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Research Projects
The "Digital Economy"
DEEP supports multi-disciplinary research on the environmental impacts of the digital economy. We define the digital economy as those parts of the economy and society that are based significantly, if not entirely, on digital technologies. The digital economy encompasses a broad range of activities, market transformations, consumer patterns, and relationships that rely upon digital operations, infrastructure, and knowledge.
Our Research Priorities
Our current research priorities center on the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence, blockchain technologies, the Internet of Things, e-commerce, and digital sharing platforms. We’re especially — though not exclusively — interested in research that looks at the indirect, behavioral, and structural environmental effects of these technologies as opposed to the direct environmental effects. Direct effects address questions of energy consumption, carbon emissions, e-waste, and embodied energy, whereas indirect, behavioral, and structural effects question the environmental impacts of our digital lives, i.e. the activities enabled through the use of digital technologies. Examples include changes to efficiency, the substitution of consumer products, rebound effects, and societal transformations. These effects can often be unanticipated and require more research.
Research Projects
Blockchain Technology and the Sustainable Supply Chain: Theoretically Exploring Adoption Barriers
This project identifies, analyzes, and explores existing and new governance systems for a blockchain-based sustainable supply chain. The primary goal is to aid in the adoption of blockchain technologies within supply chains, toward the promotion of sustainable practices.
Project Status:
Complete
Evaluating the Potential of Cooperative Ridesourcing: A Case Study of Arcade City in Austin, Texas
This evaluation of Arcade City Austin fills knowledge gaps and provides important and novel insights into the benefits and drawbacks of decentralized cooperative sharing platforms as compared to more prevalent centralized commercial approaches.
Project Status:
Complete
Investigating the Energy and Environmental Implications of Artificial Intelligence Applications in the Chemical Manufacturing Industry
This research project aims to address the data and analysis gaps that are critical for encouraging the adoption of artificial intelligence in chemical manufacturing. The researchers develop a metric-based framework to quantify the energy and environmental impacts of artificial intelligence applications in the chemical manufacturing industry.
Project Status:
Complete
Social and Environmental Analysis of Food Waste Abatement via the Peer-to-Peer Sharing Economy
This research provides insights into the nature and dynamics of the sharing economy through a deep dive into a real-world food sharing network that aims to reduce household food waste.
Project Status:
Complete
The Carbon Footprint of Airbnb
This project seeks to address the lack of research on the transportation-related climate impacts of the sharing platform Airbnb. This will be the first study of the changing distribution of Airbnb listings and the associated mobility patterns of Airbnb guests, comparing the ten largest Airbnb urban markets and providing data and recommendations for municipal authorities and ride hailing firms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Project Status:
In progress
