A wealth of resources and topics of discussion from the Engineering Solutions for Sustainability: Materials and Resources workshop held in Switzerland in 2009
Natural resources are the lifeblood of agricultural and industrial endeavors that contribute to our social and economic well-being. Yet, even as these resources dwindle from mismanagement, there is still no clear consensus in the engineering community of what actually defines "sustainable engineering."
This publication offers the engineering profession a multi-disciplinary blueprint for action by presenting topics of discussion from the Engineering Solutions for Sustainability: Materials and Resources workshop held at the école Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, July 22–24, 2009. It includes an extensive bibliography and recommended readings section, and a summary of key, cross-cutting initiatives recommended as priorities because of their potential to create common principles for advancing societal sustainability through technological, educational, and public policy solutions.
The resources, tools, and concepts delivered in this report draw from the unique perspectives and expertise of an array of engineering disciplines, represented by delegates from the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The intent of this publication is to forge a better understanding of the role and responsibility of engineering in achieving global sustainability, while also laying the foundation for an ongoing and productive interdisciplinary dialogue in other forums.
Table of Contents:
About This Report vii About the Workshop Sponsors ix
Acknowledgments x
I Executive Summary 1
II Introduction and Process 6
III Human Needs (Water, Food, and Health) 12
Figure 1: Earth's Water Balance 15
Table 1: Water Consumption by Energy Type in the United States 16
IV Infrastructure (Transportation, Housing, and Urban Design) 23
Figure 1: The Brooklyn Bridge: An Example of a Pioneering and Sustained Urban Infrastructure 25
Figure 2: The Los Angeles Airport "Theme Building": Melding Art, Architecture, and Air Transport 28
V The Resource Cycle 30
V(A). Energy 30
Figure 1: Carbon Abatement Wedges 33
Figure 2: Populations Without Electricity Access 34
V(B). Mineral Resources 37
Figure 3: Expansion of the Scope of Concern about Mineral Supply 39
Figure 4: Assessing How a Mine Project Can Contribute to Sustainable Development 40
Table 1: Five Dimensions of Mineral Availability 41
Figure 5: The Scope of Material Stewardship Encompasses Process and Product Stewardship 42
Table 2: Opportunities for Research and Development in the Minerals Sector 43
V(C). Materials and Recycling 46
VI Human Resources 52
VII Linking Technologies to Resources 61
Figure 1: Technology and Resources Matrix 62
VIII The Path Forward 66
Appendix A: List of Delegates 68
Appendix B: References and Recommended Readings 70
Appendix C: Summary of Sector-Specific Advances 77
About the Author :
Headquartered in the United States but international in both its membership and activities, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) is a rare professional organization that encompasses the entire range of materials and engineering, from minerals processing and primary metals production to basic research and the advanced applications of materials.
