Pervasive computing for decision support systems in the context of green ICT

Abstract

During the last few decades, Decision Support Systems (DSS) have shifted from a theoretical concept to a practical matter essential for most organizational and business processes. Along with Pervasive Computing, DSS becomes an indispensable tool for solving fuzzy and ambiguous problems, such as Green Information & Communication Technology (Green ICT) and sustainability issues. DSS helps Green ICT to reach its goal, i.e. to minimize the negative impact of ICT and to increase people’s awareness about this question. The current master thesis research focuses on a particular sustainability problem which can be solved with the application of DSS, and as a study case, the smart waste management case was chosen. The main idea of the project is to link together citizens, garbage truck drivers’ coordinator and drivers themselves, using DSS as a tool for choosing the optimal route for garbage collection based on the various influential factors, such as truck capacity, distance between garbage bins and garbage collection cost. As soon as the trash bin is full, a special bin sensor sends a signal to the system. The system collects all the notifications from the bins, and shows them on the driver’s map, proposing the route to follow for the garbage collection. Within the Design Science framework, a DSS described above is developed and modeled in order to increase the effectiveness of municipal waste management.