Future Challenges Professor: Dr. Miguel Alonso Jr.

Outline Expanding world population Pollution Energy Transportation Infrastructure Aerospace Competitiveness and Productivity

Through out history, Engineers have been problem solvers at the forefront of change Engineers bring about change Must focus on the exciting challenges and opportunities that lie ahead

Expanding World Population One billion people – beginning of recorded history until billion in 1900 Today, over 6 billion, 4.4 billion in one century! Estimated 9 billion by 2050 Growth rate, 1.3% annually, or 77 million/year ½ the growth is in 6 countries: India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Indonesia

This growth impacts land use, air and water resources, food production and distribution Some areas use water faster than it is replaced, fertile land is dwindling Deforestation for fuel and to make way for housing Demand for housing, food, water, energy and waste disposal are taxing resources It is up to engineers to use their talents in an effort to improve these situations

Pollution Engineers must be aware of the impact of their work on the environment Small actions may have long term effects Air pollution: atmosphere absorbs gases, solids, or liquids They can damage the atmosphere, endanger human, animal, and plant life Major cause: burning gasoline, oil, or coal without proper controls to remove the pollutants

Air Pollution Acid rain in the US and South-east Asia High level toxins in unexpected areas PDBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), DDT(Dichloro- diphenyl-trichloroethane), mercury, and dioxin in the Arctic Carbon emissions expected to reach 8 billion metric tons by 2010 Clean Air Act is an effort to monitor air quality Engineers have the technical knowledge to develop and implement the necessary controls for this to be succesfull

Water Pollution Major sources of water pollution Industrial waste, chemicals, detergents, pesticides, weed killers, municipal sewage, acid rain, metal residue, bacteria and viruses, and even artificially enriched plant growth These pollutants upset the delicate balance 40% of the world population already faces chronic water shortages Water supplies could run out in the next century if per capita consumption and excessive use in agriculture are not controlled

Solid Waste Safe and efficient disposal of solid waste is one of the most serious challenges facing the engineers of tomorrow Trash, garbage, or refuse that is solid or semi solid In 1920, the US generated 2.75 pounds per person per day In 1970, 5.5 pounds 1980, 10 pounds

Establishment of solid waste management and disposal occurs at the state and local levels Engineers should be involved in policymaking at all levels Waste to Energy Recycling Another problem, obsolete weapon disposal Transportation and dumping of waste

Energy World energy demand will grow steadily Fossil fuels will account for a substantial portion of the world energy demand by 2025 And, there will be a shift of energy demand by world regions as many third world countries demand will rise significantly Energy technology is catching up though Recoverable resources Petroleum: rose 60% (last 40 yrs), Natural Gas: 140% (last 60 yrs), Coal (last 200 yrs) But, resources are finite, so there is still a need for development

Transportation Transportation problems have increased as the number of cars on the street has increased Motorists in urban areas spend more than a week per year in traffic jams This costs 63 billion in the areas surveyed Energy use for transportation growth rate: 4%

Infrastructure Entities to support human activity Roads, bridges, transportation services, public service facilities, and buildings Huge concern as much of the existing infrastructure is aging Bridges falling, buildings collapsing Developing countries need infrastructure

Aerospace US Space and Defense programs have typically supplied engineers with many jobs Recent disasters (86’ Challenger, 03’ Columbia) have caused re-evaluation of these programs Breakup of the soviet union, world wide terrorism have prompted growth in this sector Commercial Aviation industry, however, is struggling in the aftermath of 9/11 and the war in Iraq

Competitiveness and Productivity The health of a nation’s economy can often be measured by its relative productivity and competitiveness Advances by foreign countries in basic science and research now often surpass those of the US, which directly impacts jobs, industry, national security, and strength of the nations intellectual and cultural life Patents, Published scientific papers, Number of Ph Ds awarded, have fallen Requires the investment in innovation and discovery