The research objective of this award is to address challenges within sustainable design by developing and validating a novel methodology that enables correlation of product functions and life cycle environmental impacts. The new method enables quantitative environmental impact measurements taken during downstream product lifecycle stages to be projected onto the early design phase. The research tasks include: 1) developing a new function-impact (FIM) and process/material impact (PIM) method for allocating life cycle environmental impacts to product functions during early design; 2) developing a probabilistic model to study the uncertainties and subjectivity within the FIM in addition to the uncertainties related to design decision making with regards to sustainability; and 3) validating the FIM and PIM methods with real-world case studies and integrate them with current industrial practices.
If successful, this research will allow product designers to develop a more proactive approach with regards to considering environmental sustainability within the product life cycle. Possible categorization of entire product systems in terms of environmental impact will allow designers to reuse knowledge for developing greener products. Dissemination of sustainable design practices to engineering students is among the primary goals of this project. Students exposed to results from this research will have the capability to practice state-of-the art environment-friendly design and manufacturing tools as engineers and serve as proponents for sustainable product development in their organizations. It is hoped that over the long term, the research, education, and dissemination efforts conducted will greatly facilitate a paradigm shift where sustainable thinking, including materials and process, will be a natural part of the design decision making process.
The research objective of this award is to address challenges within sustainable design by developing and validating a novel methodology that enables correlation of product functions and life cycle environmental impacts. The new method enables quantitative environmental impact measurements taken during downstream product lifecycle stages to be projected onto the early design phase. The research resulted in advances in bridging the gap between design methods and tools for products and ways as well as means to lower their environmental impact in a proactive manner. by : 1) Development of novel sustainability assessment methods for the early design and embodiment stages. These techniques allocate life cycle environmental impacts to functions and apply them for concept generation and selection. The project will also explored novel visual interfaces for sustainability assessment at the early design stage. 2) A probabilistic Analytical Hierarchy Process model combined with a Monte Carlo simulation was developed to study the uncertainties and subjectivity within the function impact method and design preferences. 3) The project also studied the effectiveness of and validated the developed sustainability assessment methods with case studies. Finally, these techniques were effectively disseminated to educational institutions, industries, and practices. We also have created momentum in through our papers that current widespread use is happening on its own through many channels. Our research will allow product designers to develop a more proactive approach with regards to considering environmental sustainability within the product life cycle. With on going efforts in categorization of entire product systems in terms of environmental impact will allow designers to reuse knowledge for developing greener products. Dissemination of sustainable design practices to engineering students was also done effectively not only through publications, but also partnering and helping other institutions. Students exposed to results from this research have the capability to practice state-of-the art environment-friendly design and manufacturing tools as engineers and serve as proponents for sustainable product development in their organizations. Over the long term, the research, education, and dissemination efforts conducted will greatly facilitate a paradigm shift where sustainable thinking, including materials and process, will be a natural part of the design decision making process. We have proactively participated and created a strong community in ASME and also broader linkages. The PI received the ASME Kos Ishii Toshiba Award in Design for Manufacture and Life Cycle for his efforts that resulted particularly through the support from this project.
