Explain the role of various engineering disciplines in environmental protection.
Environmental science are directly connected to various modes of life. With technological advances, application of different engineering solution principles in our day to day life is increasing. Every engineering solution will consume some sort of resources.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering deals with design and operation of many combustion processes. Any combustion process will require fuel. If a mechanical engineer is aware of the impact of use of different types of fuels on the environment, he would try to develop a process which uses greener fuel and thus reduce the pollution. He/she would also try to increase the efficiency of combustion Processes, as incomplete combustion leads to production of carbon monoxide and other air pollutants. If they are aware of the positive impacts of renewable energy sources through the study of environmental science, they would try to develop new technologies to harvest wind energy, hydropower etc. Mechanical engineering also deals with the subject of refrigeration. Use of refrigerants which have higher global warming potential and which causes depletion of ozone layer should be discourage and focused should be on developing technologies which may eliminate the use of these environmentally dangerous compounds.
Automobiles Engineering
They should be aware of different exhaust gases coming out of the vehicles and their impact on the environment. This will entice them to develop vehicles whose emissions are very less. Design can be focused on used of hybrid vehicles or vehicles running on electricity rather than fossil fuels.
Civil Engineering
Demolition and construction waste are produce in large quantity in various works related to civil engineering. If a civil engineer is aware of the problems cause in handling and disposing solid waste, he/she would try to reuse this waste as a construction material, benefit of which will be two fold, 1. Reduction of usage of new resources and 2. Reduction in the quantity of the waste that has to be disposed properly in order to minimize the risk on the environment. Construction/ demolition waste can be used to replace aggregates in concrete. They can also develop methods/ technologies which could be used to use plastic: a very dangerous pollutant, for bituminous road construction. They can also use different cleaner production techniques to reduce the SPM and other pollutant levels at the construction site.
Electrical Engineering
Production of energy by conventional sources causes depletion of the natural resources and large amount of pollution. Power sector is one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gases. Reduction in the power consumption can reduce the amount of pollution to a great extent. Basic knowledge of different types of pollutant produce in power generation and their impacts on environment will inspire electrical engineers to develop energy efficient devices/equipment which will reduce the power consumption, which in turn will lead to resource conversation and pollution abatement.
Computer/IT Engineering
Environmental science include the study of e-waste, it sources and impact on the environment. Computer engineers with a sound knowledge of environmental science would try to develop technologies which can be used to upgrade existing computer and other IT gadgets easily thereby reducing the need of replacing the existing one. Thus there would be reduction in the generation rate of e-waste and problem related to disposal. Similarly knowledge of environmental science will help other engineering disciplines also to achieve a boarder goal of sustainable development.
