Smart Residual Biomass Supply Chain: A Digital Tool to Boost Energy Potential Recovery and Mitigate Rural Fire Risk

Tiago Bastos (), Leonel J. R. Nunes and Leonor Teixeira
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Tiago Bastos: DEGEIT, Departamento de Economia, Gestão, Engenharia Industrial e Turismo, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Leonel J. R. Nunes: DEGEIT, Departamento de Economia, Gestão, Engenharia Industrial e Turismo, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Leonor Teixeira: DEGEIT, Departamento de Economia, Gestão, Engenharia Industrial e Turismo, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: Agroforestry landscape has undergone changes, namely land abandonment, which when combined with negative attitudes towards fire, is associated with the eradication of agroforestry leftovers and acts towards the proliferation of fires, threatening sustainability concerns. Agroforestry leftovers recovery presents high potential to act on this problem; however, the logistical costs associated with the recovery chain make it unfeasible. The lack of coordination/transparency between stakeholders is one of the main explanations for these costs. This study develops a digital tool to enhance the residual biomass supply chain for energy recovery and fire risk mitigation. In addition to this concept, this work also proposes conceptual models and a prototype, two essential contributions to software development. Methodologically, this study consulted 10 experts to validate a concept previously presented in the literature, supplemented with UML modeling and prototyping with Figma ® . The main results point to the creation of a disruptive concept that will allow access to information/transparency about agroforestry services, with the goal that this will improve the functioning of the RBSC, resulting in a reduction in fire risk and, consequently, improvements in sustainability concerns associated with this hazard.

Keywords: sustainability development; fire hazards; residual biomass supply chain; renewable energy; circular economy; information systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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