Environmental Impact Index Calculation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current environmental impact evaluation systems struggle to accurately assess the overall environmental impact of CO2 emissions, as they do not account for CO2 storage capacity in soil and the impact on water quality and soil in the surrounding environment.

Innovation Solution

An environmental impact evaluation index calculation system that calculates a composite index by evaluating CO2 emissions, soil carbon storage, and carbon absorption capacity using a soil carbon cycle model and a river simulator, while considering various land use methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current emission credits transactions calculate emissions by accumulating basic units across the entire supply chain, then the transaction amounts can be determined, but the evaluation of overall environmental impact including CO2 storage capacity and water quality is problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission calculation accuracyVSAvoidenvironmental impact evaluation scope
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The environmental impact evaluation index calculation system integrates multiple evaluation functions into a single platform. It simultaneously calculates CO2 emissions, evaluates CO2 storage capacity in soil, assesses water quality impact, and generates composite environmental impact indices, enabling one system to perform diverse environmental assessment tasks that were previously handled separately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges previously separate evaluation methodologies by integrating supply chain emission calculation with soil carbon storage evaluation and water quality assessment. It combines data from emission sources, soil samples, and water quality monitoring into a unified calculation framework that produces a comprehensive environmental impact index

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If agriculture-related data is used to estimate carbon amounts, then carbon storage can be evaluated, but the overall environmental impact including CO2 generation sources and absorption sources remains problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbon storage estimation accuracyVSAvoidunevaluated CO2 sources
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the environmental evaluation into distinct components: CO2 emission sources, CO2 absorption sources (including soil carbon storage), and water quality impact. Each segment is evaluated separately using appropriate methodologies, then integrated into a comprehensive assessment that identifies and evaluates all harmful and beneficial factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring and evaluating both emission sources and absorption sources. It uses measured data from soil samples and water quality monitoring to adjust and refine the environmental impact assessment, ensuring that newly identified CO2 sources and sinks are properly accounted for in the overall evaluation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4498302A1Environmental impact evaluation index calculation system and method for using environmental impact evaluation index calculation system
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 HITACHI LTD
  • EP4498302A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4498302A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4498302A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An environmental impact evaluation index calculation system that determines, as an index, an environmental impact of a company on a social environment, the environmental impact evaluation index calculation system determining a CO2 emission storage amount from total CO2 emissions emitted from within a company facility, a total soil carbon amount and a carbon absorption capacity within the company facility estimated using a soil carbon cycle model, and a carbon absorption capacity in a downstream region within the company facility estimated using a river simulator, and setting the CO2 emission storage amount as a first environmental impact index.