Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%. In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career. Industry, a major consumer of resources and producer of pollutants, is undergoing a technological revolution created by the fusion of information technology, mobile technology, ubiquitous sensors and artificial intelligence. Various names given to this phenomenon are cyber-physical systems, internet of things, or the fourth industrial revolution. Business and governments are looking to this paradigm change to reduce costs, guarantee quality, shorten times to market and promote economic growth. There is also an opportunity to build environmental awareness directly into the underpinning infrastructure of this future industrial landscape while it is still in the early stages of development. The aim of this PhD project will be to advance this vision by understanding the potential of current and near future technology such as sensors, machine vision and autonomous asset tracking for quantifying environmental impact. These devices and systems form the interface between the real world and the information processing elements of a cyber-physical system. The student will assess the state of the art of this interface technology, identify what are the gaps in capability and construct demonstrators to test what can be achieved in automated environmental impact assessment. The work will build on and contribute to existing activity in the Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing and Recycling Technology (SMART) at Loughborough University, including on energy consumption, on water consumption and effluent production monitoring, and on modelling of industrial production systems and supply chains. The student will assess the state of the art of the interface technology and construct demonstrators to test what can be achieved in automated environmental impact assessment.