Engineering: issues, challenges and opportunities for development ...

ENGINEERING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENTThe sustainability agenda can be pursued in a number of ways.At Arup we do so through researching sustainability issues,identifying opportunities to operate in a more sustainableway, evaluating projects on their sustainability performance,creating methodologies to embed sustainability considerationsin all our work and promoting sustainability to clients,educating all those we deal with on sustainability. We can alsopromote sustainability in the training and education of designprofessionals in the built environment.Training and education is not a unique vision, many others havehighlighted the need for changes in engineering education tosupport the sustainability agenda. In 2003, an ICE PresidentialCommission, ‘Engineering without Frontiers’ asked what wasexpected of an engineer by society in the twenty-first century.This had been answered in part in 2000 at the ‘Forum for theFuture’ where thirty-two young engineers developed a vision ofthe engineer for the twenty-first century (partly sponsored byThe Arup Foundation), including roles in sustainable development.Our vision is of an engineer who demonstrates through everydaypractice:■■■An understanding of what sustainability means.The skills to work toward this aim.Values that relate to their wider social, environmental andeconomic responsibilities, and encourages and enables others tolearn and participate.(Forum for the Future, 2000)In 2003, a second phase of the work of the Forum saw anothertwelve young engineers from partner companies and organizationsassess what progress had been made in particularareas identified for progress in the initial phase completed in2000. The record of progress results was not encouraging, andthe report noted four key areas where consistent effort wasneeded if change is to be driven through effectively:■■■■Make choosing a sustainability option cheaper and easierfor clients and contractors.Build the capacity of teachers and trainers to integrate sustainabilityinto courses.Make specifying sustainability criteria in materials and processesan effective tool for change in procurement chains.Embed sustainability thinking and practices into the cultureof organizations and across different professional groups.(Proceedings of the ICE: Briefing: Engineers of the 21 st Century – partnerships forchange)A third phase of the programme began in 2005 to promotesustainable development within the engineering profession.This is focused on the identification of barriers and influencingchange, and directly addresses the four areas for change identifiedin 2003. Overall, the programme emphasized the commitmentand enthusiasm young engineers have for promotingsustainable development.So it seems that the industry is responding, and at least realizesthis is an important subject for engineers to address andlead on. In 2007, The Chartered Institution of Building ServicesEngineers (CIBSE) published a sustainability toolkit settingout some fundamental principles and providing online toolsto support engineers in meeting the demands for sustainablebuildings, and to respond to the sustainability agenda.The UK Green Build Council (UK-GBC) was also launched inFebruary 2007 to provide clear direction on sustainability forthe sector as a whole, something that had previously beenlacking. With members drawn across the industry, includingNGOs, academic institutions and government agencies, it aimsto provide a joined-up and collaborative approach to sustainabilityand building engineering.Designing in a sustainable way also requires us to investigatethose trends, which are most likely to have an impact upon theworld in the future. In order to anticipate future change, Arupconducted a series of scientific reviews and surveys, which wecall the ‘Drivers of Change’ that explore the major drivers thatmost affect society’s future. The three most important factorsidentified by our clients were climate change, energy resourcesand water, with urbanization, demographics and waste not farbehind. Detailed research on these six ‘Drivers of Change’ wasthen undertaken and our current focus is to embed them intoArup’s design, methodologies and evaluation processes. Forengineers, tackling these issues must embrace every aspect ofdesign and planning. This cannot be separated from other keyconsiderations and requires a holistic and sustainable approachacross all the different facets of a new development. There alsoneeds to be a strong vision for leadership with clear strategiesfor the emergence of new leaders in engineering.As an organization, Arup has promoted sustainability fordecades. Our company’s culture includes a commitment toshape a better world through our work. The ethical dimensionof engineering is a subject of lively discussion within the firm,and there are many issues and questions under continuousdebate. Should we be refusing work that could be characterizedas unsustainable? Or should we take on such work and tryto make them as sustainable as possible, educating our clientsin the process? The answer is not straightforward. If we are tocontemplate turning away unsustainable work, we must balancethis with the need to educate our clients, and to maintainour own business and provide employment for our staff.49