Optimization in a system of systems: Minimizing a farm's environmental impact through operational efficiency

Koritz, Katherine

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/49811 Copy

Description

Title

Optimization in a system of systems: Minimizing a farm's environmental impact through operational efficiency

Author(s)

Koritz, Katherine

Issue Date

2014-05-30T17:18:52Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Kim, Harrison H.M.

Department of Study

Industrial&Enterprise Sys Eng

Discipline

Systems & Entrepreneurial Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Fleet Optimization
• Farming Systems
• John Deere

Abstract

Life cycle assessments (LCA’s) are performed for many combine harvester, tractor, and planter models. The machines will be considered for selection by a farming system seeking to accomplish certain tasks on a farm of fixed acreage over a projected time horizon. Metrics are designated for each machine type to compare the capabilities and expected environmental impacts of machines with similar functions. A system-of-systems approach is applied to the farming operation’s decisions regarding the selection and use of its agricultural machinery. The goal is to minimize the farm’s total environmental impact by selecting an optimal portfolio of machinery and determining the annual usage intensity of each machine. LCA’s are performed to generate each machine’s fixed and variable environmental impacts. Environmental impacts will be represented in units of kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2e) as measured by IPCC Global Warming Potential 100a using SimaPro 7. Manufacturing phase and end-of-life phase impacts are considered fixed environmental impacts that are accrued upon the machine’s selection into the farming system. Maintenance phase and usage phase impacts depend on the usage demand of the machine so are therefore considered variable environmental impacts. The optimal portfolio and prescribed usage patterns will differ based on the farm’s acreage and projected time horizon. The model also has the ability to limit the amount of time devoted to a single operation such as planting or harvesting. This time constraint can represent labor availability, weather uncertainty, plant maturity timelines, or anything else that could influence the system’s productivity requirement. Both publicly available and proprietary data, supplied by an industry partner, are analyzed to produce high-integrity LCA scores for each machine. Selective data and distinguishing characteristics of machines will be masked or excluded from this report to preserve its confidentiality. Results are simulated and reported for farming systems varying in size and time horizon. Conclusions about the general trends and sensitivities of input variables are drawn based on results from additional simulations.

Graduation Semester

2014-05

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/49811

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 Katherine Mary Koritz

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