Chapter 6: Modern Engineering Achievements and Future Directions

Does everyone have their project proposal done?

 

Chapter 6: Future Challenge

"the next generation of engineers will be responsible for more developments during their lifetime than all the technological advancements since the construction of the pyramids."

6.1 Expanding World Population

 

Half of the population growth is in 6 countries:

1. India
2. China
3. Pakistan
4. Nigeria
5. Bangladesh
6. Indonesia

 

"There are many who believe challenges surrounding world population growth have implications which touch almost all of the other future challenges we face." 

6.2 Pollution

Air pollution

http://aqicn.org/city/beijing/

According to the 2014 WHO report, air pollution in 2012 caused the deaths of around 7 million people worldwide.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en/

Causes of air pollution:

Use of Fossil Fuels

• Sulfur dioxide → combustion of coal & petroleum
• Carbon Monooxide → incomplete combustion from vehicles
• Nitrogen Oxides→ natural and man made processes.

Agricultural activities: 

• ammonia
• insecticides
• pesticides
• fertilizers

 Manufacturing industries

carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons,
organic compounds,
misc chemicals

Mining

Water Pollution & Freshwater resources

Eutrophication: nitrogen → algae

http://www.wri.org/our-work/project/eutrophication-and-hypoxia

 Dead Zone in the Gulf

Solid waste

Energy

Conserve energy

Transportation

The decline of American driving

http://bettercities.net/taxonomy/term/135

Solutions:

 Public transportation
Shorten commutes through better urban planning & working from home.

6.5 Infrastructure

A new report card gives America’s infrastructure a D+

Kailani Koenig-Muenster, @kailanikm

6:47 PM on 03/22/2013

infrastructure = critical factor in international economic competitiveness.

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2013-14.pdf

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_SuperCorridor_Coalition

 http://sps.esd.ornl.gov/desalinationpage.html

New Materials

Group discussion:

* What are the largest challenges facing the world in the next 20 years?
         * Help developing nations?

         * Pollution

         * Energy needs

         * Food and water needs

         * Housing, transportation, & infrastructure

         * Health needs

         * ???

* What possible engineering solutions will help solve these problems?