Independent International Research Project. Participate in a global social experiment.

CIVILIZATION EFFICIENCY INDEX

PILOT STUDIES

As part of testing and implementing the Civilization Efficiency Index theory, we chose a range of unrelated studies from different fields globally, each tackling issues of vastly different scopes.

The group includes both studies that influence one of the 10 global indices forming the CEI (with the aim of increasing transparency and trust in these indices through tracking mechanisms and research trajectories) and studies that may be referenced in future documents by organizations compiling these indices.

The second goal emphasizes proactive work, initiating local and global campaigns using the CEI_Mind system. To activate the mechanism for converting scientific data into action, supervisory and expert councils from relevant NGOs and activists worldwide are currently being formed for each study.

Here you’ll find details on various pilot campaigns worldwide, grounded in research and advancing the objectives of the CEI and the TRL system. The list of organizations joining the Supervisory and Expert Councils will be updated regularly.



Research_1. Reshaping cyclist mobility:
Understanding the impact of autonomous vehicles on urban bicycle users.

Territorial emphasis: Canada/Montréal, Sweden/Linköping, Norway/Stavanger, Global

Authors

Alexander Gaio
Department of Geography | Trinity College, Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland

https://alex.gaio.me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaioism
TRL Database

Dr. Federico Cugurullo
Assistant Professor in Smart and Sustainable Urbanism | Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Links:
DOI
CEI_system

Phase 1: Formation of Supervisory and Expert Board from Cycling Organizations.

To engage regulatory bodies and urban planners to recognize the need for clear communication standards between AVs and cyclists.
Produce a briefing document summarizing the scientific findings and distribute it to city councils, transportation departments, and policy influencers.

Involve autonomous vehicle (AV) manufacturers, operators, and industry experts in the discussion from the to ensure that concerns are clearly communicated to those developing the technology
Encourage open channels for dialogue between AV developers and cycling organizations.

Develop public awareness campaigns highlighting the risks posed by AVs to cyclists and the importance of clear communication systems.

Expected timeframe for the formation of the supervisory and expert councils: Fall–Winter 2024/25.

Phase 2: Roundtable and Development of Joint Safety Solutions.

Preliminary Goal: “Launch a roundtable with automakers and our watchdogs and expert councils, and form criteria (develop a joint solution) to ensure safety based on the problem identified by the study.”

Expanded Objectives: Ensure representation from urban planners, traffic safety experts, and road infrastructure specialists.

Define clear communication protocols between AVs and cyclists: Establish standards for how AVs should signal their intentions to cyclists, including braking, turning, and lane changes.

Organizations or profile subdivisions of organizations included in the supervisory board for this study:


Forming. Expected timeframe for this stage: Fall-Winter 2024/25



Research_2. Integrating human rights in the sustainability governance of global supply chains:
Exploring the deforestation-land tenure nexus.

Territorial emphasis: Brazil, Amazonia; European Union; Global

Authors

Prof. Dr. Almut Schilling-Vacaflor del Carpio
Chair of International Business, Society and Sustainability, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, School of Business, Economics and Society, Findelgasse, Nürnberg , Germany

Maria-Therese Gustafsson
Stockholm University, Department of Political Science, Stockholm, Sweden

Links:
DOI
CEI_system

Phase 1: Formation of a supervisory board of relevant organizations, focused on land rights, environmental sustainability, and indigenous rights. Involve activists from these organizations to address the deforestation-land tenure nexus.

Expected timeframe for the formation of the supervisory and expert councils: Fall–Winter 2024/25.

Phase 2: Mobilize companies and supply chain actors to adopt stricter criteria for deforestation products. Push for stronger corporate accountability by embedding these criteria in sustainability certifications and regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance across global supply chains.

Organizations or profile subdivisions of organizations included in the supervisory board for this study:


Forming. Expected timeframe for this stage: Fall-Winter 2024/25



Research_3. An ethical framework for human-robot collaboration for the future people-centric manufacturing:
A collaborative endeavour with European subject-matter experts in ethics.

Territorial emphasis: Global

Authors

Dr. Tiziana C. Callari
Senior Research Associate in Systems Ergonomics for Collaborative Robotics, School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Intelligent Automation Research Group, Loughborough University, United Kingdom

Riccardo Vecellio Segate
Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, School of Science and Engineering & School of Law, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

Ella-Mae Hubbard,
Intelligent Automation Centre, Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom

Angela Daly,
Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, School of Science and Engineering & School of Law, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom

Niels Lohse,
Intelligent Automation Centre, Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Links:
DOI
CEI_system

Phase 1: Formation of a supervisory board of relevant organizations, such as labor unions, worker safety advocacy groups, and AI ethics organizations. Involve experts and activists in the discussion around the ethical implications of human-robot collaboration in manufacturing.

Expected timeframe for the formation of the supervisory and expert councils: Fall–Winter 2024/25.

Phase 2:
Mobilize manufacturing companies to adopt stricter ethical guidelines for human-robot collaboration. These guidelines should integrate principles of safety, liability, and human dignity, and ensure compliance with data protection regulations (GDPR) and fairness in AI/ML algorithms. Push for accountability mechanisms in corporate governance that monitor adherence to these ethical principles.

Organizations or profile subdivisions of organizations included in the supervisory board for this study:


Forming. Expected timeframe for this stage: Fall-Winter 2024/25



Research_4. International spillover effects in the EU’s textile supply chains:
A global SDG assessment.

Territorial emphasis: European Union, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Portugal

Authors

Prof. Arunima Malik
Associate Professor in Sustainability in the Integrated Sustainability Analysis group at the School of Physics and in the Discipline of Accounting, Governance & Regulation at the Business School
The University of Sydney, ISA, School of Physics, Australia
The University of Sydney, Discipline of Accounting, Sydney Business School, Australia

Guillaume Lafortune
UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Vice President and Head of the Paris Office SDSN Leadership, Paris Office, France

Sarah Carter
The University of Sydney, Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, NSW, 2006, Australia

Mengyu Li
The University of Sydney, ISA, School of Physics, NSW, 2006, Australia

Manfred Lenzen
Professor of Sustainability Research, ISA, School of Physics, The University of Sydney

Christian Kroll
SDG Index & Dashboards, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Berlin, Germany

Links:
DOI
CEI_system

Phase 1: Formation of a supervisory board consisting of relevant organizations focused on occupational health and safety, labor rights, and sustainability in global supply chains.

Expected timeframe for the formation of the supervisory and expert councils: Fall–Winter 2024/25.

Phase 2: Mobilize textile companies and supply chain actors within the EU to adopt stricter occupational safety standards. Advocate for the integration of these safety standards into corporate practices through collaboration, public campaigns, and pressure from labor rights organizations. Push for stronger accountability measures in EU policies, ensuring countries with high accident rates take actionable steps to improve conditions in global supply chains.

Organizations or profile subdivisions of organizations included in the supervisory board for this study:


Forming. Expected timeframe for this stage: Fall-Winter 2024/25



Research_5. Human rights at sea:
The limits of inter-state cooperation in addressing forced labour on fishing vessels.

Territorial emphasis: ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations)

Authors

Rebecca Strating
Politics and International Relations at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

Sunil Rao
Modern Slavery Initiative, Melbourne, Australia

http://www.modernslaveryinitiative.com/
Linkedin

Sallie Yea
Human Geography and Tracey Banivanua Mar Fellow at La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga, Australia

Links:
DOI
CEI_system

Phase 1: Formation of a supervisory board involving human rights organizations, legal advocacy groups, and NGOs focused on labor rights and maritime issues. Involve activists and experts in addressing the challenges of forced labor on fishing vessels, specifically focusing on the limitations of inter-state cooperation.

Expected timeframe for the formation of the supervisory and expert councils: Fall–Winter 2024/25.

Phase 2: Pressure regional governments and maritime industry actors to enhance enforcement of human rights standards at sea. Collaborate with human rights organizations to raise awareness and exert public pressure for more effective use of legal treaties in prosecuting forced labor cases, and advocate for simplified diplomatic channels to streamline cooperation between states.
Highlight gaps in legal cooperation and propose improvements in transparency and diplomatic coordination.

Organizations or profile subdivisions of organizations included in the supervisory board for this study:


Forming. Expected timeframe for this stage: Fall-Winter 24/25



Research_6. Status Assessment of New Zealand’s Naturally Uncommon Ecosystems.

Territorial emphasis: New Zealand

Authors

Robert J Holdaway
Dept of Ecosystems & Global Change Landcare research Crown Research Institute New Zealand

Susan K. Wiser
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research · Ecosystems and Global Change Team Landcare Research, New Zealand

Peter A.Williams
Research Associate – Emeritus Biocontrol & Molecular Ecology, New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute, New Zealand

Links:
DOI
CEI_system

Phase 1: Formation of a supervisory board consisting of conservation organizations, biodiversity experts, and ecological NGOs. Involve activists and conservationists in addressing of New Zealand’s ecosystems.

Identification of priorities: Leverage the IUCN Red List criteria to identify conservation priorities, focusing on ecosystems that are critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable. Highlight ecosystems with high rates of endemic species, emphasizing the urgency of preserving those most at risk of elimination.

Expected timeframe for the formation of the supervisory and expert councils: Fall–Winter 2024/25.

Phase 2: Collaborate with conservation groups, government agencies, and local communities to initiate targeted preservation actions. Advocate for stricter protections and funding for the conservation of critical ecosystems through public campaigns, research dissemination, and lobbying efforts aimed at influencing New Zealand’s environmental policies.

Organizations or profile subdivisions of organizations included in the supervisory board for this study:


Forming. Expected timeframe for this stage: Fall-Winter 24/25