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Various sources of biomass contribute significantly in energy production globally given a series of constraints in its primary production. Green biomass sources (such as perennial grasses), yellow biomass sources (such as crop residues), and woody biomass sources (such as willow) represent the three pillars in biomass production by crops. In this paper, we conducted a comprehensive review on research studies targeted to advancements at biomass supply-chain management in connection to these three types of biomass sources. A framework that classifies the works in problem-based and methodology-based approaches was followed. Results show the use of modern technological means and tools in current management-related problems. From the review, it is evident that the presented up-to-date trends on biomass supply-chain management and the potential for future advanced approach applications play a crucial role on business and sustainability efficiency of biomass supply chain.
Efthymios Rodias; Remigio Berruto; Dionysis Bochtis; Alessandro Sopegno; Patrizia Busato. Green, Yellow, and Woody Biomass Supply-Chain Management: A Review. Energies 2019, 12, 3020 .
AMA StyleEfthymios Rodias, Remigio Berruto, Dionysis Bochtis, Alessandro Sopegno, Patrizia Busato. Green, Yellow, and Woody Biomass Supply-Chain Management: A Review. Energies. 2019; 12 (15):3020.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEfthymios Rodias; Remigio Berruto; Dionysis Bochtis; Alessandro Sopegno; Patrizia Busato. 2019. "Green, Yellow, and Woody Biomass Supply-Chain Management: A Review." Energies 12, no. 15: 3020.
There is a variety of crops that may be considered as potential biomass production crops. In order to select the best suitable for cultivation crop for a given area, a number of several factors should be taken into account. During the crop selection process, a common framework should be followed focussing on financial or energy performance. Combining multiple crops and multiple fields for the extraction of the best allocation requires a model to evaluate various and complex factors given a specific objective. This paper studies the maximisation of total energy gained from the biomass production by energy crops, reduced by the energy costs of the production process. The tool calculates the energy balance using multiple crops allocated to multiple fields. Both binary programming and linear programming methods are employed to solve the allocation problem. Each crop is assigned to a field (or a combination of crops are allocated to each field) with the aim of maximising the energy balance provided by the production system. For the demonstration of the tool, a hypothetical case study of three different crops cultivated for a decade (Miscanthus x giganteus, Arundo donax, and Panicum virgatum) and allocated to 40 dispersed fields around a biogas plant in Italy is presented. The objective of the best allocation is the maximisation of energy balance showing that the linear solution is slightly better than the binary one in the basic scenario while focussing on suggesting alternative scenarios that would have an optimal energy balance.
Efthymios C. Rodias; Maria Lampridi; Alessandro Sopegno; Remigio Berruto; George Banias; Dionysis Bochtis; Patrizia Busato. Optimal energy performance on allocating energy crops. Biosystems Engineering 2019, 181, 11 -27.
AMA StyleEfthymios C. Rodias, Maria Lampridi, Alessandro Sopegno, Remigio Berruto, George Banias, Dionysis Bochtis, Patrizia Busato. Optimal energy performance on allocating energy crops. Biosystems Engineering. 2019; 181 ():11-27.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEfthymios C. Rodias; Maria Lampridi; Alessandro Sopegno; Remigio Berruto; George Banias; Dionysis Bochtis; Patrizia Busato. 2019. "Optimal energy performance on allocating energy crops." Biosystems Engineering 181, no. : 11-27.
Silage is one of the typical systems to preserve biomass usually oriented from corn, sorghum, wheat, grass, and other forage and perennial crops. A critical task within the logistics operations in silage production, i.e. harvesting, transporting, and compacting, is the management of the biomass flow, in connection with the biomass storage system and the required conditions of the stored product depending on its further purpose of use. A key issue in large-scale silage production operations is the matching of the material processing capacity of forage harvester with the material removal capacity of transport units and the material processing capacity of the compactor, in order to maintain a steady material flow. This allows for the optimisation of the working chain. The objective of the paper is the development of a decision support system that for a given silage production system determines the configuration of the optimal number of transport units in each field of an area to be harvested that minimises the total operational cost of the production system under time constraints for the completion of the operation. The tool consists of the combination of two models, a simulation model and a linear programming based optimisation model. The simulation model was validated based on field trials. The simulation model generates a series of results regarding total operating time and total operation cost for different configuration of the allocated transport units based on machinery and field features, which results are used to build the cost matrix of the optimisation model. The capabilities of both the simulation model, as an individual tool, and the complete decision support tool were demonstrated. The tool provides performance evaluation measures that consider the interaction of the various parts of the working chain and can be easily tuned for other silage operations with different crops.
Patrizia Busato; Alessandro Sopegno; Niccolò Pampuro; Luigi Sartori; Remigio Berruto. Optimisation tool for logistics operations in silage production. Biosystems Engineering 2019, 180, 146 -160.
AMA StylePatrizia Busato, Alessandro Sopegno, Niccolò Pampuro, Luigi Sartori, Remigio Berruto. Optimisation tool for logistics operations in silage production. Biosystems Engineering. 2019; 180 ():146-160.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrizia Busato; Alessandro Sopegno; Niccolò Pampuro; Luigi Sartori; Remigio Berruto. 2019. "Optimisation tool for logistics operations in silage production." Biosystems Engineering 180, no. : 146-160.
Logistics have been used to analyse agricultural operations, such as chemical application, mineral or organic fertilisation and harvesting-handling operations. Recently, due to national or European commitments concerning livestock waste management, this waste is being applied in many crops instead of other mineral fertilisers. The organic fertiliser produced has a high availability although most of the crops it is applied to have strict timeliness issues concerning its application. Here, organic fertilizer (as liquid manure) distribution logistic system is modelled by using a combined simulation and linear programming method. The method applies in certain crops and field areas taking into account specific agronomical, legislation and other constraints with the objective of minimising the optimal annual cost. Given their direct connection with the organic fertiliser distribution, the operations of cultivation and seeding were included. In a basic scenario, the optimal cost was assessed for both crops in total cultivated area of 120 ha. Three modified scenarios are presented. The first regards one more tractor as being available and provides a reduction of 3.8% in the total annual cost in comparison with the basic scenario. In the second and third modified scenarios fields having high nitrogen demand next to the farm are considered with one or two tractors and savings of 2.5% and 6.1%, respectively, compared to the basic scenario are implied. Finally, it was concluded that the effect of distance from the manure production to the location of the fields could reduce costs by 6.5%.
Efthymios C. Rodias; Alessandro Sopegno; Remigio Berruto; Dionysis D. Bochtis; Eugenio Cavallo; Patrizia Busato. A combined simulation and linear programming method for scheduling organic fertiliser application. Biosystems Engineering 2018, 178, 233 -243.
AMA StyleEfthymios C. Rodias, Alessandro Sopegno, Remigio Berruto, Dionysis D. Bochtis, Eugenio Cavallo, Patrizia Busato. A combined simulation and linear programming method for scheduling organic fertiliser application. Biosystems Engineering. 2018; 178 ():233-243.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEfthymios C. Rodias; Alessandro Sopegno; Remigio Berruto; Dionysis D. Bochtis; Eugenio Cavallo; Patrizia Busato. 2018. "A combined simulation and linear programming method for scheduling organic fertiliser application." Biosystems Engineering 178, no. : 233-243.
Alessandro Sopegno; Paolo Rota; Patrizia Busato; Remigio Berruto. SIMULATION GAME TO MATCH PRODUCTION AND DEMAND OF FRESH FRUIT MARKET. INTED2018 Proceedings 2018, 834 -838.
AMA StyleAlessandro Sopegno, Paolo Rota, Patrizia Busato, Remigio Berruto. SIMULATION GAME TO MATCH PRODUCTION AND DEMAND OF FRESH FRUIT MARKET. INTED2018 Proceedings. 2018; ():834-838.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Sopegno; Paolo Rota; Patrizia Busato; Remigio Berruto. 2018. "SIMULATION GAME TO MATCH PRODUCTION AND DEMAND OF FRESH FRUIT MARKET." INTED2018 Proceedings , no. : 834-838.
Patrizia Busato; Alessandro Sopegno; Daniele Rossi; Michele Contel; Ivana Russiello; Francesco Bianchi; Remigio Berruto. FLIPPED CLASS EXPERIMENTATION WITH ITS STUDENTS WITHIN FOOD4GROWTH PROJECT. INTED2018 Proceedings 2018, 158 -163.
AMA StylePatrizia Busato, Alessandro Sopegno, Daniele Rossi, Michele Contel, Ivana Russiello, Francesco Bianchi, Remigio Berruto. FLIPPED CLASS EXPERIMENTATION WITH ITS STUDENTS WITHIN FOOD4GROWTH PROJECT. INTED2018 Proceedings. 2018; ():158-163.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrizia Busato; Alessandro Sopegno; Daniele Rossi; Michele Contel; Ivana Russiello; Francesco Bianchi; Remigio Berruto. 2018. "FLIPPED CLASS EXPERIMENTATION WITH ITS STUDENTS WITHIN FOOD4GROWTH PROJECT." INTED2018 Proceedings , no. : 158-163.
Various crops can be considered as potential bioenergy and biofuel production feedstocks. The selection of the crops to be cultivated for that purpose is based on several factors. For an objective comparison between different crops, a common framework is required to assess their economic or energetic performance. In this paper, a computational tool for the energy cost evaluation of multiple-crop production systems is presented. All the in-field and transport operations are considered, providing a detailed analysis of the energy requirements of the components that contribute to the overall energy consumption. A demonstration scenario is also described. The scenario is based on three selected energy crops, namely Miscanthus, Arundo donax and Switchgrass. The tool can be used as a decision support system for the evaluation of different agronomical practices (such as fertilization and agrochemicals application), machinery systems, and management practices that can be applied in each one of the individual crops within the production system.
Efthymios Rodias; Remigio Berruto; Dionysis Bochtis; Patrizia Busato; Alessandro Sopegno. A Computational Tool for Comparative Energy Cost Analysis of Multiple-Crop Production Systems. Energies 2017, 10, 831 .
AMA StyleEfthymios Rodias, Remigio Berruto, Dionysis Bochtis, Patrizia Busato, Alessandro Sopegno. A Computational Tool for Comparative Energy Cost Analysis of Multiple-Crop Production Systems. Energies. 2017; 10 (7):831.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEfthymios Rodias; Remigio Berruto; Dionysis Bochtis; Patrizia Busato; Alessandro Sopegno. 2017. "A Computational Tool for Comparative Energy Cost Analysis of Multiple-Crop Production Systems." Energies 10, no. 7: 831.
Biomass production systems include multiple-crops rotations, various machinery systems, diversified operational practices and several dispersed fields located in a range of distances between the various facilities (e.g., storage and processing facilities). These factors diversify the energy and cost requirements of the system. To that effect, assessment tools dedicated a single-crop production based on average standards cannot provide an insight evaluation of a specific production system, e.g., for a whole farm in terms of energy and cost requirements. This paper is the continuation of previous work, which presents a web-based tool for cost estimation of biomass production and transportation of multiple-crop production. In the present work, the tool is extended to additionally provide the energy balance of the examined systems. The energy input includes the whole supply chain of the biomass, namely crop cultivation, harvesting, handling of biomass and transportation to the processing facilities. A case study involving a real crop production system that feeds a biogas plant of 200 kW was selected for the demonstration of the tool’s applicability. The output of the tool provides a series of indexes dedicated to the energy input and balance. The presented tool can be used for the comparison of the performance, in terms of energy requirements, between various crops, fields, operations practices, and operations systems providing support for decisions on the biomass production system design (e.g., allocation of crops to fields) and operations management (e.g., machinery system selection).
Patrizia Busato; Alessandro Sopegno; Remigio Berruto; Dionysis Bochtis; Angela Calvo. A Web-Based Tool for Energy Balance Estimation in Multiple-Crops Production Systems. Sustainability 2017, 9, 789 .
AMA StylePatrizia Busato, Alessandro Sopegno, Remigio Berruto, Dionysis Bochtis, Angela Calvo. A Web-Based Tool for Energy Balance Estimation in Multiple-Crops Production Systems. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (5):789.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrizia Busato; Alessandro Sopegno; Remigio Berruto; Dionysis Bochtis; Angela Calvo. 2017. "A Web-Based Tool for Energy Balance Estimation in Multiple-Crops Production Systems." Sustainability 9, no. 5: 789.
Machinery cost is the major cost item in farm businesses in highly mechanized production systems. Moreover, in the last years, high power machines, advanced technologies, higher cost for spare parts and repairing, and fuel consumption contributed to an even more higher increase of the machinery costs. Many engineering and economic methodological approaches have been implemented to calculate machinery use and cost, but they are almost confined in scientific and technical documentations making it difficult for a farmer to apply these approaches for deciding on buying, leasing, or sharing agricultural machinery. Information and communications technology (ICT) has an increasingly important role on business processes and provides a powerful foundation to address many daily problems. Today users want to be connected to useful information in real time. To that effect, the aim of this work was to develop an easy-to-use mobile application, called “AMACA” (Agricultural Machine App Cost Analysis) for determining the machinery cost in different field operations and making it available via a web mobile application using a cross-platform approach. The customer-driven Quality Function Deployment [QFD] approach was implemented in order to link the user expectations with the design characteristics of the app. The AMACA app is free, readily available, and does not require any installation on the end user’s device. It is a cross-platform application meaning that it operates on any device through a web interface and is supported by various browsers. The user can make subsequent calculations by varying the input parameters (fuel price, interest rate, field capacity, tractor power, etc.) and compare the results in a sensitivity analysis basis. AMACA app can support the decisions on whether to purchase a new equipment/tractor (strategic level), the use of own machinery or to hire a service, and also to select the economical appropriate cultivation system (tactical level).
Alessandro Sopegno; Angela Calvo; Remigio Berruto; Patrizia Busato; Dionysis Bocthis. A web mobile application for agricultural machinery cost analysis. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 2016, 130, 158 -168.
AMA StyleAlessandro Sopegno, Angela Calvo, Remigio Berruto, Patrizia Busato, Dionysis Bocthis. A web mobile application for agricultural machinery cost analysis. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 2016; 130 ():158-168.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Sopegno; Angela Calvo; Remigio Berruto; Patrizia Busato; Dionysis Bocthis. 2016. "A web mobile application for agricultural machinery cost analysis." Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 130, no. : 158-168.
Capacity planning in agricultural field operations needs to give consideration to the operational system design which involves the selection and dimensioning of production components, such as machinery and equipment. Capacity planning models currently onstream are generally based on average norm data and not on specific farm data which may vary from year to year. In this paper a model is presented for predicting the cost of in-field and transport operations for multiple-field and multiple-crop production systems. A case study from a real production system is presented in order to demonstrate the model’s functionalities and its sensitivity to parameters known to be somewhat imprecise. It was shown that the proposed model can provide operation cost predictions for complex cropping systems where labor and machinery are shared between the various operations which can be individually formulated for each individual crop. By so doing, the model can be used as a decision support system at the strategic level of management of agricultural production systems and specifically for the mid-term design process of systems in terms of labor/machinery and crop selection conforming to the criterion of profitability.
Alessandro Sopegno; Patrizia Busato; Remigio Berruto; Thiago Libório Romanelli. A cost prediction model for machine operation in multi-field production systems. Scientia Agricola 2016, 73, 397 -405.
AMA StyleAlessandro Sopegno, Patrizia Busato, Remigio Berruto, Thiago Libório Romanelli. A cost prediction model for machine operation in multi-field production systems. Scientia Agricola. 2016; 73 (5):397-405.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Sopegno; Patrizia Busato; Remigio Berruto; Thiago Libório Romanelli. 2016. "A cost prediction model for machine operation in multi-field production systems." Scientia Agricola 73, no. 5: 397-405.
A computational tool is developed for the estimation of the energy requirements of Miscanthus x giganteus on individual fields that includes a detailed analysis and account of the involved in-field and transport operations. The tool takes into account all the individual involved in-field and transport operations and provides a detailed analysis on the energy requirements of the components that contribute to the energy input. A basic scenario was implemented to demonstrate the capabilities of the tool. Specifically, the variability of the energy requirements as a function of field area and field-storage distance changes was shown. The field-storage distance highly affects the energy requirements resulting in a variation in the efficiency if energy (output/input ratio) from 15.8 up to 23.7 for the targeted cases. Not only the field-distance highly affects the energy requirements but also the biomass transportation system. Based on the presented example, different transportation systems adhering to the same configuration of the production system creates variation in the efficiency of energy (EoE) between 12.9 and 17.5. The presented tool provides individualized results that can be used for the processes of designing or evaluating a specific production system since the outcomes are not based on average norms.
Alessandro Sopegno; Efthymios Rodias; Dionysis Bochtis; Patrizia Busato; Remigio Berruto; Valter Boero; Claus Grøn Sørensen. Model for Energy Analysis of Miscanthus Production and Transportation. Energies 2016, 9, 392 .
AMA StyleAlessandro Sopegno, Efthymios Rodias, Dionysis Bochtis, Patrizia Busato, Remigio Berruto, Valter Boero, Claus Grøn Sørensen. Model for Energy Analysis of Miscanthus Production and Transportation. Energies. 2016; 9 (6):392.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Sopegno; Efthymios Rodias; Dionysis Bochtis; Patrizia Busato; Remigio Berruto; Valter Boero; Claus Grøn Sørensen. 2016. "Model for Energy Analysis of Miscanthus Production and Transportation." Energies 9, no. 6: 392.
The purpose of this work is to promote the sustainable production of renewable energy from the biogas obtained from agrifood waste in small‐scale concepts for pursuing energy self‐sufficiency. Stakeholders were interviewed and two different questionnaires were offered: the first for agrifood industries, the second for biogas plants and component providers. Information obtained was elaborated to have a view of wastage amounts in agrifood sector and get information of available small‐scale biogas plants. Obtained data were used in different project phases: for Smallbiogas calibration (a web application to facilitate small‐scale biogas plant business plan setup), plant models calibration and to write Biogas3 Handbook. The activities of this work were based on Biogas3 project, co‐funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Union Contract N° IEE‐13‐477.
Remigio Berruto; Valter Boero; Patrizia Busato; Angela Calvo; Alessandro Sopegno; Lorenzo Venudo; Daniele Rossi; Paz Gómez; Begoña Ruiz; Małgorzata Kachniarz. Biogas3: Sustainable and Economical Production of Biogas from Food Waste of European Agrifood Industry. 2015, 1 .
AMA StyleRemigio Berruto, Valter Boero, Patrizia Busato, Angela Calvo, Alessandro Sopegno, Lorenzo Venudo, Daniele Rossi, Paz Gómez, Begoña Ruiz, Małgorzata Kachniarz. Biogas3: Sustainable and Economical Production of Biogas from Food Waste of European Agrifood Industry. . 2015; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRemigio Berruto; Valter Boero; Patrizia Busato; Angela Calvo; Alessandro Sopegno; Lorenzo Venudo; Daniele Rossi; Paz Gómez; Begoña Ruiz; Małgorzata Kachniarz. 2015. "Biogas3: Sustainable and Economical Production of Biogas from Food Waste of European Agrifood Industry." , no. : 1.