The emphasis on sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles as an all-embracing philosophy is increasing. Civil Engineering professionals have to adopt a broader view on what constitutes sustainability and adapt their approaches to provide solutions that satisfy sustainability prerequisites. Civil Engineers have to plan and develop sustainable solutions to provide for the needs of the human being and they also have to construct and maintain the facilities in harmony with the total environment. This is a huge challenge, since providing quality of life for current generations will have to take cognizance of the needs and requirements of future generations. These two requirements are not easily reconcilable since current aspirations and expectations may, in many instances, have to be tempered if the needs of future generations are to be taken into consideration. Ethical values based on sustainable development imperatives are currently of substantial importance. The Civil Engineer of today does not only deal with technical issues but has to assist and facilitate understanding and decisions made by communities. The advice given may even be unpopular but since these decisions affect the future, the engineer will fail their professional duty if they fail to inform and shape decisions regarding sustainability.
The major and most important emphasis in the process of providing infrastructure, products and other amenities for the human being, should be on the pre-constructionor pre-manufacturing phases, including feasibility studies, concepts and case studies to consider outcomes, alternative planning and design and material options. In any project, the past, the present and the future in terms of the total environment has to be considered carefully.
- This means that the investment in this phase of development would have to increase substantially.
- It would therefore also imply that communities and decision-makers would have to undergo a radical mind change to allow the engineering professionals both the time and the funding to give the necessary attention during these phases.
- It would mean that the public, governments and in particular private sector investors would have to get rid of their preoccupation with the instant gratification and immediate return on investment attitudes.
- Unless the engineering professionals are allowed to thoroughly investigate and plan, sustainability issues would be the first to suffer, since innovation would be stifled and old practices would continue due to a lack of time and money.
- It has been proved in many instances that if sustainability prerequisites are incorporated from day one, that the economic and environmental benefits far outstrip the investment in thorough planning.
- The human being has come to a point in time that he and she can no longer afford not to live in harmony with nature and the environment.
The Beyond Green Building Council President Krishnaji Pawar said: ‘Sustainable development is a journey and not a destination and it is the biggest challenge of the 21st century. Sustainable development is not about development that is sustainable, that is, ongoing, viable, feasible or continually growing. It is rooted in the simple concept of providing a better quality of life for all, now and for generations to come. It is a way of looking at all resources that can lead to a higher quality of life for the current generation without compromising that of future generations. This may mean that industry needs in some cases, to stop growing, or to grow in different ways. The next few decades for Civil Engineering will not be “business as usual”.’
Civil Engineering professionals in India are faced with the challenge of their own renaissance. They have to create innovative and sustainable approaches and technologies for the development of India. They have a golden opportunity to start from a new base, unlike the engineers of many so-called developed countries. In the case of the latter, many engineers now have to face the consequences of unbridled and often ill conceived developments and they are often unable to change these to conform to the prerequisites of sustainability.
The demands of the philosophy of sustainability can only be met if the principles of Sustainable Engineering are adhered to. This concept prescribes appropriate, affordable and sustainable engineering services and infrastructure within the local environment. It also necessitates the development and maintenance of indigenous scientific and technological skills and expertise, supported and facilitated by the key stakeholders, including government, private enterprise, academic and professional structures.
1. Individual capacity
Every professional in the engineering community has to develop and understand the sustainability principles and therefore be appropriately:
- Educated and trained;
- Informed and suitably equipped;
- Networked within the professional and environmental community.
2. Institutional capacity
Anefficient and supportive framework in which the individual could advance his or her skills and understanding and develop knowledge regarding sustainability would generally be made up of various voluntary and statutory organizations. These entities need to able to supply the needs of professionals as well as act as the custodians of standards and the interests of the public at large. This section deals with what could be called the ‘tools of the trade’ or the instruments that the individual, as well as the organized professions, industry, clients and employers, need to attend to or to procure and maintain the infrastructure. Key focus areas in each of the items as mentioned below would have to be sustainability, appropriateness, affordability, awareness, safety and health, fair and equitable labor practices.
Examples would include:
- professional organizations and societies;
- statutory registration boards/councils for the built environment
3. Technical capacity
- Specifications
- Standards
- Procurement documents, including General Conditions of Contract
- Codes of Practice
- Guidelines
- Codes of ethics and codes of practice
- Technical handbooks
- Software and hardware
- Technical information from research papers
- Legislation
4. Decision-making and community capacity
The communities and the decision-makers play a huge role in the development and maintenance of engineering infrastructure. In many places across the world even developed countries suffer heavily due to a lack of understanding of the role and the importance of infrastructure and how it should be approached and managed. In addition, the crucial role of the Built Environment Professions in providing infrastructure that conforms to sustainability criteria is not well understood. Empowerment of communities is essential. Target groups would have to include everyone, from young children to parents, as well as individual users of infrastructure to decision-makers at all levels of government and industry. The reality of applying the principles of sustainability in everyday life is the responsibility of all human beings.
The main means to reach out are programs that are aimed at
- Creating awareness
- Orientation
5. Business capacity
The availability of a commercial infrastructure and products to support any engineering infrastructure development and maintenance cannot be underestimated. Access to products and services that conform to sustainability prerequisites are essential.
The main factors would be to have viable building blocks in the form of:
- Factories, quarries, timber mills etc.;
- Distribution networks, including wholesale and retail.
6. Resources and supplies
Resources to underpin built environment activities in a sustainable manner include materials for construction, and manufactured and finished products used in construction. The focus would have to be on renewable resources, the possibility to recycle and re-use materials, durable, energy efficient and low-maintenance materials. Other important factors are materials that would not be harmful to the environment – neither when these materials are produced nor when used in development. Financial and funding frameworks to support sustainable solutions are obviously crucial.
Conclusion
To be able to provide sustainable development, the Civil Engineering profession, in co-operation with other stakeholders, will have to develop and promote a new culture in which the principle of sustainability would be paramount. Nurturing of both old and young professionals is required to help them to embrace the environment as an ally instead of treating it as a threat or an enemy. Sustainability can only become a reality if all stakeholders and everyone in this country integrate effort and approach the environment in a responsible and mature manner.
