Process and Systems Analysis
Engineering sustainable systems requires research and development-guiding analysis to identify cost, energy, scalability, environmental, and societal challenges that must be overcome. Analysis techniques include, for example, life cycle analysis, detailed process and economic sector modeling, and agent-based modeling to capture consumer behavior. Bridging the gap from the molecular- to the economy-level through multi-scale modeling can capture how emerging technologies can influence energy and water consumption and air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions and therefore guide technology development towards enhancing societal sustainability.