The article highlights the role of early planning in engineering as a move that is aimed at environmental sustainability. Environmental and societal issues are of great concern when it comes to engineering works such as road construction in New Zealand. The country has set out an environmental plan to its strategic environmental and social vision that set specifications and standards for contractors undertaking road construction works. A major point of concern in the plan is that environmental management that relates to early planning, design, and maintenance is effective when considered early prior to the construction of roads (NZ Transport Agency, 2008). Risk assessment is an integral part of ensuring environmental sustainability in relation to the engineering works because the engineering criteria are usually reviewed for the likelihood of resulting in risks.
Engineering processes play a major role in impacting the environment either positively or negatively. This is a point that the article highlights and which is also a major ethical concern in the engineering profession. It is important to take a systems-level approach to processes or product design in relation to the article’s recommendation. In this kind of approach, environmental attributes are viewed as opportunities and primary objectives rather than as constraints. The legitimacy of the environmental objectives in engineering works is a matter that is consistent with the overall requirement of product quality.
An important lesson from the article is that the best way to address environmental problems that may be as a result of engineering works is not to create them. The prescription for alleviating environmental problems requires that students are trained in the science and engineering of environmental issues. This is meant to ensure that sound engineering practices are employed as part of the professionalism. It is important to get engineering works right from the start which in the practical sense is in the training period where students can be sensitized on the importance of evaluating environmental opportunities within the context of system life cycle.
References
NZ Transport Agency. (2008). State highway environmental plan: Improving environmental sustainability and public health in New Zealand. New Zealand Government. Retrieved from: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/environmental-plan/docs/environmental-plan.pdf
