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The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for sustainable drinking water management by assessing the existing state of the water supply system in the study area (Allahabad, India). An attempt is made to identify various problems and gaps in the existing system and evolve solutions for the present water supply problems in a GIS framework. Finally, the paper proposes a conceptual framework for sustainable drinking water management.

The study was conducted in four stages. The first stage involved collection of data and background information through various primary and secondary sources including reports and publications of various organizations. This was followed by discussions with various officials of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Jal Nigam (Water Corporation), Jal Sansthan (Water Board), State Ground Water Board, Central Ground Water Board and Municipal Corporation of the city. The second stage involved field studies in a few zones of the city. The third stage involved data input and analysis on a GIS platform, and the fourth stage includes the development of a solution of the present problems and proposing a conceptual framework for ensuring sustainable drinking water management for Allahabad City.

ArcInfo 9.1 has been used as a tool for storing all types of relevant data for analysis and decision making. The various thematic maps include water supply zone map, water deficit localities map, land use map, location of tubewells, overhead tanks, zonal pumping station, ward boundaries, population map, water demand and supply map.

Applicability of a partnership between the public and the private sector has to be checked for proper institutional analysis in Allahabad City.

The paper assesses the problems in the existing water supply system in Allahabad and proposes to give a GIS‐based solution strategy for its sustainability. The proposed GIS‐based conceptual framework would improve the current practice of drinking water management and would reduce the present problem of water crisis. The findings of the study would be useful for cities with similar problems in underdeveloped and developing countries.

This paper aims to describe the present waste management scenario in the city of Allahabad listing the gaps in the waste management system.

The research work was divided into three stages. The first stage was the collection of background data regarding municipal solid waste management systems such as waste generation, waste collection, treatment and disposal methods. The second stage involved data organization and data analysis. The third stage provided the conceptual framework that has been developed for MSW management, and finally a sustainable and suitable waste management option was provided for improving the MSW management in Allahabad.

The existing solid waste management approach in the city is highly unprofessional and lacking in scientific methodologies. There is neither proper collection nor proper treatment and disposal of waste. Most of the waste is dumped in low lying areas leading to pollution of land, air and water due to leachate generation.

There is need to develop a correct and detailed database of waste generation, collection and treatment system in various wards of Allahabad so that required manpower, equipments and other services can be estimated for designing a proper waste collection, treatment and disposal system. No site for engineered landfill has been identified as per the site selection criteria provided by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. The suggestions in this paper have been made on the basis of data collected, actual observations and analysis.

The work identifies the gap in the present solid waste management system of Allahabad City.

The purpose of this paper is to formulate frameworks for the drivers and barriers of integrated sustainable solid waste management (ISSWM) with reference to conditions prevailing in India.

A multi-phased approach was adopted in this paper to come up with the conceptual framework of the drivers and barriers of ISSWM. In the first phase, drivers and barriers of ISSWM were identified based on a systematic literature review process. In the second phase, 25 experts having 15 plus years of experience in the field of sustainable development and environmental management were consulted to get their opinion. Validation and understanding of the interrelationship among the selected drivers and barriers were done based on the insights from expert interviews. And in the final phase, structural self-interaction matrix and transitive links are defined based on the expert opinion to come up with the theoretical frameworks of drivers and barriers of ISSWM.

Findings reveal the importance to have a system view point approach by giving equal importance to social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainability along with the technology component to effectively and sustainably manage the solid waste disposal. Institutional effectiveness and the robust policy and frameworks are the two variables found to have the highest driving power. Poor social values and ethics, huge population and illiteracy are the three most critical barriers faced by developing nations in achieving the sustainability practices in the solid waste management. The proposed frameworks of drivers and barriers of ISSWM will definitely help policy makers to effectively manage the sustainable waste management practices for developing economies by focusing on the key variables listed out.

One of the limitations is in the use of very limited sample size in the study. Another limitation is that total interpretive structural modeling fails to come up with the relative weightings of drivers and barriers used in the study. These limitations can be overcome by extending the research by using a semi-structured questionnaire survey with higher sample size for the empirical validation of the model.

This research will help to clearly understand the framework of drivers and barriers of variables and their hierarchical level based on the driving power and dependence. Since such articles focusing on the conceptual frameworks of drivers and barriers of ISSWM are found to be very scant, this paper will equally help academicians and waste management professionals to understand the concepts deeply, by getting answers to the fundamental questions of “what,” “why” and “how.” Developed framework of drivers explicitly shows the need to attain financial stability through the commercialization of the waste management initiatives, which will help to reduce burden on various governmental institutions. Commercialization opportunities will also help to have more successful start-up ventures in solid waste management domain that can provide improved employment opportunities and hygiene environment in the developing nations like India.

Based on the authors’ best knowledge, there is hardly any article that explicitly explains the conceptual frameworks of the drivers and barriers of ISSWM by considering the conditions prevailing in developing countries like India. And thus, this can be considered as one of the unique research attempts to build a clear conceptual framework of ISSWM. The study contributes significantly to the existing literature body by clearly interpreting the interrelationships and the driving power and dependence of variables of ISSWM.

It is well known that sustainability is the ideal driving path of the entire world and renewable energy is the backbone of the ongoing initiatives. The current topic of argument among the sustainability research community is on the wise selection of processes that will maximize yield and minimize emissions. The purpose of this paper is to outline different parameters and processes that impact the performance of biogas production plants through an extensive literature review. These include: comparison of biogas plant efficiency based on the use of a diverse range of feedstock; comparison of environmental impacts and its reasons during biogas production based on different feedstock and the processes followed in the management of digestate; analysis of the root cause of inefficiencies in the process of biogas production; factors affecting the energy efficiency of biogas plants based on the processes followed; and the best practices and the future research directions based on the existing life cycle assessment (LCA) studies.

The authors adopted a systematic literature review of research articles pertaining to LCA to understand in depth the current research and gaps, and to suggest future research directions.

Findings include the impact of the type of feedstock used on the efficiency of the biogas plants and the level of environmental emissions. Based on the analysis of literature pertaining to LCA, diverse factors causing emissions from biogas plants are enlisted. Similarly, the root causes of inefficiencies of biogas plants were also analyzed, which will further help researchers/professionals resolve such issues. Findings also include the limitations of existing research body and factors affecting the energy efficiency of biogas plants.

This review is focused on articles published from 2006 to 2019 and is limited to the performance of biogas plants using LCA methodology.

Literature review showed that a majority of articles focused mainly on the efficiency of biogas plants. The novel and the original aspect of this review paper is that the authors, alongside efficiency, have considered other critical parameters such as environmental emission, energy usage, processes followed during anaerobic digestion and the impact of co-digestion of feed as well. The authors also provide solid scientific reasoning to the emission and inefficiencies of the biogas plants, which were rarely analyzed in the past.

This study aims to present a systemic methodological proposal for the reduction of water consumption in rural areas, based on participatory tools.

A theoretical framework was constructed based on the importance of stakeholders’ participation in the adequate use of the hydro resources, technologies to save water and modeling the adoption of possible water-saving technologies. After that, it was proposed a methodology for the reduction of water consumption in rural areas. This methodology was tested in a participatory study case, including the system dynamics model.

This study proposes a participatory systemic methodology – PAWAME – participation-water waste-adoption-model-empowerment, which consists of four steps: identify stakeholders and the activities related with the waste of water in the study site and establish their values, measure the adoption that the technology would have based on the awareness generated, relate in a model the variables of the water-consuming activities and the variables of the technology and its adoption to analyze possible future behaviors and empowerment of the technology to reduce water consumption.

In Colombia, part of the population has the wrong perception about the abundance of the hydro resource, and for this reason, people do not use water in a correct way. The inclusion of a participatory systemic methodology was fundamental to apprehend the dynamic aspects of users’ behaviors, as well as of the management of the water resource. The model addresses the complexity of the situation, allowing exploring future scenarios of environmental protection.

This study advances the knowledge in participatory systemic methodology to design and adopt a local technology to save water.

The purpose of this paper is to review the present municipal solid wastes (MSWs) management system, from an engineering management (EM) perspective, for the City of Kitwe while proposing a levers-driven sustainable municipal solid waste management (MSWM) model focussing on improving waste management (WM).

The research work involves four stages. First, a comprehensive review of literature is conducted on MSWM. Second, structured interviews are conducted with key experts in solid waste management in the City of Kitwe in order to enhance the knowledge inputs. Third, direct observations and an interview with a WM driver are conducted in order to understand; the collection, disposal and treatment options for MSWs. Lastly, a sustainable model for managing MSWs is proposed

The research findings indicate that the existing MSW system for the city is highly unsustainable and lacks EM methodologies. There are still a number of challenges in the management of MSWs which include: lack of proper collection and storage of MSWs; lack of an engineered landfill; lack of waste recovery and treatment systems; and lack of public education aimed at reducing and separating MSWs.

A correct and detailed database for waste generation, collection, treatment and disposal is needed for the City of Kitwe. The system is necessary for WM resources allocation as well as for planning sustainable WM projects. The proposed model has been developed based on the actual observations, data collection and analysis.

The research identifies a gap in the management of MSWs for the City of Kitwe. This work is original as no similar MSW model has been proposed globally and specific for a developing economy such as Africa.

Drawing on the UTAUT-2 model, the study attempts to accentuate the role of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) based tourism products and services in enhancing responsible travel behaviour (RTB). This paper aims to examine the emergence of AR- and VR-based tourism in emerging economies, outlines the issues and contributing factors and discusses possible mitigation measures.

Following the triangulation method of research, a dual study involving both focus group discussions and questionnaire-based surveys were undertaken. The grounded theory approach was adopted to develop a structural framework followed by an empirical validation process.

Critical dimensions such as performance anticipation, effort anticipation, referent power, facilitating factors, perceived value and perceived risk were found as antecedents of behavioural intentions (BIs) towards adopting AR- and VR-based tourism products. Moreover, cultural involvement and marketing stimuli emerged as moderating factors driving the BI towards RTB.

This paper outlines key elements that contribute to the adoption of AR- and VR-based tourism products and services in emerging economies, which would enable marketers and practitioners to strategize their tourism offerings.

The study takes a dual perspective of both tourists and tour operators and presents a critical overview of the AR- and VR-based tourism industry, taking an emerging economies’ perspective. The study further attempted both the triangulation method and grounded study approach for establishing a hypothetical framework, which is a unique attempt in itself.

With the concept of interconnection among municipal drinking water networks, this paper presents an innovative methodology aiming to identify potential interconnections and new hydropower possibilities between separate municipal networks, at a regional level.

Beside literature research, water framework directive, interviews with local actors and local case studies were employed. To ensure the soundness of the developed methodology and to give more accuracy to the scientific approach, the presented methodology was tested in a Swiss Alp pilot region (Martigny) composed of 23 independent municipal water networks.

A methodology which makes it possible to compile on a unique map complex and dissociated elements describing water networks and their potential interconnections was developed. Furthermore, the methodology brings these elements together giving decision makers an overview focussed on added-value in terms of water resources and consumption as well as economic and energetic impacts.

In a bottom-up approach, the targets of this study have been presented and discussed with all local actors. Some of the suggested interconnections are currently being completed.

The use of GIS-based framework as a decision support system would improve the current practice of integrated drinking water management. The developed methodology would be useful for other watershed region where the efficiency of water networks can be greatly improved by the means of a systemic approach and the designing of new network interconnections.

Amidst the rising awareness of sustainable consumption, this study aims to delve into the dimensions shaping individuals' preferences for traditional gastronomic delicacies taking an emerging economy’s perspective, India.

A qualitative research methodology in the form of a Grounded Theory Approach is used to develop theories. Important dimensions that drive attitude and intention towards experiencing traditional gastronomic delicacies are explored. Based on literary inputs and qualitative study, a research framework is developed and empirically validated thereon with SEM analysis using SPSS-AMOS.

Drawing on the Theory of Consumption Values and Stakeholder Theory, key influencers (consumption values) of traditional gastronomic delicacies were identified as Travel Motivation (Functional Values), Tourist Expectations (Emotional Values), Socio-economic Perspectives (Socio-economic Values), Mindful Consumption Practice (Epistemic Values), Community Awareness (Epistemic Values) and Sustainable Marketing Stimuli (Conditional Values).

This research has a multifaceted impact. At the macro-level, it supports stakeholders in Gastronomic Tourism (GT) – marketers, regional tourism bodies, policymakers and tour operators with distinct consumer values – in crafting regional culinary tourism, influencing economic policies and advocating for cultural conservation. At the micro-level, it aids scholars in initiating future research to elevate dining experiences, promote consumer education and tackle health and nutritional aspects within the evolving gastronomic industry.

This study makes a novel attempt to explore important drivers, categorizing the drivers into distinct consumer values that influence tourists and food connoisseurs towards traditional gastronomic delicacies by blending an innovative qualitative research methodology like grounded theory approach supported by the empirical validation process (quantitative). Additionally, it proposes a theoretical framework for future advancement of gastronomic literature.

The continuous evolution of e-commerce with young consumers’ growing interest in online shopping has transformed the retail landscape across the world. With the surge in online sales, counterfeits of luxury goods have also found themselves from brick-and-mortar shelves to online e-commerce sites. Against this backdrop, this study aims to understand and analyse young consumers’ online counterfeit purchase behaviour (OCPB). Additionally, it also aims at identifying the determinants that influence their purchase decisions.

Following an extensive review of the literature, the present study pursued a quantitative approach in exploring critical demographic, psychographic, behavioural and situational factors influencing OCPB. The study was conducted in India through an online survey using a structured questionnaire.

The findings indicate that young consumers’ OCPB is significantly related to influencing factors like brand consciousness, fashion involvement, face consciousness, impulsive buying tendency, acquisition centrality and utilitarian shopping values. Furthermore, moderating effects of perceived anonymity (PA) and moral disengagement (MD) on OCPB were also observed and validated.

The study examined the critical factors and their linkages while building upon a structural framework on OCPB, keeping India as a representative sample. The proposed framework will bring more clarity and further insights that will help scholars expand the research domain with more cross-cultural studies and aid brand e-marketers to strategize their action towards developing strong brand aesthetic values.

The study contributes towards the literature by introducing PA and MD vis-à-vis building a framework for studying young consumers’ OCPB.