Kyle F. Byard

Date of Award

3-1995

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

First Advisor

David Robinson, PhD

Abstract

Environmental managers must compare the potential impacts of waste products when deciding upon courses of action. The estimation and comparison of these impacts is a subjective process, and few methods of comprehensive, quantitative comparison of waste products currently exist. The intent of this study is to develop a decision methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts of waste products and to score them for comparison. The method will follow established system design principles and incorporate significant characteristics of the waste material. Scores derived to represent the environmental impacts of materials will then he analyzed employing statistical and probabilistic methods to assess decision risk and the need for more precise information. As an example of the method's use, it and traditional Environmental assessment (EA) methods are used to evaluate the replacement of the AIM-9 air-to-air missile with a thermoplastic missile. Environmental Assessments of missile production, operations and maintenance, and retirement are presented. Both evaluation methods determine the thermoplastic missile to have a less negative impact than the AIM-9 in all stages. The decision methodology allows for better standardization of the analysis, quantification of the impacts, and sensitivity analysis of the characteristics of the waste materials.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GEE-ENY-95M-01

DTIC Accession Number

ADA293824

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