SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING

Structural and Civil Engineers are entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and enhance the global quality of life. Engineers serve competently, collaboratively, and ethically as:

planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society
stewards of the natural environment and its resources;
innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public, private and academic sectors;
managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents, and other threats;
Leaders in discussions and decisions.

Reasons why construction can have a direct impact on the environment:

Generation of waste materials
Emissions from vehicles, machineries
Noise pollution due to construction machineries
Release of wastes and pollutants into water, ground and atmosphere.

Sustainable Development focuses on meeting the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It was born from concerns about population growth beyond the carrying capacity of the planet and the environmental impact of rapidly growing populations.

Environmental Impact is a result of three factors: Extraction, use, and disposal of natural resources.

Consequently, sustainable development emphasises reduction of the environmental impact because, such reduction:

slows depletion of resources;
reduces pollution by slowing the flow of energy and matter in the environment;
saves money

Our sustainability objectives, project scopes and potential solutions must be fully considered, to establish potential for added value through introduction of sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. Often these benefits can be introduced at very little, if any, added cost.

1. People

Creative land planning and development to minimize negative environmental impacts
Helping establish local organisations that can provide the necessary infrastructure in built up areas.
Providing treatment facilities and distribution systems for potable water as part of clean-up operations.
Design of energy efficient replacement housing and commercial buildings.
Developing replacement streets, utility lines, public transportation and other infrastructure to meet new legislation
Using underground space for recreation and other uses
Creating high-quality treatments and systems for liquid, solid waste and potable water.
Reducing the risks of damage and loss of life from natural disasters e.g. flood, landslide.

2. Places

Treating and restoring old industrial waste sites, allowing for new sustainable development. This also helps minimises extent of greenfield development.
Replacement building and structures designed to meet high levels of energy efficiency.

3. Resources

Changing industrial processes to reduce the use of energy and other resources and to eliminate waste wherever possible
Considering the total input/output of operations over their complete lifecycles
Use of readily available, sustainable natural materials and products from reliably managed sources
Promote more environmentally-friendly materials such as timber, which is effectively carbon-neutral.
Use of artificial products such as manufactured sand (M-sand) which can be a greener alternative to river extraction and transportation.
Recycling materials which would otherwise be destined for landfill is another way of cutting CO2 emissions.
Use of recycled products and provision of recycling facilities
Rainwater harvesting

4. Nature

Water resource planning of all kinds including dams, irrigation systems and wells
Agricultural engineering in land reclamation, drainage and improved farm operations
Improved land planning to protect the best farmland and natural resources from the impact of urban sprawl

5. Climate Change

Water re-use
Walking. Cycling, public transport
Flood control measures and SUDS
Use prefabricated components which are manufactured offsite in a controlled environment. This helps to cut down on the time spent on the actual construction site, reducing noise and CO2 emissions.
Green engineering also involves being more aware of, and cutting down on, emissions during the process; for example, with the use of plant and machinery. One method of achieving this is by sourcing materials locally, which will cut down on transportation distances.

6. Minimising Waste

Improving ways to recycle and reuse domestic waste
Designing better solid waste collection and storage facilities
Improving methods to collect and reuse construction materials
Improve treatment facilities for urban organic waste and human waste so that the treated fluids and solids may be used safely for agriculture and other purposes.
Recovering, reusing and remanufacturing products from resource development and industrial processing