Question

THIS IS AN ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY SUBJECT BUT I CHOOSE CIVIL ENGINEERING

You are required to come up with a significant engineering solution to address a sustainability challenge in Western Australia. Some key sustainability issues in Western Australia that are challenging for engineers to address include but are not limited to: Carbon emissions (reduce GHG emissions)

Question

1. Provide a summary of any one of the following improvement strategies to help solve the TBL problems associated with your sustainability challenge: Use Energy storage.

Answer 1

· 1)- Do the Project Right. The civil engineer shall actively engage stakeholders and secure public understanding and acceptance of a projects economic, environmental and social costs and benefits. To move toward conditions of sustainability, engineers must design and deliver projects that address sustainability holistically (from concept to demolition or reuse) rather than adding a variety of "green" features onto a conventional project.

· 2) Do the Right Project. A proposed project's economic, environmental and social effects on each of the communities served and affected must be assessed and understood by all stakeholders before there is a decision to proceed with a project. Consider non-structural as well as structural (built) solutions to the needs being addressed; and

These are following steps to achieve a sustainable project:

· Use Resources Wisely. Minimize Use of Non Renewable Resources. Sustainable development shall include progressive reductions in resource use for a given level of service and resiliency. The feasibility of restoration, or return of depleted resources, shall be evaluated by the civil engineer;

· Plan for Resiliency. Sustainability requires planning for the impact natural and man-made disasters and changing conditions can have on economic, environmental, and social resources; and

· Validate Application of Principles. Civil engineers must guide project development and validate the application of these principles by using metrics and rating tools such as the EnvisionTM Rating System for sustainable infrastructure.

· Perform Life Cycle Assessment from Planning to Reuse. Project participants should use rigorous life cycle methodologies that quantify the economic, environmental and social effects of the project;

·

ISSUE

Environmental, economic, social and technological development must be seen as interdependent and complementary concepts, where economic competitiveness and ecological sustainability are complementary aspects of the common goal of improving the quality of life.

RATIONALE

Civil engineers have a leading role in planning, designing, building, and ensuring a sustainable future by providing the bridge between science and society. In this role, engineers must actively promote and participate in multidisciplinary teams with other professionals, such as ecologists, economists, and sociologists, and work with the communities served and affected to effectively address the issues and challenges of sustainable development.