SUSTAIN-6G contributes two chapters to new Springer book on Digital Sustainability
The Springer book Digital Sustainability: Legislations, Standards, Solutions and Related Case Studies, edited by Christophe Gaie and Markus Mueck, has been published as part of the Advances in Sustainability Science and Technology (ASST) series.
The book investigates strategies for integrating sustainability objectives into the design and operation of digital systems. It also provides an in-depth analysis of emerging technologies, including sixth generation (6G) mobile communication networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), and serves as a reference for engineers, product designers and commercial stakeholders.
Among its contributions, SUSTAIN-6G has led two chapters addressing sustainability challenges and opportunities in future communication systems and Artificial Intelligence.
Sustainability in the context of 6G
The chapter A Case Study: Sustainability in the Context of 6th Generation Mobile Communication Systems examines sustainability in next-generation wireless communication networks through the lens of the three well-established sustainability pillars: environmental, social and economic sustainability.
The authors advocate a sustainable-by-design approach, highlighting how these three dimensions span ecological impacts, operational costs, business opportunities and the societal acceptance of new technologies, also echoing SUSTAIN-6G mission and objectives. The chapter also explores the dual role of 6G, both as part of the sustainability challenge, requiring the design of Sustainable 6G systems, and as part of the solution through 6G-enabled sustainable applications.
Adopting a value-oriented perspective that goes beyond performance metrics, the chapter presents the technological advances expected across different network segments and concludes with an overview of standardisation and regulatory aspects, discussing how sustainability considerations can be incorporated into future regulations.
The chapter was authored by Mattia Merluzzi, Luigi Briguglio, Serge Bories, Gilles Callebaut, Emilio Calvanese Strinati, Lucas Pereira Carwile, Emma Complido, Chaima Ghribi, Bahare Masood Khorsandi, Marja Matinmikko-Blue, Davide Montagno Bozzone, Hosein Nikopour, Carmela Occhipinti, Chathura Sarathchandra, Lars Christoph Schmelz and Emanuela Tangari.
Sustainability challenges and opportunities of AI
The second chapter, Artificial Intelligence: Sustainability Challenges, Opportunities, and the Case of 6G, focuses on the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in modern society and its implications for sustainability.
The chapter discusses both the opportunities and the challenges associated with AI, ranging from the environmental impact of data centres to economic and social considerations. It provides an overview of sustainability across the environmental, social and economic pillars while introducing the principles of Responsible AI.
A particular emphasis is placed on where AI processing should be hosted, including discussions on cloud data centres and edge computing. Building on the previous chapter, the authors also examine the role of AI within future 6G networks, where AI acts both as an enabling technology and as a technology enabled by 6G, with a specific focus on sustainability aspects.
The chapter was authored by Mattia Merluzzi, Luigi Briguglio, Serge Bories, David Brayford, Gilles Callebaut, Emilio Calvanese Strinati, Lucas Pereira Carwile, Emma Complido, Tim Dykes, Olivier Forceville, Chaima Ghribi, Utz-Uwe Haus, Bahare M. Khorsandi, Wei Mao, Marja Matinmikko-Blue, Davide Montagno Bozzone, Hosein Nikopour, Carmela Occhipinti, Chathura Sarathchandra, Lars Christoph Schmelz, Omid Semiari, Emanuela Tangari, Lili Wei and Shu-Ping Yeh.
These two chapters reflect the collaborative research carried out within SUSTAIN-6G and contribute to the wider discussion on designing sustainable digital technologies, responsible AI and future 6G communication systems.
Read the full book here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-92-0458-8
