Role of engineering

General Perspective
The role of engineering has suffered many changes over the last few decades,
although its concept which is based on trial and error has remained an essential
element of the scientific-technological method; where social, environmental and
human factors define the most suitable solution to manage a particular issue. Thus,
engineer's role is continuing reshaped according to the new challenges and
necessities implicated by specialized disciplines on particular areas of technology
(civil, chemical, agricultural, etc.). (UNESCO 2010, p. 24)

Contemporary Perspective and sustainable development

Unlike the 20th century where the engineering era seemed to have unlimited natural
sources, todays' century is facing serious problems that are putting enormous
pressure on the environment (Azapagic, Perdan & Clift 2004, pp. 3-5). Therefore,
todays' engineers besides the basic technical and scientific knowledge of the
engineering discipline, they also have to contribute and promote sustainable
development that meets todays' necessities without affecting adversely the
capability of upcoming generations to meet up their own necessitates. This new role
of engineering, demands new practices based on social-environmental factors rather
than just business goals.

Impact of engineering on society

The history shows numerous examples in which engineers' performance has widely
influenced among communities. Quality of life, economic wealth and good
infrastructure for instance, are one of the most relevant and common indicators of
their weight on society. As (UNESCO 2010, p. 40) have stated, by 2025, the world's
population will have increased from 1.5 billion to 6.6 billion approximately and
the percentage of migration to urban areas will rise from 40 per cent to 60 per
cent. This information shows that urbanization rates will boost dramatically.
Subsequently engineers have the responsibility to make effective and sustainable
solutions as an integrated approach without generate negative impacts, which is
known as engineering social responsibility.

Ethical side of engineering

In general terms, engineering's ethics is directly related with engineering
responsibilities regulated by standards codes which act according to several
situations. The objective of the ethical factor in engineering rather than just
fixed up rules, is drawing solutions with reflexion of particular situations fixed
into prior principles. On this basis, at the time of making decisions, engineers
should take into account the following points: sustainable development, protection
of the public-environment, faithful agent of stakeholders - related with
objectivity, competence-knowledge, fairness and justice, integrity in the workplace
(dedication and service), and professional accountability- leadership. (UNESCO
2010, p. 190)

Engineers in Developing Countries

As in developed nations, engineers must work within the social, economic and
environmental context in order to guarantee real sustainable development for the
whole world (Parsons 1996, p. 170). Social responsibilities such as water supply,
sanitation, food, energy and environmental protection are the same in developing
countries. The difference resides on the socio-economic factors which are directly
influenced by people's behaviour, governments positions and development priorities.

Engineering skills and ethics in Developing nations

As is described in the section A.1 and A.3, competences and principles of engineers
in developing countries remain the same as standardized characteristics. The great
challenge for them is in fact, to develop realistic projects on time to particular
communities and technology available (Parsons 1996, p. 170). In fact, environmental
issues, often take less importance because there are others which have more
"relevant social impact", oil explorations for instance.

Successful and failed projects

The successful and failed projects in developing countries depends much on the
capability of engineers to undertake projects with a clear understanding of the
objectives, reliable assessment of resources' availability, business, and technical
requirements and effective communication among stakeholders. The ability to
implement accurately these facts will bring up useful and applicable alternatives
to address real issues. By contrast, lack of attention to the social-economic
context, ethics codes, unrealistic expectations, underestimated time, quality and
cost will bring poor outcomes. (Parsons 1996, pp. 171,172)

Relationship between technology and socioeconomic factor

The use of high-technology does not guarantee a successful project or accurate
solutions. In order to achieve good results, engineers must be able to make a
balance between use of technology and socioeconomic attributes. Parsons (1996)
points out that the appropriated selection of technology will determine not only
project's success also its viability. As a result, there are four points to choose
appropriated technology according to socioeconomic factors: it must be conceptual
and physically compatible with operators, spare parts and equipment must be
available in the influenced area, project funding must be commensurate with its
budget, and the technology must be compatible with the physical environment where
it will be used. This model leads to concluded that the relationship between
technology and socieconomic factor is very narrow, it must fit users and needs as
well as must be designed to improve quality life.

Engineering Areas
Environmental trends that are shaping new engineers
Brief mention of important events that encourage environmental view on engineering
World population, followed by climate change are considered the two main factors
that are shaping new engineers with environmental approach. During the last half of
the 21th century; world population increased from 2.5 billion to 6 billion
especially in less economically developed countries, this trend is expected to peak
at 9.3 billion by 2050 (United Nations 2012). In addition, overpopulation also has
been linked with higher demands of natural resources (water, cropland, forest),
shanty settlements, transportation-infrastructure deficits etc. Another important
event that is making an environmental approach is the fact that the current global
economic is based on productivity, which has brought several impacts associated
with greenhouse gases, waste product of fossil fuels and air pollution. Climate
change is certainly the result of all these elements at an abnormal rate. Thus, the
world has changed its development approach to sustainable development (Brown, Rener
& Halweil 2000). Hence, most of professional corporations have incorporated
sustainable development into their aim statements and codes.

New model of learning and practice

To confront the global challenges that the earth are facing today, engineering
education has incorporated the concept of sustainability into all engineering
fields. This means, that professional are expected to make reliable decisions that
improve quality of life as well as reducing negative impacts on environment and
levels of consumption, and planning their actions according to socio-economic
factors and technology available. Consequently, the process of learning and
practice has been adjusted by a model of education more realistic-practical. Where
students throughout workshops are learning and building knowledge in real
situations, as well as has created in them greater environmental responsibility.
(Amadei 2004).

Sustainability and transformation

As explain Azapagic, Perdan & Clift (2004), there are certainly three constrains
that built the concept of sustainability. Techno-centric concerns, which represent
human expertise, ingenuity and economic systems, Eco-centric concerns related with
natural resources and ecological capability and socio-centric concern based on
human and social expectations. The Techno-centric concerns, has been traditionally
used in the process of education in engineering, the responsibility of today's
engineers is to include in equal proportion or balance all three constraints to
achieve a sustainable development. Which ultimately is seeking for human wellbeing,
in other words satisfying human needs, improving quality of life in an eco-friendly
way.

Water Supply and Sanitation

Developing Nations background
UNESCO (2010) states that water supply is one of the most serious problems facing
by developing nations, in India for instance, 85% of the urban population has
access to drinking water, but only 20% of the of this meets the health-quality
standards set by World Health Organization. Additionally, the daily rate of water
supply often is very low and depends on economic factors and location. The
situation on sanitation is even worse; often sanitation has lower priority than
water supply. It has estimated that 2.6 billion people do not have properly or
existing sanitation system in developing countries. Another issue related with
sanitation is in fact that wastewater and solid waste collection services; and
stormwater drainage are inadequate. Littering directly to open areas for instance,
has created environmental impacts on surface and ground water resources being more
dramatic in areas such as shanty towns.

Engineering Challenges Engineers approach

The traditionally treatment of water supply and sanitation management is considered
now as a standard procedure. Which has several treatments according to the water
physicochemical characteristics, technology available and environmental
regulations. Although, it is by no means certain that this procedure has been the
best. Indeed, 95% of the wastewater in the world has been discharged to the
environment without treatment (Montgomery & Elimelech 2007). Hence, Beside new
regulations and codes, todays' engineers rather that replicate solutions from
developed countries to developing countries, they will have to meet basic needs of
all communities for water and sanitation and work as facilitators of sustainability
approach within context institutional, social, political, economic, environmental
and technological. Thereby, the issue of water and sanitation in developing
countries will be overcame or at least reduced. For example, cleaner production can
be "an expensive solution", however it is really depends on numerous conditions
linked with the population objet, such as natural resources, requirements and
social class.

Energy
Developing Nations background
In the next few decades, the pressure on energy services will increase considerably
in developing nations. It is predicted that energy consumption worldwide will
increase about 30% from 2007 to 2030 and most of that growth will be came from
developing nations. As a result, the intergovernmental panel climate change (2007)
point out that these energy issues will be addressed through cost-effective energy
programs based on the reduction of fossil fuel use; implementations of ecofriendly
technologies and renewable energy in housing, transportation and industrial sectors
and finally the reduction of life-cycle cost, this related with all expenses in the
design, construction, operation and maintenance of a particular project. (Liu,
Meyer & Hogan 2010, pp. 35,36). Today's modern development demands serious
energetic programs that fix up both economic development and sustainable
development based on the rational use of natural resources.