ENG93000: Engineering Management for a Sustainable Future Report

This report delves into the critical role of engineering management in achieving a sustainable future, addressing global challenges such as population growth and environmental degradation. It emphasizes the necessity for engineers to consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts of their decisions, highlighting the importance of integrating sustainability into the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of physical structures. The report explores key factors contributing to a sustainable future, including modern engineering technologies, use of recycled materials, Building Information Modeling (BIM), lean production, nanotechnology, renewable energy, adherence to ethical codes, and the development of effective regulatory frameworks. It underscores the significance of continuing professional development (CPD) for engineers to stay abreast of societal challenges and technological advancements. The report concludes by advocating for collaborative efforts involving engineers, government agencies, private stakeholders, and the public to promote awareness and action towards creating a sustainable future, emphasizing the immense potential of engineering management in achieving this goal.

Engineering Management for a Sustainable Future 1
ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
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Engineering Management for a Sustainable Future
Subjugating global challenges, such as rapid population growth, environmental pollution,
depletion of natural resources and destruction of ecosystems, requires engineers to play a
leadership role by ensuring that they consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of
their decisions. This necessity has prompted focus on the role of engineering management in
achieving a sustainable future. The need to build a more sustainable, equitable and stable world
for the future generations in inevitable. Engineers have a very key role to play in achieving this
because they are the ones responsible for planning, designing, building, operating and
maintaining most of the physical structures used in our day-to-day activities. For many years,
engineers have created solutions with little consideration for their economic, social and
environmental impacts. Very little attention was paid towards integrating measures to minimize
the risk and scale of undesirable or unplanned perturbations caused by engineering systems. This
is why it is important to evaluate the role of engineering management in creating a sustainable
future. Several studies have shown that there is a positive and significant relationship between
engineering management and sustainable development (Carvalho & Rabechini, 2017).
Building a sustainable future basically means integrating social, economic and
environmental factors when designing, constructing, operating and managing or maintaining
physical structures (the built environment). It means developing the economy and society
without jeopardizing future generations’ life (Shobayo & Elumah, 2017). Whereas the definition
may sound to be easy, converting this concept into real application is very challenging. This is
because of the fact that available natural resources are not sufficient to support the global
populations’ needs and wants. Hence there is great need for understanding, participation,
collaboration and cooperation of all stakeholders, some of whom do not have any technical

Engineering Management for a Sustainable Future 3
knowledge about engineering or sustainable development. It requires engineers to improve their
leadership efforts and adhere to engineering code of ethics when making decisions because they
are the main agents that play an essential role on achieving a sustainable future. It has even been
confirmed that engineers has a very big role to play in achieving the United Nations’ sustainable
development goals (SDGs) (Create Digital, 2017). The main SDGs of the UN for engineers
include: resilient infrastructure; access to reliable, affordable, modern and sustainable energy;
foster innovation; sustainable and inclusive industrialization; and safe, resilient, inclusive and
sustainable cities.
Engineering management entails application of technological problem-solving aptitude of
engineering together with planning, organizational and administrative abilities of management in
overseeing and ensuring successful implementation of engineering projects. Creating a
sustainable future entails application of the abovementioned abilities with an aim of maximizing
and minimizing positive and negative environmental, economic and social impacts respectively.
Engineering management, just like project management, plays an essential role in successful
implementation of projects (Wang, et al., 2017).
There are numerous engineering management factors that can contribute to a sustainable
future. Some of these include the following: modern engineering technologies and new
innovation, use of recycled and recyclable materials, implementation of building information
modelling (BIM), lean production, nanotechnology, renewable energy, resource efficiency, code
of ethics, value addition, regulatory framework (policies, codes and standards).
Modern engineering technologies and new innovation have significantly revolutionized
the engineering field by improving the efficiency of project implementation and reducing the
cost of producing and using products. They have also made engineering a more fascinating

Engineering Management for a Sustainable Future 4
profession because they demonstrate the greatest capability of technical engineering and
scientific knowledge. Some of the modern engineering technologies and new innovations include
use of computer-aided design (CAD) software and tools, artificial intelligence, internet of things,
drones and robots, among others, in creating engineering systems. There is need for engineers to
apply these technologies in creating a sustainable future. Use of recycled and recyclable
materials has played a key role in reducing pressure on the already stressed natural resources. It
has reduced exploitation and depletion of natural resources hence decreasing environmental
degradation and also saving costs. Hence use of recycled and recyclable materials should be
emphasized so as to create a more sustainable future.
BIM is one of the greatest discoveries that have transformed the engineering field for the
better in the past few years. BIM, which is a process of generating and managing information
related to a project, product or system throughout its lifecycle, is an engineering management
tool with numerous benefits (Alzwainy, et al., 2017). Some of the projects have were executed
successfully because of BIM in China include: Chong Qing International Circus City, Wuhan
New City International Expo Centre, Chengdu Financial City, Shanghai Disaster Control Centre,
and National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (Li, et al., 2014). Thus implementation of
BIM in engineering management makes it easier to create a sustainable future because of its
potential benefits. The main benefits of lean production include reducing wastage throughout a
product’s lifecycle, creating safe and efficient work practices, completing work faster and saving
labour and total costs. People in engineering management are applying nanotechnology to
modify available materials so that they attain the desired properties for intended use (Karuppiah,
2015). This has saved a lot of time and costs associated with ordering materials from distant
places including overseas. Nanotechnology has also helped in reducing exploitation of natural

Engineering Management for a Sustainable Future 5
resources because available materials can be combined, engineered and improved to have
specific properties.
It is also important to focus on use of renewable energy when providing engineering
solutions so as to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, save costs, reduce the impacts of climate
change, protect the environment and improve people’s health. Additionally, engineers need to
continue adhering to code of ethics when making decisions. Relevant government agencies
should also create a regulatory framework that promotes creation of a sustainable future. This
involves formulation of relevant engineering management policies, codes and standards.
Another very important factor in creating a sustainable future is use of technologically-
driven engineering management systems. Engineers are using advanced management systems to
monitor and control systems to ensure that they operate optimally. This has helped in reducing
the cost and improving resource efficiency of systems during operation stage. Therefore more
efficient and cost-effective engineering management systems should be developed and used for a
sustainable future.
Decision making is another very key factor in engineering management. Engineers need
to improve on their decision-making strategies. The need to put more emphasis on visualizing
the economic, social and environmental impacts of their decisions. This may mean developing
simulation tools that will enable them to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the impacts of
their decisions. This is because a sustainable future can only be achieved if the engineering
structures and products are planned and designed with sustainability in mind. Therefore
engineers need to design products that are in compliance with the goals and objectives of a
sustainable future (Fargnoli, et al., 2014).

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Considering the current and predicted problems facing the society, there is need for
engineers to participate in continuing professional development (CPD) so as to acquire relevant
knowledge and skills that will enable them solve societal problems more effectively (Collin, et
al., 2012). CPD is important for engineers because it helps them have a better understanding of
societal problems and create more effective and efficient solutions. There are numerous and
rapid changes in social structures, technology, ideologies and diversities hence initial training
alone is not enough to deal with these issues. CPD is one of the best strategies that can help
engineers understanding societal challenges and available opportunities of solving them
(Wabule, 2016). CPD will also help engineers be updated with new engineering policies, codes
and standards thus ensuring that they comply with them for the products they create to meet the
required current standards (Kwofie, et al., 2018). Thus CPD should not be voluntary but
mandatory for engineers, especially those who are specialized in engineering management.
Nevertheless, engineers cannot succeed in creating a sustainable future on their own but
they need to involve everybody. This should start by increasing awareness about a sustainable
future, its impacts and how to achieve it. They must work with relevant stakeholders to ensure
that more people are educated about sustainability and their role in achieving it. One strategy to
implement this is to collaborate with relevant government agencies so as to include sustainability
studies or lessons in education curriculums (Jones, et al., 2015). Once people understand the
concept of sustainability, how it works and its importance for the current and future generations,
it will be easier for them to support sustainability efforts made by engineers and other
professionals.
The need for a sustainable future cannot be emphasized. This need can only be met if
engineers play their role accordingly. Engineering management is very essential for creating a

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sustainable future. As a result, engineers should be in the forefront of promoting all efforts and
initiatives made towards creating a sustainable future. They have to collaborate with everybody,
including government agencies, private stakeholders and the general public, to meet this need.
Modern technologies should be utilized maximally and more efficient ones developed and
utilized. Thus through engineering management, there is great potential for a sustainable future.
References

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Carvalho, M. & Rabechini, R., 2017. Can project sustainability management impact project success? An
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