International Journal of Environmental Science and Development

Abstract—In recent years, global warming and the greenhouse effect have created environmental issues around the world. Carbon footprint refers to the product, service or an event in a life cycle that is a result of human activity or which increases the global release of all greenhouse gases. Carbon footprint calculations allow enterprises to reduce carbon emissions and to improve product manufacturing processes. Many countries are actively expanding carbon footprint-related policies and studies. This study calculates the carbon footprint for a debris flow disaster. A FLO-2D is used to simulate a scenario and the resulting deposition depth, flow velocity and the affected area are determined. A life-cycle assessment method is then used to estimate the carbon footprint of reconstruction projects in Daniau Community in Taitung, Taiwan due to the debris flow that was induced by Typhoon Morakot. This study establishes an assessment model for the carbon footprint that can be used to assist future disaster reconstruction works.

Index Terms—Carbon footprint, debris flow disaster, FLO-2D model, scenario simulation.

S. H. Peng is with the Spatial Design Department, Chienkuo Technology University, Changhua City 500, Taiwan (e-mail: shpeng@ctu.edu.tw).

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Cite: Peng Szu-Hsien, "The Estimation of a Carbon Footprint for a Debris Flow Disaster — A Case Study in Daniau Community in Taitung, Taiwan," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 115-120, 2018.