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The Framework of Sustainability for Engineering Design Considerations

March 06, 2008  |  from From the Top

Sorry for being "silent" these last couple of weeks. I have been traveling quite a bit. Today I delivered the opening address at the Society for Social Management Systems in Kochi, Japan.  I discussed the role of the engineer in sustainability considerations.  Sustainability is to ensure that all of the world's inhabitants are ensured food, shelter and sanitation—both now and in the future. It is practice of adequately meeting current needs while ensuring future needs will be adequately addressed.  Sustainable design is becoming the expected standard and not simply a "green thought".  The fundamental concepts of sustainability are environmental protection, economic growth, and social equity. Yet, these are concepts for which the engineer has not been trained.

Relative to economic considerations, the engineer should be evaluating the project cost that represents the best value from the perspective of achieving the project objectives. This requires the engineer to analyze life-cycle costs to determine the project’s total cost. It includes evaluating the environmental factors in the valuation of the assets and services. Environmental questions should include: how the project interacts with the natural environment, how proposed material or products might have potential future negative impacts.  In regard to social impacts, the engineer should be asking what the person next door thinks and how the project can best be integrated into the community. Will the health, diversity and values of the community be maintained or enhanced? Will the life expectancy of the selected materials or products be the same relative to the social expectation?

Sustainability requires the engineer to understand asset management. It is fact that projects will deteriorate over time and thus inspections, maintenance and operability are critical tasks that must be considered. Engineering will need to improve the durability of structures and reduce the need for maintenance, repair, strengthening or replacement. Structures will need to last longer and at the same time meet safety and functional requirements. Asset management calls for a comprehensive assessment of all costs: design, construction, operations; and maintenance-the life cycle cost analysis. 

Life cycle costing should be an inherent part of the design process. While particular designs, products or materials may be less expensive in the design and construction of today, the future costs may be significantly higher. Longevity depends on the application. It may impact future maintenance, repair and/or replacement costs.

In today's environment, the client is looking to the engineer to provide solutions that will not only be in the best interest of today, but will serve as a solution for the future. An engineer should be addressing sustainability, life cycle costing and asset management along with risk. Government must also take a major role if true sustainability of our infrastructure projects is to be achieved. One of the biggest challenges is providing information that can inform public. We must develop sustainable consciousness and engineers must play a major role.

 

Filed: Green-Construction