Engineering Solutions for Sustainability: Materials and Resources

A wealth of resources and topics of discussion from theEngineering Solutions for Sustainability: Materials and Resourcesworkshop held in Switzerland in 2009

Natural resources are the lifeblood of agricultural andindustrial endeavors that contribute to our social and economicwell–being. Yet, even as these resources dwindle frommismanagement, there is still no clear consensus in the engineeringcommunity of what actually defines "sustainable engineering."

This publication offers the engineering profession amulti–disciplinary blueprint for action by presenting topics ofdiscussion from the Engineering Solutions for Sustainability:Materials and Resources workshop held at the écolePolytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, July22 24, 2009. It includes an extensive bibliography andrecommended readings section, and a summary of key, cross–cuttinginitiatives recommended as priorities because of their potential tocreate common principles for advancing societal sustainabilitythrough technological, educational, and public policysolutions.

The resources, tools, and concepts delivered in this report drawfrom the unique perspectives and expertise of an array ofengineering disciplines, represented by delegates from the AmericanInstitute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME),the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the AmericanInstitute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The intent of thispublication is to forge a better understanding of the role andresponsibility of engineering in achieving global sustainability,while also laying the foundation for an ongoing and productiveinterdisciplinary dialogue in other forums.

About the Workshop Sponsors ix

Acknowledgments x

I Executive Summary 1

II Introduction and Process 6

III Human Needs (Water, Food, and Health) 12

Figure 1: Earth′s Water Balance 15

Table 1: Water Consumption by Energy Type in the United States16

IV Infrastructure (Transportation, Housing, and Urban Design)23

Figure 1: The Brooklyn Bridge: An Example of a Pioneering andSustained Urban Infrastructure 25

Figure 2: The Los Angeles Airport "Theme Building": Melding Art,Architecture, and Air Transport 28

V The Resource Cycle 30

V(A). Energy 30

Figure 1: Carbon Abatement Wedges 33

Figure 2: Populations Without Electricity Access 34

V(B). Mineral Resources 37

Figure 3: Expansion of the Scope of Concern about Mineral Supply39

Figure 4: Assessing How a Mine Project Can Contribute toSustainable Development 40

Table 1: Five Dimensions of Mineral Availability 41

Figure 5: The Scope of Material Stewardship Encompasses Processand Product Stewardship 42

Table 2: Opportunities for Research and Development in theMinerals Sector 43

V(C). Materials and Recycling 46

VI Human Resources 52

VII Linking Technologies to Resources 61

Figure 1: Technology and Resources Matrix 62

VIII The Path Forward 66

Appendix A: List of Delegates 68

Appendix B: References and Recommended Readings 70

Appendix C: Summary of Sector–Specific Advances 77