Digitalisation potential analysis for sustainable waste management

Abstract

The following thesis aims to assess the inherent potential that cyber-physical systems hold in creating a more sustainable management of waste. For this reason, an upscaling model is derived in which the possible ecological as well as economical changes brought about by two localized Industry 4.0 projects are upscaled onto a larger region. Industrial Revolutions are commonly associated with developments in urban areas. Despite affecting the society as a whole, their impact on rural regions is not often subject of research. Nevertheless, innovations of both pioneer projects have been tested in rural municipalities, providing an interesting research setting, primarily as a result of its relative obscurity. This approach is maintained throughout this work. Moreover, inherent urban-rural differences pose very particular demands on waste management. Generalised deductions of outcomes obtained from rural areas might therefore be ineligible to urban sites. Ultimately, digital transformation undeniably spurs new innovations. The outcome of the Utopian Model contributes to the understanding of changes possible by the digital transformation within the waste management system.