24-09-2012, 03:58 PM
Engineering in Environmental and Technological Contexts
Engineering in Environmental.pptx (Size: 54.22 KB / Downloads: 58)
Role of Engineers
Engineers are designers who use scientific
principles to optimize their design.
• Engineers can use systematic, objective
engineering analysis and design techniques.
• Engineers are innovators.
• Engineer have the much potential to impact
global sustainability through the product and
processes designed.
• Engineers are charged to be “dedicated to the
protection of the public health, safety, and
welfare.”
Environmental impacts of engineering decisions
The job of the engineer is the world - making it habitable, enabling it to support human life.
Engineering is concerned with the built environment around us, at the present time and in the future; where it will continue to evolve, with new technologies and innovation being discovered.
Different demands on the next generation of engineers:
Loss of ecosystem services – Environmental
Different energy scenario – Energy
Water availability problems – Water resources
Globalization – Different Economics
How the engineering decisions affect for environment.
Any construction work that occurs anywhere in the world, will have a profound effect on the natural environment of both the site and the area around it.
E.g.
If you build a dam on a piece of land, a body of water will build up behind it to form a reservoir. Apart from the visual impact of the dam itself, a large area of land will be flooded and consequently many plants and possibly animals may be lost.
Some “Global "environmental concerns
Population growth, food production, water supply and energy supplies
Global warming (the greenhouse effect)
The depletion of the ozone layer
These problems have socio-political-economic as well as technological aspects…
All but the last are closely related to population growth...
Global Warming
Deforestation is thought to be the main cause of 'Global Warming'. If it is the civil engineer that is causing deforestation of some of the rainforest, then it could be construed that it is the engineer who is damaging the whole of the natural environment
Use of resource wasting and polluting technology by industries in the absence of regulatory mechanisms.
Over-exploitation of resources by those who have advanced technology in order to gain supernormal profits.
Excessive growth of fossil fuel powered vehicles
STRATEGIES TO MINIMIZE THE WORSE EFFECTON ENVIRONMENT BY ENGINEER’S DECISIONS
Introducing Environmentally Friendly Technologies.
Some fundamental principles are as follows:
The 4 R’S
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Replace the use of natural resources
Instead of end-of-pipe corrective measures, go for preventive measures
The 3 E’S In selecting technology consider Economic Feasibility, Endowment Rationality and Environment Sustainability