@article{10272/24914,
year = {2013},
month = {4},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10272/24914},
abstract = {The ecological footprint (EF) method represents the suitability of a given population on the carrying
capacity of the total system. It was developed in order to measure the relationship between nature and
humans, being supported on the premise that each individual requires a surface area that provides goods
and services essential to life. In this article only in EF for universities is studied, but most of the underlying
concepts and methods are valid for any other human activity for which EF may be applied.
In this study an uncertainty analysis of EF of universities is made. This is, to the authors’ knowledge,
the first time such a study is published on the subject. The intention is to demonstrate the usefulness
of uncertainty analysis in the evaluation of results, inter-comparability, and on communication of EF
outcomes.
Results showed that EF model uncertainties have large impact on EF estimates, in particular in what
regards the decision about accounting or not the contribution of key parameters. Inclusion or not of very
sensitive parameters, for which there is also high uncertainty, in the estimation of EF may have a strong
impact on the estimated values and also in the inter-comparability of EF estimates. This is the case of
mobility.
Uncertainty analysis, by studying model uncertainty, parameter uncertainty and variability, can
provide a robust framework for the inter-comparison of ecological footprints of universities. In fact,
the method may prove useful for the assessment of ecological footprints of any kind.},
organization = {This work was financed by project INTERREG – I2TEP:
Portugal–Spain, POCTEP/FEDER 2007–2013.},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {Environmental assessment},
title = {Framework for the inter-comparison of ecological footprint of universities},
doi = {doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.04.007},
author = {Nunes, L. M. and Catarino, A. and Ribau Teixeira, M. and Moreno Cuesta, Eduardo},
}