Lesson 1
History of engineering
● North American universities have existed for 300 years. Since, there has always been an
engineering faculty at every uni (has been the case from the beginning)
● With engineering, there were few departments: civil engineering, mechanical
engineering, and chemical engineering (these are the 4 traditional engineering
departments)
● With the development of electricity, electrical engineering was added
● Then: computer engineering, airspace engineering, agricultural engineering, etc.
● Some universities have over 30 engineering departments today
● Where does environmental engineering stand?
● It does not belong to one field of engineering. It is traditionally attached to civil
and chemical engineering
● When environmental engineering was augmented, environmental engineering
expanded in terms of direction (ex. Toxicity, risk management, etc.)
● In some universities, environmental engineering is still attached to other fields of
engineering (civil and chemical) — this is the case in MTL universities; other
universities form a distinct department
● the concept of the environment
● Ideas about the environment and what it includes has evolved
● The environment used to be associated with the human being; it has now been
extended to other species (the ecosystem includes more than just human
beings)
● Taking care of environment = taking care of ecosystem = taking care of living
(humans, animals, etc.) and non-living matter (infrastructure, etc.)
● The primary goal of environment is “what is its effects on human beings” but
more is explored to figure out how these things affect humans
● Prioritizing is important when thinking about the environment
Chapter 1
● What is the role of the engineer in speaking of the environment?
● A multidisciplinary team is needed to solve an environmental problem today
(because they are complicated and they involve many disciplines)
● The role of engineering in this multidisciplinary team
, ● An engineer is important for practical application (other people serve to
discuss the theoretical) — Application and theory must both be included
in discussions
● When the engineer has a grasp on other fields (other than engineering),
this is better
● environmental studies requires knowledge in a combination of fields
● (p.12) Green engineering: the application of the sensitivity in the world revolving the
environment to practical engineering problems
● Ex. fridge → when your fridge stops working, you have to think of what will
happen to your fridge. The freon in the fridge, if disposed of wrong, will go into
the atmosphere. Components of the fridge can be recovered and reused (this
requires a different process)
● Some branches of green engineering:
● green design: involves doing the design with a concept of
green/environment in mind; involves considering changes across the
engineering process;
● the concept where environmental concerns are considered without
compromising productivity when thinking of an engineering design
● pollution prevention: trying to prevent negative consequences for the
environment; this is more difficult
● There used to be storms. Now, we have tsunamis (storms at a
frequency that has never happened before). Tsunamis are outside
our knowledge + we try to see what to do after the damage is
done, but it is too late. We need to do this searching before to
prevent what may happen.
● industrial ecology (industrial production used to be based on good
production and profit. Now, we consider using different raw materials in
the process that will give a different product, but in a more ecological
way)
● defined as a concept focused on the stages of production processes from an
environmental/ecological point of view (specifically with a focus on
conserving and reusing resources)
● Industrial ecology is the means by which humanity can deliberately and
rationally approach and maintain a desirable carrying capacity, given
continued economic, cultural, and technological evolution. The concept
requires that an industrial sys~ tern be viewed not in isolation from its
surrounding systems, but in concert with them. it is a systems view in
which one seeks to optimize the total materials cycle from virgin
material, to nished material, to component, to product, to obsolete
, product, and to ultimate disposal. Factors to be optimized include
resources, energy, and capital. -- txtbk
● Before green engineering: used to only consider profit (economics). Now, green
engineering is a necessity, if you do not, you go out of business.
● Sustainable development → Sustainable development is development that meets the needs
of the present with-out compromising the ability of future generations to meet their owa needs.
● Difference between pure scientist and engineer
● pure sciences (physics, chemistry, etc.) use observation and measurement + bring
observation and measurement closer together. To bring the two closer together,
they establish a theory and attempt to prove it using the same 2 tools. When the
observation and measurement correlate, the theory is proven true.
● The engineer uses mathematics (numbers, computer programs). He plugs the
numbers and sees the result.
● The goal is the same for both but the tools and methods are different.
● The best result is when pure sciences and engineering cooperate (as both are
needed). The better the cooperation between the two, the better the result.
Better cooperation occurs when people on these teams have knowledge on an
array of topics
Table 1.1: environmental change from human activities
Human activity Physical changes Chemical changes Biological changes
Land and water use Deforestation and Changes to chemical Changes in the
for housing, other alterations of constituents of soils viability of plants,
agriculture, industry, landscapes (changes and sediments fish, animals, and
transportation, and in terrain slope, (increased acidity and microorganisms due
recreation vegetation coverage, turbidity of waters, to altered habitat and
pavement); alteration removal of nutrients chemical constituents
of waterways from soils) or concentrations
(flooding dams, possibly leading to
changes in river species successions,
channels, drainage of extinction, migration,
wetlands or disease
Emissions or Changes to the built Increases in the Injury or illness to
discharge of chemical environment concentration of people, plants, and
substances to air, (structures such as emitted substances in animals from
land, and water buildings, bridges, the air, water, and exposure to and/or
monuments, etc.) soil; other chemical accumulation of
, from deposition and changes resulting chemicals and their
chemical attack from secondary derivatives
caused by emissions reactions (ozone
such as soot deposits, buildup in urban
acid gases, and liquid areas)
chemicals
Chapter 2
*covers the topics of air, water, and salt/food (in order of priority)
Three key distinctions
1. Negative effects and impacts regarding environmental concerns (we will deal with
negatives, not positives)
● Impacts from most to least severe: death (worst possible impact), severe illness,
illness/mild or small illness, disease, bothering (lowest impact)
2. Acute versus chronic
● Acute: something that affects right away (2 days, 2 weeks, etc.)
● Chronic: long term effects (2 months, years, decades)
3. Carcinogenic vs. Non-carcinogenic (new distinction)
● this distinction helps because it determines the treatment and management of a
product (if something is carcinogenic, there are different treatments and
measures)
● Carcinogens: asbestis, benzine
● More/new carcinogenic products are discovered all the time
● Further, the third distinction is a distinction between whether it is carcinogenic
to humans or animals/other species
● this further distinction allows us to better understand the harm of
substances
● This allows for prevention — future generations will not endure negative
effects of consuming carcinogens
Air (p.22)
● Speaking of air in this context speaks of atmospheric emissions (something admitted
into atmosphere) and air pollution
● The phenomenon of air pollution is recent
● The earth did not always have such a large population, and had cleaner air
● Laws based on pollution only came later
History of engineering
● North American universities have existed for 300 years. Since, there has always been an
engineering faculty at every uni (has been the case from the beginning)
● With engineering, there were few departments: civil engineering, mechanical
engineering, and chemical engineering (these are the 4 traditional engineering
departments)
● With the development of electricity, electrical engineering was added
● Then: computer engineering, airspace engineering, agricultural engineering, etc.
● Some universities have over 30 engineering departments today
● Where does environmental engineering stand?
● It does not belong to one field of engineering. It is traditionally attached to civil
and chemical engineering
● When environmental engineering was augmented, environmental engineering
expanded in terms of direction (ex. Toxicity, risk management, etc.)
● In some universities, environmental engineering is still attached to other fields of
engineering (civil and chemical) — this is the case in MTL universities; other
universities form a distinct department
● the concept of the environment
● Ideas about the environment and what it includes has evolved
● The environment used to be associated with the human being; it has now been
extended to other species (the ecosystem includes more than just human
beings)
● Taking care of environment = taking care of ecosystem = taking care of living
(humans, animals, etc.) and non-living matter (infrastructure, etc.)
● The primary goal of environment is “what is its effects on human beings” but
more is explored to figure out how these things affect humans
● Prioritizing is important when thinking about the environment
Chapter 1
● What is the role of the engineer in speaking of the environment?
● A multidisciplinary team is needed to solve an environmental problem today
(because they are complicated and they involve many disciplines)
● The role of engineering in this multidisciplinary team
, ● An engineer is important for practical application (other people serve to
discuss the theoretical) — Application and theory must both be included
in discussions
● When the engineer has a grasp on other fields (other than engineering),
this is better
● environmental studies requires knowledge in a combination of fields
● (p.12) Green engineering: the application of the sensitivity in the world revolving the
environment to practical engineering problems
● Ex. fridge → when your fridge stops working, you have to think of what will
happen to your fridge. The freon in the fridge, if disposed of wrong, will go into
the atmosphere. Components of the fridge can be recovered and reused (this
requires a different process)
● Some branches of green engineering:
● green design: involves doing the design with a concept of
green/environment in mind; involves considering changes across the
engineering process;
● the concept where environmental concerns are considered without
compromising productivity when thinking of an engineering design
● pollution prevention: trying to prevent negative consequences for the
environment; this is more difficult
● There used to be storms. Now, we have tsunamis (storms at a
frequency that has never happened before). Tsunamis are outside
our knowledge + we try to see what to do after the damage is
done, but it is too late. We need to do this searching before to
prevent what may happen.
● industrial ecology (industrial production used to be based on good
production and profit. Now, we consider using different raw materials in
the process that will give a different product, but in a more ecological
way)
● defined as a concept focused on the stages of production processes from an
environmental/ecological point of view (specifically with a focus on
conserving and reusing resources)
● Industrial ecology is the means by which humanity can deliberately and
rationally approach and maintain a desirable carrying capacity, given
continued economic, cultural, and technological evolution. The concept
requires that an industrial sys~ tern be viewed not in isolation from its
surrounding systems, but in concert with them. it is a systems view in
which one seeks to optimize the total materials cycle from virgin
material, to nished material, to component, to product, to obsolete
, product, and to ultimate disposal. Factors to be optimized include
resources, energy, and capital. -- txtbk
● Before green engineering: used to only consider profit (economics). Now, green
engineering is a necessity, if you do not, you go out of business.
● Sustainable development → Sustainable development is development that meets the needs
of the present with-out compromising the ability of future generations to meet their owa needs.
● Difference between pure scientist and engineer
● pure sciences (physics, chemistry, etc.) use observation and measurement + bring
observation and measurement closer together. To bring the two closer together,
they establish a theory and attempt to prove it using the same 2 tools. When the
observation and measurement correlate, the theory is proven true.
● The engineer uses mathematics (numbers, computer programs). He plugs the
numbers and sees the result.
● The goal is the same for both but the tools and methods are different.
● The best result is when pure sciences and engineering cooperate (as both are
needed). The better the cooperation between the two, the better the result.
Better cooperation occurs when people on these teams have knowledge on an
array of topics
Table 1.1: environmental change from human activities
Human activity Physical changes Chemical changes Biological changes
Land and water use Deforestation and Changes to chemical Changes in the
for housing, other alterations of constituents of soils viability of plants,
agriculture, industry, landscapes (changes and sediments fish, animals, and
transportation, and in terrain slope, (increased acidity and microorganisms due
recreation vegetation coverage, turbidity of waters, to altered habitat and
pavement); alteration removal of nutrients chemical constituents
of waterways from soils) or concentrations
(flooding dams, possibly leading to
changes in river species successions,
channels, drainage of extinction, migration,
wetlands or disease
Emissions or Changes to the built Increases in the Injury or illness to
discharge of chemical environment concentration of people, plants, and
substances to air, (structures such as emitted substances in animals from
land, and water buildings, bridges, the air, water, and exposure to and/or
monuments, etc.) soil; other chemical accumulation of
, from deposition and changes resulting chemicals and their
chemical attack from secondary derivatives
caused by emissions reactions (ozone
such as soot deposits, buildup in urban
acid gases, and liquid areas)
chemicals
Chapter 2
*covers the topics of air, water, and salt/food (in order of priority)
Three key distinctions
1. Negative effects and impacts regarding environmental concerns (we will deal with
negatives, not positives)
● Impacts from most to least severe: death (worst possible impact), severe illness,
illness/mild or small illness, disease, bothering (lowest impact)
2. Acute versus chronic
● Acute: something that affects right away (2 days, 2 weeks, etc.)
● Chronic: long term effects (2 months, years, decades)
3. Carcinogenic vs. Non-carcinogenic (new distinction)
● this distinction helps because it determines the treatment and management of a
product (if something is carcinogenic, there are different treatments and
measures)
● Carcinogens: asbestis, benzine
● More/new carcinogenic products are discovered all the time
● Further, the third distinction is a distinction between whether it is carcinogenic
to humans or animals/other species
● this further distinction allows us to better understand the harm of
substances
● This allows for prevention — future generations will not endure negative
effects of consuming carcinogens
Air (p.22)
● Speaking of air in this context speaks of atmospheric emissions (something admitted
into atmosphere) and air pollution
● The phenomenon of air pollution is recent
● The earth did not always have such a large population, and had cleaner air
● Laws based on pollution only came later
