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Techno-economic Model of Multimodal Transport
(Univerzitetna založba Univerze v Mariboru, 2024-02-26) Poul, David; Gregor, Jiří; Pavlas, Martin; Fan, Yee Van
With the current effort to reduce transport emissions, the shift in the transport of goods from road to rail or combination is expected on a larger scale. For this shift to have the expected results, it needs to be supported by detailed project planning and calculation. The paper presents the techno-economic model of multimodal transport, focusing on road and rail transport. The model includes a vast database of transport systems for both types of transport. To complete the logistic chain, the model includes the calculation for transfer stations, handling equipment, and other needed parts. The model also includes an economic evaluation allowing analysis of the whole logistic chain of multimodal transport or performing the comparison of individual types of transport.
Waste Analysis and Determination of the Average Composition of Municipal Waste With a Focus on the Circular Economy
(Univerzitetna založba Univerze v Mariboru, 2024-02-26) Gregor, Jiří; Kropáč, Jiří; Pavlas, Martin; Fan, Yee Van
This paper focuses on the sorting, analysis and composition of waste in the context of the circular economy, emphasising the established legislative aspects and separation goals in the European Union. The European Union recognises the urgent need to change the linear model of production and consumption to a circular economy in which waste production is minimised, resources are used sparingly, and product lifetime is prolonged with the environmental impact being minimised. In our paper, we will focus on key legislative aspects. We analysed how this legislation sets new targets and requirements for waste separation, introduces extended producer responsibility schemes and promotes recycling and resource recovery. As a result, we will present the implementation of the determination of the average waste composition from the perspective of the Czech Republic and selected sub-regions.
Towards efficient waste management: identification of waste flow chains in micro-regional detail through monitored data
(Springer, 2024-06-18) Němcová, Lucie; Pluskal, Jaroslav; Šomplák, Radovan; Kůdela, Jakub
Countries around the world are gradually implementing the transition to a circular economy in waste management. This effort should be initiated already at the waste producers. It is necessary to plan and monitor waste management in as much detail as possible, i.e. at the level of micro-regions. At present, only indicators at the national level are analysed, as more detailed data at the micro-regional level are often not available or are burdened with significant errors and inconsistencies. The calculation of waste management indicators for micro-regions will allow to identify the potential for increasing material or energy recovery and to plan the necessary infrastructure directly to these locations instead of blanket and often ineffective legislative actions. This paper presents an approach for determining the producer-treatment linkage, i.e., provides information about each produced waste, where it was treated, and in what way. Such information is often not available based on historical waste management data as there are repeated waste transfers and often aggregated within a micro-region. The network flow approach is based on an iterative procedure combining a simulation with multi-criteria optimization. The chosen criteria replicate expert estimates in investigated issue such as minimum flow splitting, and minimum transfer micro-regions. A data reconciliation is performed where the deviation from all simulations is minimized, given that the capacity constraints of nodes and arcs resulting from the database must be satisfied. The approach is tested on a generated sample task to evaluate the precision and time complexity of the developed tool. Finally, the presented approach is applied to address a case study in the Czech Republic, within which it is possible to identify treatment location and methods for waste from individual regions.
The integration of a new waste-to-energy plant: Waste flows modelling and pricing strategies for financial sustainability
(Elsevier, 2025-05-06) Němcová, Lucie; Pluskal, Jaroslav; Šomplák, Radovan
The imperative to transform waste management and reduce reliance on landfills stands at the forefront of the EU’s ambitious objectives. While achieving complete material utilization of all waste is technically unattainable, the integration of Waste-to-Energy facilities into existing infrastructures emerges as a viable and environmentally conscious alternative. However, the economic sustainability of such facilities in developed countries is contingent upon navigating market dynamics. Evaluating the financial viability of a project often requires access to information that is highly confidential within the competitive environment. This article presents a novel modelling tool designed to estimate key parameters crucial for economic assessments of the construction of a new facility, using a limited set of publicly available data. The main feature of the approach is the modelling of the current collection areas within the existing network and the identification of the potential waste suitable for redirection to a new facility. Based on this information, a comprehensive pricing model has been developed, serving as a foundational framework for negotiations with individual waste producers and collection companies, contributing to the overall economic balance sheet. The approach is presented as a step-by-step guide with recommendations with partial examples from the case study in the Czech Republic. The paper highlights the significance of strategic partnership in economic sustainability and provides valuable insights for investing in waste management under real-world conditions. By securing stable input streams and long-term contracts, the volatility of revenue can be reduced and can also support establishment of a more environmentally and socially responsible system.
Dynamic Reduction of Network Flow Optimization Problem: Case of Waste-to-Energy Infrastructure Planning in Czech Republic
(Elsevier, 2024-10-01) Pluskal, Jaroslav; Šomplák, Radovan; Kůdela, Jakub; Eryganov, Ivan
Nowadays, many sophisticated tools based on various mathematical approaches are used to support planning and strategic decision-making. In the field of waste management, allocation and location problems based mainly on the structure network flow problem are used with respect to infrastructure planning. Modern formulations of the problem allow the inclusion of integer and nonlinear constraints that reflect real-world operations. However, despite the advanced computational technology, such real-world problems are difficult to solve in adequate detail due to the large scale of the problem. Thus, the links in the system are simplified, but most often a transport network is aggregated. The individual nodes in the system may then represent areas with tens or hundreds of thousands of inhabitants, which does not provide sufficient insight for location tasks. This paper presents an approach to dynamically reduce the network with respect to selected points of interest. The selected areas are modeled in greater detail, while with increasing distance the entities are more aggregated into larger units. The approach is based on a transformation of the original network and subsequent cluster analysis, preferably using existing transport infrastructure. The presented approach provides the possibility of practical application of complex tools that are currently mostly theoretical due to high computational demands. The methodology is applied to a case study of Waste-to-Energy infrastructure planning, which needs to model a large area to fill a large capacity facility.

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