engineering; manufacturing engineering; mechatronics engineering; electrical, electronics, and communication engineering; production engineering; and all under the banner of engineering technology. Keeping in view sustainability, this chapter presents topics on industrial technology (IT) and systems of systems (SoS). First it presents an introduction to Industry 4.0 standards and systems, an important aspect of SoS, and then some application areas of IT as far as developments are concerned. The chapter includes (i) introduction to Industry 4.0, (ii) safety and privacy standards in industrial technology systems, (iii) agricultural safety and standards, (iv) advanced food processing and packaging, (v) space and ocean technology systems, (vi) smart home with energy implications, (vii) hypertube technology in transportation, (viii) MEMS and NEMS technology, (ix) entertainment technology, (x) business opportunity on social media and networking, and (xi) SoS concluding remarks.