Engineering For Sustainable Development (theory And Practice)

AN AUTHORITATIVE AND COMPLETE GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING

In Engineering for Sustainable Development: Theory and Practice, a team of distinguished academics deliver a comprehensive, education-focused discussion on sustainable engineering, bridging the gap between theory and practice by drawing upon illuminating case studies and the latest cutting-edge research. In the book, readers will find an introduction to the sustainable development agenda and sustainable technology development, as well as practical methods and tools for the development and implementation of sustainable engineering solutions. The book highlights the critical role of engineers and the engineering profession in providing sustainability leadership as well as important future-focused solutions to support engineering global sustainable development.

The book offers a wide range of civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering industry applications. Readers will also benefit from:

• A thorough introduction to contemporary sustainability challenges in the engineering discipline
• Comprehensive discussions of sustainability assessment tools, including triple bottom line assessment (TBL) and the environmental life cycle assessment (LCA)
• In-depth examinations of sustainable engineering strategies, including cleaner production and eco-efficiency methods and environmental management systems
• Detailed review of green engineering principles and industrial symbiosis in engineering application.
• A link between product stewardship and the design for the environment

Perfect for graduate and senior undergraduate students in any engineering discipline, Engineering for Sustainable Development: Theory and Practice will also earn a place in the libraries of consultants and engineers in industry and government with a personal or professional interest in sustainability management.

Preface xv

Part I Challenges in Sustainable Engineering 1

1 Sustainability Challenges 3

1.1 Introduction 3

1.2 Weak Sustainability vs Strong Sustainability 6

1.3 Utility vs Throughput 8

1.4 Relative Scarcity vs Absolute Scarcity 10

1.5 Global/International Sustainability Agenda 10

1.6 Engineering Sustainability 12

1.7 IPAT 19

1.8 Environmental Kuznets Curves 20

1.9 Impact of Engineering Innovation on Earth’s Carrying Capacity 21

1.10 Engineering Challenges in Reducing Ecological Footprint 22

1.11 Sustainability Implications of Engineering Design 24

1.12 Engineering Catastrophes 27

1.13 Existential Risks from Engineering Activities in the Twenty-First Century 30

1.13.1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) 30

1.13.2 Green Technologies 32

1.14 TheWay Forward 34

References 35

Part II Sustainability Assessment Tools 41

2 Quantifying Sustainability – Triple Bottom Line Assessment 43

2.1 Introduction 43

2.2 Triple Bottom Line 44

2.2.1 The Economic Bottom Line 44

2.2.2 Environmental Bottom Line 44

2.2.3 The Social Bottom Line 45

2.3 Characteristics of Indicators 46

2.4 How Do You Develop an Indicator? 47

2.5 Selection of Indicators 48

2.6 Participatory Approaches in Indicator Development 48

2.7 Description of Steps for Indicator Development 49

2.7.1 Step 1: Preliminary Selection of Indicators 49

2.7.2 Step 2: Questionnaire Design and Development 49

2.7.3 Step 3: Online Survey Development 49

2.7.4 Step 4: Participant Selection 49

2.7.5 Step 5: Final Selection of Indicators and Calculation of Their Weights 50

2.8 Sustainability Assessment Framework 5