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Sustainable Society

Part 2

Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment that meets the needs of

the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to

meet their own needs ”

United Nations

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Development must not endanger the Biosphere

the atmospherethe water,the soil and living beings

Think global not local

Natural systems that supports life on earthNatural systems that supports life on earth

Our Atmosphere is being pollutedGreen House gas production

Kyoto Protocol

Deforestation of the rain forestBrazil

The OZONE holeGlobal warming

Smog (bad air days)

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Smog over China Jan 4, 2004

Temperature and Green House Gas

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Impact of Temperature Change

CFC’sCFC concentrations rose then began to fallOur actions and changes can make a difference

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C02 Emissions 1999

Our Water is being pollutedIndustrial chemicals

Love Canal

Walkerton ON, North Battleford SK, etcSoil erosion

Deforestation – killing of coral reefs in FIGIUrbanization

Winter salt?

Oceans and lakesPCB levels in fish

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Our Water is being polluted

Water Pollution in Thailand

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Water Pollution in North America

Our Water is being pollutedLandfill of the city of Palangkaraya. The groundwater table is less than a meter deep, and there is neither any control of what is being dumped, nor any technical measures being taken against possible pollution.

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Soil is being polluted and lostIndustrial chemicals

Love CanalSoil erosion

Deforestationkilling of coral reefs in FIGIGlobal warming

Urban growthWetlandsFarming

Soil Loss"They're making people every day,

but they ain't makin' any more dirt."- Will Rogers

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Human Impacts?

Population growth increasingIncreased pollution

waste

Increased povertyIncreased crime

Larger gap between rich and poor

Why Consider Sustainable Development?Human activities and life styles are having major negative impact on the biosphere

We are impacting future generations ability to meet their needs

Lots of small concentrated actions lead to significant larger impacts locally and globally

We MUST act now to:preserve the Earth for future generations

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Can science & technology solve all our problems?

Possibly?Do we have time to develop technologies? Will new technologies create more problems?Can we be proactive instead of reactive?

Multiple small changes can lead to large changes

Tragedy of the CommonsGarrett Hardin

Science magazine (1968)

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Tragedy of the Commons

Pasture open to all

Commonssets of resources that a communityrecognizes as being accessible to any member of that communitygenerally seen as a system opposite to private property

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Tragedy of the Commons

Each Herdsmen will keep as many cattle as possible on the commons

Tragedy of the CommonsWorked well for centuries Tribal wars, disease, poaching kept cattle numbers and number of people below the capacity of the land

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The Idea of Social Well Being

If I add one more animal to my herd? Gains proceeds from selling an animal (+1)Impacts of overgrazing are very small and shared by all – (fraction of -1)

The Idea of Social Well BeingEvery herdsman adds another, another and

another…….

Soon natural capacity of the land is exceeded Soil is compacted and eroded, weedy plants unfit for cattle consumption replace good plants –Cattle and humans die

Here Lies The TRAGEDY

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THE TRAGEDYEach Herdsman is compelled to increase the size of the herd on the COMMONS

without LIMITThe COMMONS (the World) has a limit

THE TRAGEDY“Ruin is the destination towards which all

men rush, each pursuing his best interest in a society

that believes in the freedom of the commons”

Garrett Hardin (1968)

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1974 Graphic ExampleSatellite photograph of North Africa showed:

390 square mile of irregular dark patchGround level investigation revealed fenced area that had plenty of grass surrounded by devastated ground cover

ExplanationFenced area was private propertySubdivided into five portionsEach year owner moved animals to a new sectionRotation allowed land to recover from grazing

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Explanation

Outside area was public landOpen to nomads and herdsHerds grew to exceed natural carrying capacityDrought in 1974

The Tragedy ContinuesOceans

Freedom of the seasBelief in the inexhaustible resources of the oceansUnlimited right to fish

Boarding of foreign factory ships off Newfoundland Near extinction of fish species and whales

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Past Fishery

Past Fishery

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Present

The Tragedy ContinuesAlgonquian Provincial Park

Soon it was "discovered", at first by adventurous fishermen, then by Tom Thomson and The Group of Seven, and a host of other visitors who came by train and stayed at one of Algonquin's several hotels. Open to all without limitHighway 60

Access increased ten fold by “the Car”Impact on wildlifeWhat is it natural capacity?

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The Tragedy ContinuesEconomic Growth

EnronWorld ComNortelCOREL

The Tragedy ContinuesPollution of the Commons

Sewage, chemicals, radioactive waste, heat waste, fumes into the air

Share the cost of discharging the waste into the common with everyone rather than paying the cost to purify the waste before its release

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Factory on the Stream BankProperty extends to middle of riverOwner has the right to muddy waters flowing past doorsDump waste directly into water

Laws and regulations reactive not proactiveAlways behind the times

Pollution is a consequence of population

American frontiersman

Flowing water purifies itself every ten milesAs population increases natures chemical and biological recycling processes become overloaded

We are polluting the Biosphere

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Consequence of Population

American frontiersmanKilled as much game as needed without impact on resourceAs population increased kill species into or near extinction

Buffalo and fescue grassCaribou, dodo bird, humpback and Right whale

Consequence of Population256 Canadian species are listed by the Scientific Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as being extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened and vulnerable.

http://raysweb.net/specialplaces/pages/canada-es.html

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PopulationGrowth trend is exponential

Urban Population

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

Year

Perc

enta

ge

Source: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision and World Urbanization Prospects: The 2001 Revision, http://esa.un.org/unpp, 24 May 2004; 3:16:03 PM.

Developed Regions

Canada

World

Less Developed Regions

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PopulationPer capital share of worlds goods must steadily decrease

Food, energy, natural resources

We live in a finite world thus we can only support a finite population

WE MUST NOT EXCEED THE NATURAL CAPACITY OF THE

EARTH

Technical Solutions“Requires a change only in the techniques of

the natural sciences

demanding nothing

in the way of change in human values or ideas of morality”

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Can Technology Solve Our Problems or Does it Create Problems?

Farming the seasFish farmsDisease and pollution

Genetic modified foodsCorn, wheatPatent

Biotechnologies

Wiesner and YorkInsist that the solution to some problem is not to be found in the natural sciences

Winning at Tic Tac Toe

Hardin suggests population problem has no technical solution

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Does Knowledge Increase With Time?How does a slide rule work?How were the pyramids built?Where did Stone Hinge come from?

Does knowledge Increase With Time?Knowledge is lost as we gain new knowledge Twenty year re-invent cycleNewer is always better ideology

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Role of Professional Engineer

Impact of Engineers on Society Water and waste water collection and treatment systems

Addition of chlorine to waterLargest contribution to date to increasing life expectancy in developed countries

Environmental clean-upDesign of new structures

Engineers without BordersConstruction of water and waste water systems

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Typical Engineer Career Path

Technical Design Stage 1

Management Stage 2

We teach you excellent problem solving and analytical Skills

Engineering DesignTraditional Civil Engineering

Bridges, buildings, roads, dams, pipe networks, water treatment plants, airports, landfills, construction, management, etc.

Soft Civil EngineeringBest route selection, traffic estimation, risk analysis, flood prediction, environmental impact assessments, life cycle cost analysis, air traffic volume, public policy development, project financing, etc.

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Traditional Civil EngineersBuilding basic infrastructureLarge projects

Bigger is betterDesign assumptions:

Growth is goodImpact on the biosphere is insignificantTechnology can solve all our problems

Tools:HOW DO YOU DESIGN IT?

New Construction

Growth Phase

1880 to 1980’s

Traditional Civil EngineersMajor design issues:

How do you design it?How do you build it?Final design based on lowest construction cost

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Traditional Civil EngineersTransportation Example:Dawson Trail connect Ontario with

ManitobaPre 1940’s

Water transportationShip, canoe, boat

Roads for horse and buggyTwo days Kingston to Toronto

Railway (Van hornApprox 1920 cross Canada Railway finished

Street cars in cities

Traditional Civil Engineers1940 to 1970’s (Urbanization Growth)

More and better roads for cars and trucksTrans Canada Highway finished early 1960’s

People can afford carsRailways

Declines due to increased truckingDecline of street cars

Removed in many citiesSubway construction – Montreal, Toronto

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Traditional Civil Engineers1970 to present (Urbanization Growth)

Traffic Grid lock – bigger is better2 CARS PER HOUSEHOLD

Recession – no money for infrastructureFederal – provincial – municipal cuts

On time delivery of goodsEnvironmental impact awareness

Smog, ozone layer, declining health, groundwater pollution etc.

Development of environmental policies

Future Civil EngineersInfrastructure renewalsmaller projects

Bigger is not always better

Design assumptions:Growth is goodImpact on the biosphere must be consideredTechnology can solve and create problemsNeed new design methods and approaches to solve and manage our problems

Infrastructure renewal

Infrastructure Management and Risk Assessment

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Future Civil EngineersKnows how to :

Design it using traditional methodsBuild it using traditional methodsNeed to understand and develop new design methods for new and emerging technologies

Example horizontal directional drillingmanage infrastructure for decision makingUse skills and knowledge to be an honest broker (determine range of solutions)

Future Civil EngineersFinal Design Must Consider:

Construction costSociety and economic costsImpacts on society and environment

Best solution must optimizes all the above

Project costs are higher than traditional construction costs

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Future Civil EngineersNeeds for New ToolsHow do you manage existing infrastructure?

Spend the right amount of money on the right infrastructure at the right time?

How do we quantify environmental and social impacts?How do we quantify risk?How can we cost effectively renew our aging infrastructure?How do we address environmental and social challenges?

Future Civil EngineersDevelop new environmental policiesBigger is not betterRenew Mass transit systems

Discourage cars and trucksLight rail transitLondon England - Downtown car fee Toronto – proposed Airport to Union station mass transit link

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Sustainable DevelopmentOptimizing the three key elements of:

economic, social and environmental issues.

Training of Future Engineers at UWCATT – Center for Advancement of Trenchless Technologies CPATT – Centre for Pavement and Transportation TechnologiesPavement Asset Management Techniques

Drs Haas Order of Canada for pioneering Pavement Asset Management work

Rehabilitation of Bridges & StructuresRisk AssessmentGroundwater Remediation and ModelingWater and Waste Water TreatmentBuilding Science

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Course ChangesRemoved CIVE 126 in 1BAdded two new courses

CIVE 240 - 2AEngineering and Sustainable Development

CIVE 332 – 3ACivil Engineering Systems