Future Challenges

Professor: Dr. Miguel Alonso Jr.

Outline

Expanding world population Pollution Energy Transportation Infrastructure Aerospace Competitiveness and Productivity

Through out history, Engineers have been problem solvers at the forefront of change

Engineers bring about change Must focus on the exciting challenges and

opportunities that lie ahead

Expanding World Population

One billion people – beginning of recorded history until 1804

1.6 billion in 1900 Today, over 6 billion, 4.4 billion in one century! Estimated 9 billion by 2050 Growth rate, 1.3% annually, or 77 million/year ½ the growth is in 6 countries:

India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Indonesia

This growth impacts land use, air and water resources, food production and distribution

Some areas use water faster than it is replaced, fertile land is dwindling

Deforestation for fuel and to make way for housing Demand for housing, food, water, energy and

waste disposal are taxing resources It is up to engineers to use their talents in an effort

to improve these situations

Pollution

Engineers must be aware of the impact of their work on the environment

Small actions may have long term effects Air pollution: atmosphere absorbs gases,

solids, or liquids They can damage the atmosphere, endanger

human, animal, and plant life Major cause: burning gasoline, oil, or coal

without proper controls to remove the pollutants

Air Pollution

Acid rain in the US and South-east Asia High level toxins in unexpected areas

PDBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), DDT(Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), mercury, and dioxin in the Arctic

Carbon emissions expected to reach 8 billion metric tons by 2010

Clean Air Act is an effort to monitor air quality Engineers have the technical knowledge to develop and

implement the necessary controls for this to be succesfull

Water Pollution

Major sources of water pollution Industrial waste, chemicals, detergents, pesticides,

weed killers, municipal sewage, acid rain, metal residue, bacteria and viruses, and even artificially enriched plant growth

These pollutants upset the delicate balance 40% of the world population already faces chronic water

shortages Water supplies could run out in the next century if per

capita consumption and excessive use in agriculture are not controlled

Solid Waste

Safe and efficient disposal of solid waste is one of the most serious challenges facing the engineers of tomorrow

Trash, garbage, or refuse that is solid or semi solid

In 1920, the US generated 2.75 pounds per person per day

In 1970, 5.5 pounds 1980, 10 pounds

Establishment of solid waste management and disposal occurs at the state and local levels

Engineers should be involved in policymaking at all levels

Waste to Energy Recycling Another problem, obsolete weapon disposal Transportation and dumping of waste

Energy

World energy demand will grow steadily Fossil fuels will account for a substantial portion of the

world energy demand by 2025 And, there will be a shift of energy demand by world regions

as many third world countries demand will rise significantly Energy technology is catching up though Recoverable resources

Petroleum: rose 60% (last 40 yrs), Natural Gas: 140% (last 60 yrs), Coal (last 200 yrs)

But, resources are finite, so there is still a need for development

Transportation

Transportation problems have increased as the number of cars on the street has increased

Motorists in urban areas spend more than a week per year in traffic jams

This costs 63 billion in the areas surveyed Energy use for transportation growth rate: 4%

Infrastructure

Entities to support human activity Roads, bridges, transportation services, public

service facilities, and buildings Huge concern as much of the existing

infrastructure is aging Bridges falling, buildings collapsing Developing countries need infrastructure

Aerospace

US Space and Defense programs have typically supplied engineers with many jobs

Recent disasters (86’ Challenger, 03’ Columbia) have caused re-evaluation of these programs

Breakup of the soviet union, world wide terrorism have prompted growth in this sector

Commercial Aviation industry, however, is struggling in the aftermath of 9/11 and the war in Iraq

Competitiveness and Productivity

The health of a nation’s economy can often be measured by its relative productivity and competitiveness

Advances by foreign countries in basic science and research now often surpass those of the US, which directly impacts jobs, industry, national security, and strength of the nations intellectual and cultural life

Patents, Published scientific papers, Number of Ph Ds awarded, have fallen

Requires the investment in innovation and discovery