Role of an engineer in solving global issues

Shalindri D.

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Role of an engineer in solving global issues

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Abstract

This report emphasizes the role of an engineer in solving three major global issues, which are excessive demand for global energy production, limited natural resources of the planet and exponentially growing environmental pollution. An engineer's role in solving the global issues addressed is to extend engineering designs according to available global resources, make designs socially and economically feasible and design for a sustainable future. A conclusion reached upon discussion is that an engineer holds a remarkable responsibility toward the world's present as well as the future well being. Therefore, some of the recommendations to future engineers and higher education institutes are educating new engineers in the fields of renewable energy sources and their applications, encouraging research and funding in to fields that are crucial to the global economy, society and the environment at present

Introduction
Role of an engineer in solving major global issues
What are current global issues?
1. Excessive demand for global energy production
2. Limited natural resources
3. Environmental pollution
Role of an engineer
1. Extend designs with respect to global resource availability
2. Design to accomplish socio-economic requirements
3. Design for a sustainable future
Conclusion
Recommendations
Bibliography

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[...] Role of an Engineer Extend Designs with respect to Global Resource Availability As introduced earlier, the excessive demand for world's energy production involves major roles that need to be played by engineers. The highest demand may be in one location and the resources maybe available in another. Therefore it is the engineers' duty to bring global resources hand in hand with the global demand for energy. Furthermore, we haven't completely run out of the world's supply of nonrenewable resources, as opposed to the commonly accepted belief ‘that they are'. [...]

[...] Successes and failures to embed socioeconomic dimensions in integrated natural resource management modeling. Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, volume 78, p Retrieved February 16th 2009 from EI Compendix Web database. Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the US Government (2004). Renewable Energy Trends. Retrieved February 16th 2009 from http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/trends/rentrends04.html Geoffrey P. H. (2004). Engineering Sustainability: thermodynamics, energy systems and the environment. International Journal of Energy Research. Volume 28, P.616. Retrieved February 16th 2009 from EI Compendix Web database. Lad, R. [...]

[...] Global Issues Excessive Demand for Global Energy Production The excessive demand for energy production in the world has reached its heights. The main source of energy at present, which is fossil fuel, has reached its peak according to King Hubert's prediction (Morrison p. 2). We are currently at the peak of the oil production curve and are rapidly moving towards the depletion of the current fossil fuel energy producing wells. Due to this increasing demand of energy production, alternate energy producing sources such as coal, natural gas and nuclear energy are in soaring demand as well. [...]

[...] The global economy comes in to play in these situations. It is the engineers' responsibility to determine whether international projects are economically feasible, nationally as well as globally. Also, whether they are cost effective on a long term basis, their consumer affordability and most importantly, whether these projects are building blocks of the national economy, which stimulate long term economic growth. Design for a Sustainable Future ‘Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs', or in other words, sustainability has become the major governing tool of modern engineering design. [...]

[...] Design to Accomplish Socioeconomic Requirements The role of an engineer in the field of socioeconomics is to recognize, understand and represent decision-making processes as well as social and economic impacts; which occur due to changes in the natural resource system including policy, management, climate variability, affordability and adaptability of products and economic viability. (Ekasingh B. & Letcher, R.A., July, 2008). The consumers of most engineering designs are the general public. Therefore it is crucial to consider sociological aspects involved with new technological designs, such as consumer satisfaction, appealing nature of the product, performance, reliability, capability of integrating with existing products and technologies, public safety and ease to adapt to and understand. [...]

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