Solutions manual for:
Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design 3rd
Edition
by James R. Mihelcic (Author), Julie B. Zimmerman (Author)
,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.
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.
, 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.
Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design 3rd
Edition
by James R. Mihelcic (Author), Julie B. Zimmerman (Author)
,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.
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.
, 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.
