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).
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.
