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CHALLENGES FOR KNOWLEDGE ERA

Conference Paper · September 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1985.8402

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 CHALLENGES FOR KNOWLEDGE ERA
Er. Darapu Srikanth Satish Kumar (DSSK), M.Tech.(NITW), (Ph.D.), MIE
MISCA, MIAENG, MIAHS, MEWRA, MISTE, MIGS, AMUACSE
Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
GITAM Institute of Technology, GITAM University
Visakhapatnam - 530 045, A.P., INDIA

Er. Darapu (Boosala) Swathisri, B.Tech., (M.Tech.), MIAENG, MIACSIT

Master’s Degree Student, Heat Transfer in Energy Systems
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Andhra University College of Engineering
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam

PROLOGUE
On 31st October 2014, Virgin Galactic’s Spaceship Two test flight crashed. It was declared that a serious
functional anomaly caused this failure. But in July 2015, the US National Transportation Safety Board
(USNTSB) has declared that the failure is due to human error which is in turn due to inadequate training.
The spaceship is designed to carry passengers to space. The 21st century is which is the ‘Era of
Knowledge’ is posing umpteen challenges for the mankind. Climate change, global warming, El Niño and
La Niña etc. pose a great threat to the life on mother earth.

Fig-1: Virgin Galactic’s Spaceship Two © Fig-2: Launch of ISRO's GSLV-D6 ©

Recently ISRO's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-D6 has successfully launched the
communication satellite GSAT-6. The important point here is that ISRO scientists have used the
indigenously made cryogenic engine which is technically a very complex system.

TECHNOLGIES OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

Researchers of University of California, San Francisco, and Russia's Pavlov Institute have used a new
treatment technique called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, a non-invasive spinal cord
simulation, to get the paralyzed legs move voluntarily. Fraunhofer researchers are developing an implant
which could regulate the ocular fluids and helps in preserving the vision. This could be one of the
revolutionary inventions of the 21st Century. Researchers have developed a technology which allows the
paralyzed people to speak using their ‘breath signals’! World Health Organization (WHO) researches
team has recently invented vaccine for Ebola.
This era brought Digital Revolution. Cloud Computing is going to be expanded like anything. The focus
is shifting from computers to hand held mobile devices. E-governance is addressing many societal
problems. Green Buildings, eco-towers help in achieving sustainable development. Advance GPS systems
tell about the whereabouts of our little ones and elderly there by safeguarding them. Engineers at
University of Alabama at Birmingham created new technology tornado panels which when installed in
safe room can withstand winds up to 400 kmph! Scientists at Rice University are working on three-
dimensional structures of boron nitride which might be used to control heat flow in small electronic
devices. Research is going on tiny solar cells which can charge vehicles – there by reducing the
dependency on the conventional fossil fuels which cause environmental pollution and thus deterioration.
Drones are used everywhere – for security purposes and tracking radio tags. Nissan Motors has recently
developed a whopping 400 bhp engine which weighs only 40 kg!
3D Computer cursors are in development stage to navigate the virtual worlds. Research is going on room
temperature super conductors without energy dissipation. Smart sensors and highly advanced molecular
scanners can do wonderful things. 3D printing has revolutionary impacts. Self-healing materials and other
advance materials are playing a vital role in automobile and construction industries. Advanced smart
phones bring complicated technologies in to our hands. Scientists are working on Hybrid artificial
photosynthesis which can convert CO2 into bio-fuel.

MAJOR CHALLENGES AHEAD

The major challenges ahead are to provide safe drinking water, clean air, food security, and shelter to the
ever increasing population. The burgeoning population poses numerous challenges. Regulation of
population growth by educating the people and eradication of poverty is going to be vital. This is also
crucial for combating epidemics, endemics and other diseases. Around 700 million people in more than
40 countries suffer from acute water stress. By 2025 this number is going to increase to 1.8 billion! More
than 1.2 billion i.e. one-fifth of the world population live in areas of physical water scarcity, another 1.6
billion people face severe economic water scarcity. Physical scarcity is due to the lack of resources.
Economic scarcity is due to lack of funds to develop the water-infrastructure. According to the Global
Change Assessment Model (GCAM) findings are quite alarming - by the end of 21st century more than
50% of the population will be living under extreme water scarcity. The growth of water use is almost
twice that of the population growth rate. Access to water for domestic purposes has a direct bearing on
poverty and food security.
Desertification, water scarcity are spreading due to unsustainable practices. Equitable distribution of
water resources is going to be extremely crucial for a sustainable future. This can be achieved by means
of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) which is a part of Sustainable Water Resources
Management (SWRM). SWRM practices - which involves green practices - must be put in vast use on a
global scale and at sufficient rapidity. World Water Council's directives like Hydro-Diplomacy are
appreciable. It also framed a World Water Vision re the future water resources. In order to combat the
water scarcity and mitigate the adverse effects due to paucity of water, we all must work towards
sustainable water resources water management (SWRM). The water conservation practices must be put in
place. Recycling of water must be done. Proper water infrastructure has to be developed. It is important to
note that the major civilizations had flourished in and around the river basins. Waste water usage with
basic treatment in agriculture is looked upon. Holistic water system management in place is very much
essential.
Combating climate change has direct impact on the spread of the water resources - and Water scarcity
limits our ability to combat climate change. Major implications of Climate change are increased acute
 drought in some regions and extreme flooding in the other regions and occurrences of these deteriorating
processes in a rapid cyclic process. The rise in temperatures cause global melt down of glaciers in some
regions and intensified forest fires in other regions. El Niño conditions are growing stronger. Climate
change also puts the health of ecosystems in alarming levels of danger. Damage caused by hurricanes like
Katrina, cyclones like Hudhud are devastating. We have to have proper disaster response system in place
to mitigate the effects of such natural calamities. To combat the adverse effects of climate change
afforestation must be practiced intensely. Rainwater harvesting and ground water recharge measures have
to be intensely practiced.
Extreme global weather changes drastically deteriorate the means of achieving food security. The World
Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to
sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. More fertile lands are becoming
barren due to unsustainable practices. So we have to think and mandate the use of sustainable agricultural
practices. Agricultural water demand is major and puts more water stress. Achieving food security in a
sustainable manner is arguably the greatest challenge faced by the mankind. By 2050 at least 9 billion
people will need food. Unless food security is achieved we cannot have a stronger future generations
because of malnutrition. According to the Global Food Security Index panel "The path to food security
begins by exploring the challenges, then developing solutions." The Commission on Sustainable
Agriculture and Climate Change (CSACC) has recommended the integration of the food security and
sustainable agriculture into global as well as national policies, significant raise in the levels of global
investments in sustainable agriculture, sustainable intensification of agricultural production while
reducing GHG emissions.
Energy engineering and intelligent systems development - which is multi-disciplinary - is another
important challenging filed. Let’s realize that the daily CO2 emissions remain with us for at least 100
more years! It's very important for the nations to think about the immediate massive implementation of
usage and development of infrastructure of alternative energy sources like solar and wind energies. The
alternative energies have huge long-term economic benefits as well, apart from environmental benefits.
Another important thing is to provide shelter to the needy on the lines of provision of clean air, water and
food. Around one billion people throughout the world live in slums which indicates the massive
development of shelter and infrastructure. At the same time, the Green building concepts - part of
Sustainable Resources Management (SWM) - must be brought in at much more faster pace than what it is
today.
Engineers are part of solutions to all the challenges ahead! And always remember "Protect the Nature -
Nature protects you!"

REFERENCES
1. United Nations (2015), http://www.un.org/
2. Gizmag (2015), http://www.gizmag.com/
3. Science Daily (2015), http://www.sciencedaily.com/
4. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (2015), http://www.uab.edu/home/
5. Live Science (2015), http://www.livescience.com/technology/
6. World Water Council (2015), http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/
7. NASA Global Climate Change (2015), http://climate.nasa.gov/
8. World Health Organization (2015), http://www.who.int/en/
9. CGIAR, http://www.cgiar.org/

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