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Development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2024
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| _version_ | 1867613981744562176 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Roux, Dirk |
| author2 | Jooste, Wyhan |
| author_browse | Jooste, Wyhan Roux, Dirk |
| author_facet | Jooste, Wyhan Roux, Dirk |
| author_sort | Roux, Dirk |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/130648 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:46.833Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/130648 Development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles Roux, Dirk Jooste, Wyhan Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering. Decision support systems Life cycle costing Sustainable transportation Greenhouse gases -- Environmental aspects UCTD Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rail transport has emerged as a frontrunner in environmentally sustainable transportation solutions. As the world shifts its focus toward reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing environmental sustainability, rail vehicles play a pivotal role in curbing emissions and offering efficient transportation. In this context, the need for rigorous and standardised environmental assessments is paramount. This thesis contributes to the scholarship by developing a decision support roadmap for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of rail vehicles, enabling manufacturers to adhere to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. To comprehensively develop the roadmap, a multifaceted approach is adopted. The study commences with an exploration of the fundamental aspects of LCA and the specific requirements of the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. This foundational understanding lays the groundwork for the subsequent development of the LCA roadmap. A literature review is conducted, providing insights into the core concepts of LCA, international standards, and the critical issues of LCA in the rail industry. The roadmap’s development forms the basis of this research, offering a structured guide for rail vehicle manufacturers to conduct LCAs effectively. Each component of the roadmap is crafted to address the life cycle of rail vehicles, ensuring that it encompasses all essential aspects. The roadmap is structured according to the four phases as presented by the ISO 14040 standards: Goal and Scope Definition, Life Cycle Inventory Analysis, Life Cycle Impact Assessment, and Interpretation. To refine this roadmap, feedback from subject matter experts within the rail industry was sought, and their insights are incorporated into its development. The validation process confirms the roadmap’s practicality and effectiveness, demonstrating its potential for implementation. Subject matter experts have expressed optimism regarding the roadmap’s capacity to standardise LCA processes in the rail sector. Furthermore, it holds the promise of identifying opportunities for reducing the greenhouse gas footprint of rail vehicles, a step toward environmental sustainability. This research concludes that the roadmap aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the field of LCA for rail vehicles. By providing a structured and comprehensive guide, it empowers rail vehicle manufacturers to make environmentally informed decisions and align their practices with international standards. This thesis contributes not only to the academic understanding of LCA but also offers a practical tool for the rail industry to navigate the path toward more sustainable and environmentally responsible rail transportation. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Spoorvervoer het na vore getree as ’n leier in omgewingsvriendelike vervoeroplossings. Terwyl die wêreld se fokus skuif na die vermindering van koolstofvoetspore en die bevordering van omgewingsvolhoubaarheid, speel spoorvoertuie ’n deurslaggewende rol in die beperking van emissies en die aanbied van doeltreffende vervoer. In hierdie konteks is die behoefte aan gestandaardiseerde omgewingsassesserings van belang. Hierdie tesis spreek hierdie behoefte aan deur die ontwikkeling van ’n besluitsteun padkaart vir lewensiklusassessering (LCA) van spoorvoertuie, wat vervaardigers in staat stel om aan die ISO 14040- en ISO 14044-standaarde te voldoen. Om hierdie padkaart volledig te ontwikkel, word ’n veelvlakkige benadering gevolg. Die studie begin met ’n ondersoek na die fundamentele aspekte van LCA en die spesifieke vereistes van die ISO 14040- en ISO 14044-standaarde. Hierdie begrip lê die grondslag vir die daaropvolgende ontwikkeling van die LCA-padkaart. ’n Literatuurstudie is onderneem om insigte te bied in die kernkonsepte van LCA, internasionale standaarde, en die kernkwessies van LCA in die spoorbedryf. Die ontwikkeling van die padkaart vorm die fondasie van hierdie navorsing en bied ’n gestruktureerde gids vir vervaardigers van spoorvoertuie om LCA’s uit te voer. Elke komponent van die padkaart is saamgestel om die lewensiklus van spoorvoertuie aan te spreek en te verseker dat dit al die noodsaaklike aspekte dek. Die padkaart is gestruktureer volgens die vier fases soos deur die ISO 14040-standaarde voorgeskryf: Doel en Omvangdefinisie, Lewensiklusinventarisanalise, Lewensiklusimpakbeoordeling, en Interpretasie. Om hierdie padkaart te verfyn, is terugvoer van kundiges binne die spoorbedryf ingewin en hul insigte is in die ontwikkeling daarvan opgeneem. Die valideringsproses bevestig die praktiese uitvoerbaarheid en effektiwiteit van die padkaart en demonstreer die potensiaal vir implementering. Kenners binne die spoorbedryf het optimisme uitgespreek oor die vermoë van die oplossing om LCA-prosesse in die spoorbedryf te standaardiseer. Verder bied dit die belofte van die identifisering van geleenthede vir die vermindering van die kweekhuisgasvoetspoor van spoorvoertuie, ’n stap in die rigting van omgewingsvolhoubaarheid. Met hierdie navorsing wat tot ’n einde kom, beoog die aangebiede padkaart om die gaping tussen teorie en praktyk op die gebied van LCA vir spoorvoertuie te oorbrug. Deur ’n gestruktureerde en omvattende gids te bied, bemagtig dit vervaardigers van spoorvoertuie om omgewingsingeligte besluite te neem en hul praktyke te belyn met internasionale standaarde. Hierdie tesis dra nie net by tot die akademiese begrip van LCA nie, maar bied ook ’n praktiese instrument vir die spoorbedryf om die pad na meer volhoubare en omgewingsverantwoordelike spoorvervoer te bewerkstellig. Masters 2024-02-02T14:46:43Z 2024-04-27T01:15:42Z 2024-02-02T14:46:43Z 2024-04-27T01:15:42Z 2024-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130648 en_ZA en_ZA Stellenbosch University xiii, 155 pages : illustrations. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Decision support systems Life cycle costing Sustainable transportation Greenhouse gases -- Environmental aspects UCTD Roux, Dirk Development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles |
| title | Development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles |
| title_full | Development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles |
| title_fullStr | Development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles |
| title_short | Development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles |
| title_sort | development of a decision support roadmap for performing a life cycle assessment on rail vehicles |
| topic | Decision support systems Life cycle costing Sustainable transportation Greenhouse gases -- Environmental aspects UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130648 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rouxdirk developmentofadecisionsupportroadmapforperformingalifecycleassessmentonrailvehicles |