Figure 3

Visual illustration of the conceptual framework. Note 1: The proposed framework maps sustainability contexts to conceptual sustainability boundaries. Apart from acting as windows of observation for sustainability boundaries, the dimensions also represent change mechanisms such as driving forces between consecutive states (shown by dashed arrows in the diagram). Some of these change mechanisms would lead to the co-creation of new sustainability states for the system. Such changing patterns in sustainability boundaries across time can be visualized as a spiral, which we refer to as a sustainability sphere. Note 2: Only four dimensions are shown to maintain the clarity of the picture. As illustrated, the changes triggered by the dimensions can hypothetically expand or contract the sustainability sphere. The figure shows three scenarios; i.e., contracting, constant, and expanding spheres over time.