ENG93000: Engineering Management for Sustainable Future - Assignment 1

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This report explores sustainable engineering practices.

SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY
ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET
For use with online submission of assignments
Please complete all of the following details and then make this sheet the first page of
each file of your assignment – do not send it as a separate document. Your
assignments must be submitted as a Word document.
Student Name:
Student ID No.:
Unit Name: Engineering Management for a Sustainable
Future
Unit Code: ENG93000-2018-3
Tutor’s name:
Assignment No.:
Assignment Title:
Due date:
Date submitted:
Declaration:
I have read and understand the Rules Relating to Awards (Rule 3 Section
18 – Academic Misconduct Including Plagiarism) as contained in the SCU
Policy Library. I understand the penalties that apply for plagiarism and
agree to be bound by these rules. The work I am submitting electronically is
entirely my own work.
Signed:
(please type
your name)
Date:

Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Workshop 1......................................................................................................................................3
Workshop 2......................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10
List of Figures
Figure 1: Elements present in a microwave oven............................................................................4
Figure 2: SCU Accommodation......................................................................................................6
Figure 3: Sustainability in asset management.................................................................................7
1

Introduction
This assignment is performed to acknowledge the processes and methodologies to sustain and
minimize the ecological impacts caused due to engineers since the beginning of technology and
also to discuss new techniques to achieve a better sustainable approach in engineering for the
wellbeing and better environmental conditions.
2

Workshop 1
Present and future of electricity supply chain
I’ve selected this topic keeping in view the different adverse impacts electricity has imposed on
the environment. Supply of electricity includes various series of process. It includes the
generation of electricity using raw materials obtained from nature. To distribute electricity to the
distributors, transmission network are used. This network includes the method of transmission of
electricity using towers, cables, and transformers to the distributors in high voltages with
minimum loss. The distributor then transports electricity to the users in low voltage for the uses.
The distribution network includes underground cables, wires, and poles to deliver electricity to
the respective users (Oliveira et al., 2013). Since the maximum of the generation of electricity is
done using fossil fuel, the damage done to the environment has maximized. The need for finding
alternate resources for the generation of energy is rising. Sustainable approaches are made by
using resources such as wind-power, hydro-power, and solar power for the generation of
electricity. Future approaches in the electricity delivery system might change due to the
availability of sustainable and cheap solar power generators that could produce the desired
amount of electricity. I’ve known that generating solar power for household and commercial uses
are already implemented for sustaining natural resources. Newer and better advancements are
being implemented regarding the better sustainability of the environment (Corcelli et al., 2018).
Kitchen appliances (Microwave oven) sustainability
I’ve chosen this topic to address the problems and advancements related to better sustainability
of the environment. Kitchen appliances are commonly used energy consuming devices that have
imposed a negative impact on the environment. The energy required is generated from non-
renewable resources. Hannover principles can be applied in a microwave by implementing low
energy consuming technologies available for conserving energy source. The construction of the
appliance can be made using recycled materials or by recycling the old device using modern
sustainable technology. Waste can be avoided by re-using the parts and equipment that can be
salvaged from the broken device. Manufacturers can implement sustainability solutions by
providing service such as recycling and refurbishing facilities to the customers for minimizing
the waste disposal (Almeida et al., 2017).
3

Figure 1: Elements present in a microwave oven
Source: (Almeida et al., 2017)
4

Workshop 2
I have visited the site proposed for waterfront townhouse development. It is a beautiful location
near the SCU campus with lots of vegetation. The presence of water and trees in the site has
provided various requirements in the ecosystem in that vicinity. The vegetation provides
beautiful atmosphere, food, oxygen, shade, and shelter to the animal and birds residing in the site
location. The site will also be beneficial for the students as it will provide various natural
requirements. The beautiful surrounding can provide oxygen, cold air during summer, calm
studying atmosphere, and many more. Since it is very near to the academic campus, travelling to
and fro will be convenient for the students.
Constructing housing area in that area will provide a lot of benefits for the students. But will also
impact the surrounding ecosystem due to the process of construction. To minimize the impact in
the ecosystem, various measures must be taken while building the accommodation area. To
avoid such events, only the trees in the construction area must be removed followed by
replantation of more plants for balancing the ecosystem. Soil and tropical testing will be
performed to maintain a balance in the ecosystem. Building temporary barriers around the water
bodies will ensure no disturbance to the in-water ecosystem during the construction process.
Houses design and materials used will be non-toxic and non-hazardous to the ecosystem and the
environment (Baran et al., 2011).
The houses can be made sustainable by incorporating various applications and technologies
available at present. To maintain the use of energy and resources, smart architect can be
implemented in the design of the buildings such as sensors for the monitoring of energy uses and
water consumption. Using solar electricity generators in the area will reduce the overall uses of
energy. Pollution sensors for measuring the conditions of the vicinity will help in stabilizing the
environmental issues. The electrical devices used in the vicinity should be standardized
regarding sustainable applications to ensure better efficiency (Tucker, 2012).
5

Figure 2: SCU Accommodation
Thus, I can conclude that implementing sustainable and environment-friendly methods in the
construction of the waterfront townhouses we can sustain the ecological condition to provide us
with the services. A little impact will be imposed on the environment but can be re-formed
within due time by applying the measures taken above. This will ensure the perfect balance in
the overall impacts on the environment by improving the sustainability for the future generation.
I attended the workshop “Liveable and smart cities”, and from my opinion urbanization is the
global trend and it is affecting the accumulation of population in megacities causing the
consumption of approx three-quarters of natural resources of the world, says Hayat (2016) in his
research work. The smart city is the one that helps the citizens to communicate with each other
using electronic equipment. The liveable city is the one having city budget, maintenance of a
diverse economy, career opportunities, etc. According to Hayat (2016), the cities should be
liveable more than smarter, as people want to live in a city that consists of all the facilities and
6

more career opportunities. The cities need to be smarter using technology and innovative
solutions. According to Ramaswami (2016), certain policies directives have to be taken that
centres on the development of smart cities. Cities should be smart enough to manage resources
and assets efficiently using electronic components.
I attended the workshop “Whole-of-life assets management”, I learned that asset is considered
as the valuable entity or item that has some value in terms of money or goodwill for an
organization. These assets can be intangible such as goodwill or tangible such as machines,
inventory, etc., it can be capital/fixed assets such as vehicle, land, building etc. Ossai (2014),
states that when one has to maintain the demand of stakeholders, the sustainable aim would be
the issue. The balance needs to be maintained between the key indicators and the asset’s
performance. According to Gârleanu (2018), asset management is necessary for the company to
guide the client’s cash and assets by the financial organization and the asset prices efficiency is
related to the capability of the market of asset management.
Figure 3: Sustainability in asset management
Source: (Ramaswami, 2016)
The ‘whole-of-life asset management’ refers to the maintenance of assets from the recognition of
requirement, creation, renewing or disposing it and residual liability period.
The article “The Earth is in a death spiral” will take radical action to save us” written by
George Monbiot describes the condition of our Earth being destroyed by us during our own
development. He depicted the conditions that political and economic conditions have led us to
our doom by neglecting the destructions caused to the environment. And told us about the
condition where all these destructions will lead if no effective measures taken in due time. He
7

mentioned the non-reversible influences that have been affecting the nature and what we can do
to minimize these situations for our and our future’s betterment.
I, from this article, can understand the past and present values of our environmental conditions. If
we do not take any positive measures in maintaining and sustaining the current status of Earth,
then the destruction it can cause is unthinkable. To avoid any more such calamities, we can
develop our current technologies into more sustainable and eco-friendly technologies so that this
newer development will put no impact on the environment.
8

Conclusion
From this assignment, I can conclude the process and necessities of being a better engineer to
provide the best possible solutions for the problems associated with environmental conservation
and sustaining of the resources available for the further needs of our future generations.
9

References
Almeida, Sérgio Tadeu de et al. (2017) Application of exergy-based approach for implementing
design for reuse: The case of microwave oven. Journal of Cleaner Production. [Online] 168876–
892.
Baran, M. et al. (2011) Evaluation of ecological design strategies in traditional houses in
Diyarbakir, Turkey. Journal of Cleaner Production. [Online] 19 (6), 609–619.
Corcelli, Fabiana et al. (2018) Sustainable urban electricity supply chain – Indicators of material
recovery and energy savings from crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels end-of-life. Ecological
Indicators. [Online] 9437–51.
Gârleanu, Nicolae & Pedersen, Lasse Heje (2018) Efficiently Inefficient Markets for Assets and
Asset Management. Journal of Finance. [Online] 73 (4), 1663–1712.
Hayat, Parvez (2016) Smart Cities: A Global Perspective. India Quarterly. [Online] 72 (2), 177–
191.
Oliveira, Fernando S. et al. (2013) Contract design and supply chain coordination in the
electricity industry. European Journal of Operational Research. [Online] 227 (3), 527–537.
Ossai, Chinedu I. et al. (2014) Sustainable asset integrity management: Strategic imperatives for
economic renewable energy generation. Renewable Energy. [Online] 67 (C), 143–152.
Ramaswami, Anu et al. (2016) Meta-principles for developing smart, sustainable, and healthy
cities. (PERSPECTIVE)(Report)(Author abstract). [Online] 352 (6288), 940–943.
Tucker, Lisa M. (2012) Net Zero Housing: The Architects’ Small House Service Bureau and
Contemporary Sustainable Single‐Family House Design Methods for the United States. Journal
of Interior Design. [Online] 37 (1), 1–15.
10