Solutions manual for:
Environmental engineering: fundamentals, sustainability, design
2ndedition
,Chapter 1. Sustainable design, engineering, and innovation
1.1 Write an official 1-page office memo to your instructor that provides definitions for: (a)
sustainable development (by the bruntland commission), (b) sustainability (according to the
american academy of environmental engineers (aaee) body of knowledge), (c) sustainability
(according to the american society of civil engineers (asce) body of knowledge), and, (d)
sustainable development (according to the national society of professional engineers (nspe)
code of ethics).
Solution:
Student responses will vary. See the next page for a full example memo.
Solutions Manual prepared by: Colleen Naughton, Ziad Katirji and Heather E. Wright Wendel
Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design, 2nd Edition
James R. Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2014.
,Date: february 10, 2010
To: james r. Mihelcic, civil & environmental engineering
Subject: definitions of sustainable development
The bruntland commission defines sustainable development as “development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs."1
The american society of civil engineers (asce) body of knowledge defines sustainability as “the
ability to meet human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food,
transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving and enhancing en-
vironmental quality and the natural resource base essential for the future.”2
The american academy of environmental engineers (aaee) body of knowledge defines
sustainability as “a condition in which the use of natural resources and cycles in human and
industrial systems does not lead to diminished quality of life due either to losses in future
economic opportunities or to adverse impacts on social conditions, human health and the
environment.”3 this definition is based on that of mihelcic et al. (2003).4
The national society of professional engineers (nspe) defines sustainable development as “the
challenge of meeting human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food,
transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving and protecting
environmental quality and the natural resource base essential for future development”.5
All these definitions are similar to the broadest definition of sustainability by the bruntland
commission . Asce, aaee, and nspe definitions add more detail to the definition of development
in relation to their respective fields with infrastructure and the environment. Between the three
engineering societies, asce and nspe are almost identical in defining sustainability as meeting
human needs for engineering systems without compromising the future. However, the definition
by aaee is unique and incorporates quality of life as opposed to human needs, social conditions,
and human health.
1
world commission on environment and development. (1987). Our common future. Oxford: oxford university press.
2
american society of civil engineers. (2008). Civil engineering body of knowledge for the 21st century, preparing
the civil engineer for the future, (2nd. Ed.). Body of knowledge committee of the committee on academic
prerequisites for professional practice. Reston, va.
3
american academy of environmental engineers. (2009). Environmental engineering body of knowledge. The
environmental engineering body of knowledge task force, baltimore, md.
4
mihelcic, j.r., crittenden, j.c., small, m.j., shonnard, d.r., hokanson, d.r., zhang, q., chen, h., sorby, s.a., james, v.u.,
sutherland, j.w., schnoor, j.l. (2003). “sustainability science and engineering: emergence of a new metadiscipline,”
environmental science & technology, 37(23):5314-5324.
5
national society of professional engineer. (2007). Code of ethics for engineers, alexandria, va.
Solutions Manual prepared by: Colleen Naughton, Ziad Katirji and Heather E. Wright Wendel
Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design, 2nd Edition
James R. Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2014.
, 1.2 Write your own definition of sustainable development as it applies to your engineering
profession. Explain its appropriateness and applicability in 2-3 sentences.
Solution:
Student responses will vary.
Solutions Manual prepared by: Colleen Naughton, Ziad Katirji and Heather E. Wright Wendel
Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design, 2nd Edition
James R. Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2014.
Environmental engineering: fundamentals, sustainability, design
2ndedition
,Chapter 1. Sustainable design, engineering, and innovation
1.1 Write an official 1-page office memo to your instructor that provides definitions for: (a)
sustainable development (by the bruntland commission), (b) sustainability (according to the
american academy of environmental engineers (aaee) body of knowledge), (c) sustainability
(according to the american society of civil engineers (asce) body of knowledge), and, (d)
sustainable development (according to the national society of professional engineers (nspe)
code of ethics).
Solution:
Student responses will vary. See the next page for a full example memo.
Solutions Manual prepared by: Colleen Naughton, Ziad Katirji and Heather E. Wright Wendel
Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design, 2nd Edition
James R. Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2014.
,Date: february 10, 2010
To: james r. Mihelcic, civil & environmental engineering
Subject: definitions of sustainable development
The bruntland commission defines sustainable development as “development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs."1
The american society of civil engineers (asce) body of knowledge defines sustainability as “the
ability to meet human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food,
transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving and enhancing en-
vironmental quality and the natural resource base essential for the future.”2
The american academy of environmental engineers (aaee) body of knowledge defines
sustainability as “a condition in which the use of natural resources and cycles in human and
industrial systems does not lead to diminished quality of life due either to losses in future
economic opportunities or to adverse impacts on social conditions, human health and the
environment.”3 this definition is based on that of mihelcic et al. (2003).4
The national society of professional engineers (nspe) defines sustainable development as “the
challenge of meeting human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food,
transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving and protecting
environmental quality and the natural resource base essential for future development”.5
All these definitions are similar to the broadest definition of sustainability by the bruntland
commission . Asce, aaee, and nspe definitions add more detail to the definition of development
in relation to their respective fields with infrastructure and the environment. Between the three
engineering societies, asce and nspe are almost identical in defining sustainability as meeting
human needs for engineering systems without compromising the future. However, the definition
by aaee is unique and incorporates quality of life as opposed to human needs, social conditions,
and human health.
1
world commission on environment and development. (1987). Our common future. Oxford: oxford university press.
2
american society of civil engineers. (2008). Civil engineering body of knowledge for the 21st century, preparing
the civil engineer for the future, (2nd. Ed.). Body of knowledge committee of the committee on academic
prerequisites for professional practice. Reston, va.
3
american academy of environmental engineers. (2009). Environmental engineering body of knowledge. The
environmental engineering body of knowledge task force, baltimore, md.
4
mihelcic, j.r., crittenden, j.c., small, m.j., shonnard, d.r., hokanson, d.r., zhang, q., chen, h., sorby, s.a., james, v.u.,
sutherland, j.w., schnoor, j.l. (2003). “sustainability science and engineering: emergence of a new metadiscipline,”
environmental science & technology, 37(23):5314-5324.
5
national society of professional engineer. (2007). Code of ethics for engineers, alexandria, va.
Solutions Manual prepared by: Colleen Naughton, Ziad Katirji and Heather E. Wright Wendel
Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design, 2nd Edition
James R. Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2014.
, 1.2 Write your own definition of sustainable development as it applies to your engineering
profession. Explain its appropriateness and applicability in 2-3 sentences.
Solution:
Student responses will vary.
Solutions Manual prepared by: Colleen Naughton, Ziad Katirji and Heather E. Wright Wendel
Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design, 2nd Edition
James R. Mihelcic and Julie Beth Zimmerman, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2014.
