Improving Prediction Accuracy of Socio-Human Relationships in a Small-Scale Desalination Plant

Abstract

This study examines who are the social actors in coordinating the environmental hot spots along the process of desalination. The integrated model design of life cycle modeling and Social Network Analysis is evaluated holistically by the inventory of life cycle and actor engagement ratings. Instances of the first small-scale reverse osmosis desalination plant project in Kelantan, Malaysia were used to meet the demands of this study. Environmental performance is measured through the Eco-Indicator 99 method in the Life Cycle Assessment Principles. Meanwhile, the network analysis of the actors’ networks involves stakeholders visualized through the UCINET software. The results show three hotspot points of membrane and brine disposal, the use of electrical energy, and the use of chemicals. The results acknowledged that 87 percent of the actors’ involvement from the dominant stakeholder group has been in control of the management and of the aforementioned hotspot. Undoubtedly, the results of this study can provide a better understanding of the potential market of actors to work with a more accurate and polycentric information flow for the development of more established desalination systems. This intriguing research will require further exploration in future studies.