Universal human rights and basic necessities are attainable by all people,

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY who have access to enough resources in order to keep their families and
communities healthy and secure. Healthy communities have just leaders who
AND THE FUTURE ensure personal, labour and cultural rights are respected and all people are
protected from discrimination.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainability development is a concept that appeared for the first time in
1987 with the publication of the Brundtland Report, warning of the negative
environmental consequences of economic growth and globalization, which tried to
SUSTAINABILITY
find possible solutions to the problems caused by industrialization and population
Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the growth.
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

While the concept of sustainability is a relatively new idea, the movement as

a whole has roots in social justice, conservationism, internationalism and other past SUSTAINABILITY AND ROLE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IN
movements with rich histories. By the end of the twentieth centuries, many of these SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
ideas had come together in the call for ‘sustainable development.’

Three pillars of sustainability:

POLICY STATEMENT 418 - THE ROLE OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER IN SUSTAINABLE
1. Environmental Sustainability DEVELOPMENT

Ecological integrity is maintained, all of earth’s environmental systems are

kept in balance while natural resources within them are consumed by humans at a Approved by the Committee for Sustainability on August 23, 2017
rate where they are able to replenish themselves. Approved by the Public Policy Committee on May 6, 2018
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 13, 2018 
2. Economic Sustainability

Human communities across the globe are able to maintain their POLICY
independence and have access to the resources that they require, financial and
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) defines sustainability as a set
other, to meet their needs. Economic systems are intact and activities are available
of economic, environmental and social conditions (aka "The Triple Bottom Line") in
to everyone, such as secure sources of livelihood.
which all of society has the capacity and opportunity to maintain and improve its
3. Social Sustainability quality of life indefinitely without degrading the quantity, quality or the availability

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

 of economic, environmental and social resources. Sustainable development is the competitiveness and ecological sustainability are complementary aspects of the
application of these resources to enhance the safety, welfare, and quality of life for common goal of improving the quality of life.
all of society.
RATIONALE

Civil engineers shall be committed to the following ASCE Principles of Sustainable Civil engineers have a leading role in planning, designing, building, and
Development: ensuring a sustainable future by providing the bridge between science and society.
In this role, engineers must actively promote and participate in multidisciplinary
teams with other professionals, such as ecologists, economists, and sociologists, and
 Principle 1- Do the Right Project.
work with the communities served and affected to effectively address the issues and
 Principle 2 - Do the Project Right. challenges of sustainable development.  

ASCE supports the following steps to achieve a sustainable project:  ASCE Policy Statement 418
First Approved in 1993
 Perform Life Cycle Assessment from Planning to Reuse.
 Use Resources Wisely. Minimize Use of Non Renewable Resources.
 Plan for Resiliency. TERMINOLOGIES
 Validate Application of Principles.

ISSUE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

A sustainable material is one that:
ASCE recognizes the leadership role of engineers in sustainable
development, and their responsibility to provide effective and innovative solutions  Does not deplete non-renewable (natural) resources.
in addressing the challenges of sustainability. The ASCE Code of Ethics states that  Has no adverse impact on the environment when used.
"Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and
shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the Sustainable construction materials are building materials made from
performance of their professional duties." ASCE works on a global scale to promote recycled products and resources that can be replenished in a relatively short
public recognition and understanding of the needs and opportunities for sustainable amount of time. There are many types of sustainable construction materials, often
development and contribute to health communities. referred to as green building products.

Environmental, economic, social and technological development must be Constructing with sustainable materials is not only good for the planet and
seen as interdependent and complementary concepts, where economic common sense, it can save the client money, help preserve our heritage, respond to

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

planning policies and help get credits in BREEAM, LEED and others environmental Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Cities
assessment tools.
UN Environment assists member states and stakeholders to achieve
SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS relevant SDGs on cities including SDG 11 (sustainable cities and human settlements)
with specific focus on access to housing and basic services, sustainable transport
Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more system, sustainable urbanization, access to public spaces, sustainable buildings, per
resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and capital environmental impact of cities, and policies towards climate change,
demolition. resource efficiency and disaster risk reduction.
Sustainable building is a building that can maintain or improve: The main areas for the current work on sustainable cities are:
1. The quality of life and harmonize within the local climate, tradition, culture, 1) Sustainable consumption and production roadmap for cities covering all the
2. The environment in the region, sectors
3. Conserve energy, resources and recycling materials,
4. Reduce the amount hazardous substances to which human and other 2) Upstream interventions through policy, technology and financing to reduce and
organisms are (or may be) exposed and manage pollution and waste

5. The local and global ecosystem throughout the entire building life-cycle. Partnership

Partnerships among governments, private sector and other civil society

SUSTAINABLE CITIES
groups can help to achieve resource efficient and environmentally sound production
Sustainable cities, urban sustainability, or eco-city (also "ecocity") is a city patterns, sustainable lifestyles, circular economy and spur new businesses with
designed with consideration for social, economic, environmental impact (commonly additional jobs focusing on green technologies and environmental services. Private
referred to as the triple bottom line) and resilient habitat for existing populations, sector participation through various mechanisms such as public - private -
without compromising the ability of future generations to experience the same. partnerships will help to improve the level of investments and efficiency of urban
These cities are inhabited by people whom are dedicated towards minimization of environmental management.
required inputs of energy, water, food, waste, and output of heat, air pollution -
CO2, methane, and water pollution. GREENHOUSE GASES

A sustainable city creates an enduring way of life across the four domains of Greenhouse gases are those that absorb and emit infrared radiation in the
ecology, economics, politics and culture. Goals of a sustainable city are to be able to wavelength range emitted by Earth. Greenhouse gases cause the greenhouse effect.
feed itself with a sustainable reliance on the surrounding natural environment and In order, the most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are:
have the ability to power itself with renewable sources of energy.
 Water vapor (H2O)
 Carbon dioxide (CO2)

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

 Methane (CH4) PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. The environmental effects of global warming are broad
 Nitrous oxide (N2O) and far-reaching. They include effects on the oceans, ice, and weather and may
 Ozone (O3) occur gradually or rapidly.
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
 Hydrofluorocarbons (includes HCFCs and HFCs) BIOSPHERE. In terrestrial ecosystems, the earlier timing of spring events, as well as
pole ward and upward shifts in plant and animal ranges, have been linked with high
Greenhouse Effect confidence to recent warming. It is expected that most ecosystems will be affected
by higher atmospheric CO2 levels and higher global temperatures.
The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet's
atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be HUMAN. The effects of climate change on human systems, mostly due to warming
without this atmosphere. and shifts in precipitation, have been detected worldwide. The future social impacts
of climate change will be uneven across the world.
The intensity of the downward radiation – that is, the strength of the
greenhouse effect – will depend on the atmosphere's temperature and on the CARBON FOOTPRINT
amount of greenhouse gases that the atmosphere contains.
A carbon footprint is historically defined as the total emissions caused by an
Earth’s natural greenhouse effect is critical to supporting life, and initially individual, event, organization, or product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent.
was a precursor to life moving out of the ocean onto land. Human activities,
however, mainly the burning of fossil fuels and clearcutting of forests, have In most cases, the total carbon footprint cannot be calculated exactly
accelerated the greenhouse effect and caused global warming. because of inadequate knowledge of and data about the complex interactions
between contributing processes, including the influence of natural processes that
Global Warming store or release carbon dioxide.
Global warming is the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Two Ways to Reduce Carbon Footprint
Earth's climate system. It is a major aspect of climate change, and has been
demonstrated by direct temperature measurements and by measurements of Ways to Reduce Personal Carbon Footprint.
various effects of the warming. The terms global warming and climate change are Ways to Reduce Industry's Carbon Footprint.
often used interchangeably.
LOW EMBODIED ENERGY MATERIALS
EFFECTS:
Low embodied energy building materials have some common characteristics:
 Physical environment
 Biosphere  Durability reduces embodied energy over time
 Humans  If materials can be separated easily, they use less energy
 Locally sourced building materials don't have to travel great distances, saving
on energy costs

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

 Recycled materials use far less energy than new materials SOIL-BADES MATERIALS
 Waste of materials not needed for extraction, processing and manufacture of
materials uses more embodied energy Soil based materials are formed of a mixture of gravel, sand and clay which,
 Renewable energy sources reduce the use of embodied energy when mixed with water, may be used for construction. Soil-based construction
materials could provide some of the poorest people in the world with a strong,
In essence, the efficiency of the extraction and manufacturing process will affordable and environmentally-friendly housing solution.
lower embodied energy levels. The fuels used; the distance of transport; and the
amount of recycled material used play a big part in choosing low embodied building The use of locally available and indigenous earth materials has several
materials. advantages in terms of sustainability. They are:

Embodied energy is a phrase used to describe the amount of energy it takes  Reduction of energy costs related to transportation.
to extract, process, and manufacture and deliver any building material.  Reduction of material costs due to reduced transportation costs, especially
How is embodied energy measured? for well-established industries.
 Support of local businesses and resource bases.
Embodied energy is measured in kilojoules or mega joules. The more
kilojoules or mega joules, the higher the level of embodied energy is used in ECO ARCHITECTURE
extracting, processing, manufacturing and delivering a product. Some products have
very high levels of embodied energy and some have less. Those with higher levels of It is the application of ecological principles to architecture, typically in the
embodied energy are unsafe for the environment, while low embodied energy design of buildings which promote environmental conservation and harmonize with
building materials are safer for the environment. their natural surroundings.
Eco-friendly, or ecological, construction is building a structure that is beneficial or
BIO-BASED MATERIALS
non-harmful to the environment, and resource efficient.
Biobased materials refer to products that mainly consist of a substance (or
ENERGY EFFICIENT MATERIALS
substances) derived from living matter (biomass) and either occur naturally or are
synthesized, or it may refer to products made by processes that use biomass.
 These are materials that uses relatively little energy to provide the power it
needs.
 Conventional biobased products and materials are biodegradable and
1. Recycled Steel
made from animal materials or plant materials.
Two out of three tons of new steel are usually recycled from old
 Emerging biobased materials, or bio renewables, are by contrast steel. This means that steel is the most recycled material on earth. Steel
often active subjects of research and development and are where emits fewer unsafe CO2 emissions than most building materials and uses
much of the innovation lies. These materials are extracted by bio- less energy, making it the ideal green choice.
refining processes or produced from materials with biological origins. 2. Spray foam insulation

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

 The best alternative to fiberglass and cellulose insulation is spray ENERGY EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS
foam as it traps more conditioned air within the house, allowing less
leakage. This means that it will use less energy in a house all year round.  Using less energy to provide the same level of energy. It is therefore one
Spray foam insulation does not usually produce toxic emissions and is shrink method to reduce human greenhouse gas emissions.
and waterproof, meaning that it will undergo zero framing distortion over  Efficient energy use is achieved primarily by means of a more efficient
time. technology or process.
3. Plant-based polyurethane foam  There are many motivations to improve energy efficiency. Reducing energy
This material is made from materials such as hemp, bamboo, and use reduces energy costs and may result in a financial cost saving to
kelp. When used for insulating, it offers high moisture and heat resistance consumers if the energy savings offset any additional costs of implementing
and protects against pests and mold. Plant-based polyurethane insulates an energy-efficient technology.
better than polystyrene and fiberglass.  For example, if a house is insulated, less energy is used in heating and
4. Low-E Windows cooling to achieve a satisfactory temperature. Another example is installing
Low-E windows, also known as "high performance" windows, are a fluorescent lights or skylights, instead of incandescent lights, to attain the
great substitute for normal glass which will help reduce heat during summer same level of illumination.
and block infrared radiation. They have a clear coating of metal oxide. It also
helps keep the heat in during the winter. They can reduce heat flow by up to
50%.
5. Vacuum Insulation Panels SEVENTEEN (17) SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Vacuum insulation panels, or VIP, are currently only used for commercial
refrigeration units, they could become available for general home building in the
future. They comprise of a textured silver rectangle that encloses a core panel in an In September 2015, the General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for
airtight envelope. Sustainable Development that includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Building on the principle of “leaving no one behind”, the new Agenda emphasizes a
ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS holistic approach to achieving sustainable development for all.
Energy efficient buildings can be defined as buildings that are designed to GOAL 1: No Poverty
provide a significant reduction of the energy need for heating and cooling, GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
independently of the energy and of the equipment that will be chosen to heat or GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
cool the building.
GOAL 4: Quality Education
An energy efficient building reduces maintenance and utility costs, but, in many GOAL 5: Gender Equality
cases, improves durability, lessens noise, increases comfort and creates a healthy GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
and safe indoor environment. GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence. They cover 70% of
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure our planet and we rely on them for food, energy, and water. Yet, we have managed
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities to do tremendous damage to these precious resources. We must protect them by
eliminating pollution and overfishing and immediately start to responsibly manage
Too much of the world’s wealth is held by a very small group of people. This and protect all marine life around the world.
often leads to financial and social discrimination. In order for nations to flourish,
equality and prosperity must be available to everyone – regardless of gender, race,
religious beliefs or economic status .When every individual is self-sufficient, the
GOAL 15: Life on Land
entire world prospers.
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt reverse land
The world’s population is constantly increasing. To accommodate everyone, degradation and biodiversity loss.
we need to build modern, sustainable cities. For all of us to prosper, we need new,
GOAL 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
intelligent urban planning that creates safe, affordable and resilient cities with green
and culturally inspiring living conditions. Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic
society.
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
We must promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
Our planet has provided us with an abundance of natural resources. But we
development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and
have not utilized them responsibly and currently consume far beyond what our
inclusive institutions at all level.
planet can provide. We must learn how to use and produce in sustainable ways that
will reverse the harm that we have inflicted on the planet. GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals

GOAL 13: Climate Action The global goals can only be met if we work together. International
investments and support is needed to ensure innovative technological development,
Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization. The
fair trade and market access, especially for developing countries. To build a better
effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. Through
world, we need to be supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all
education, innovation and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the
cooperative.
necessary changes to protect the planet. These changes also provide huge
opportunities to modernize our infrastructure which will create new jobs and
promote greater prosperity across the globe.
ENSURING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
GOAL 14: Life below Water

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

 It is a way of building which aims at reducing negative health and  Use of sustainable urban drainage systems which double as wildlife habitats,
environmental impacts caused by the construction process or by buildings or by the for example, swales and balancing ponds
built-up environment.
SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
The objective of sustainable construction is to create and operate processes
that prioritize resource efficiency and ecological design. It focuses on 7 core We need to think about the community. If we build using a process that we
principles across the building’s life cycle: protecting nature, reducing the know generates a lot of toxic waste, we need to dispose of that somewhere. The
consumption of resources, reusing resources, using recyclable resources, eliminating people that live there could be affected by that, so if we view those people as
toxins, applying life-cycle costing, and emphasizing on quality. important stakeholders, we have to find a way to construct that acknowledges
where people and our environment won’t get affected in the building/construction
Sustainable construction is a necessary condition for a sustainable built process.
environment, which in turn contributes to overall sustainable development.
We can work together as proactive communities, supporting and helping
Sustainable development is all about ensuring a better quality of life for each at the community such as implementing waste management and maintaining
everyone, now and for generations to come, through social progress which the environment healthy is/can be a factor in ensuring sustainable construction and
recognises the needs of everyone, and protecting, and if possible enhancing, the development. In terms of construction processes, by disposing/taking care of the
environment, and using natural resources prudently. construction waste can be a help in sustaining development.

BIODIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES

Biodiversity enhancement encompasses the conservation and enhancement One of the effective ways use of resources is resource management where it
of wildlife and habitats, and entails active measures to increase the biodiversity is the process of pre-planning, scheduling, and allocating your resources to
interest of a targeted area. maximize efficiency.

 Setting aside space within the development site in which to create When it comes to resource management, planning is important when it
woodland, wetland, wildflower meadows or other habitats of value to comes to being efficient. Time is money and it is best to plan for effective resource
wildlife management from the very beginning of projects. When starting a project, planning
 Using native plants in the landscaping design, which are of value in their should be first on your to-do list. It is via planning that you will be able to fully gauge
own right and as habitat for other wildlife the types and amount of resources you will be requiring, and so we would be able to
 The addition of a green roof on one or more buildings, providing habitat for conserve and use resources effectively by doing that.
plants and animals typical of brownfield sites
 The use of climbing plants on walls within the new development which can
provide shelter and foraging opportunities for wildlife POLLUTION REDUCTION
 The inclusion of bird and bat boxes within the structure of new buildings

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

 Pollution Reduction such as Pollution prevention (P2), is any practice that Too many aspirations for a project will won’t give sustainable construction.
reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source. P2, also known as "source Hence, identification of appropriate targets, benchmarks and tools along with their
reduction," is the ounce-of-prevention approach to waste management. Reducing proper management will give sustainability in construction.
the amount of pollution produced means less waste to control, treat, or dispose of.
Less pollution means less hazards posed to public health and the environment.

CREATING HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT REFERENCES

A clean, healthy environment is beneficial to one’s physical and mental https://www.iisd.org/topic/sustainable-development
health. To achieve a clean, healthy environment, we must exert a lot of effort. We https://www.asce.org/issues-and-advocacy/public-policy/policy-statement-418---
can start by doing simple things to maintain a clean surrounding. Even our little
the-role-of-the-civil-engineer-in-sustainable-development/
actions can be of great help to our Mother Nature. Here are some actions to help
https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html
our environment:
http:?//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint
 Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – Reducing the usage of non-recyclable http:?//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas
materials will maintain the cleanliness of the environment. Reusing
materials is useful because it keeps us from buying stuff that we do not http:?//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/sustainable_architecture
http:?//econation.co.nz/sustainable-materials
need. Recycling materials such as plastic bottles and papers will eliminate
http:?//www.takepart.com/flashcards/what-is-a-carbon-footprint/index.html
the existing pollution problem.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability_in_construction
 Be clean at all times – putting garbage in their rightful places will be a great
start to this step https://esub.com/5-successful-ways-to-achieve-sustainable-construction/
 Observe solid waste management –segregating our garbage will help the https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/sustainable-construction
world lessen pollution
 Engage in collective actions – joining groups who share the same advocacies http://constructingexcellence.org.uk/resources/introduction-to-sustainable-
will expand the workforce construction/
 Educate others – sharing what you know will educate and spread awareness https://bit.ly/2NQP0Us
regarding clean, healthy environment.
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PROCESS MANAGEMENT enhancement/
Process Management refers to aligning processes with an organization’s https://esub.com/the-importance-of-sustainable-construction/
strategic goals, designing and implementing process architectures, establishing
https://www.wrike.com/blog/what-is-resource-management/
process measurement systems that align with organizational goals, and educating
and organizing managers so that they will manage processes effectively. http://flevy.com/blog/4-effective-ways-to-manage-resources-more-efficiently/

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7

https://www.epa.gov/p2/learn-about-pollution-prevention ENGR. JOSHUA C. JUNIO
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why/ DE VERA, REYBELLE P.
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well/be-well/healthy-environment/
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https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/eco-architecture
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ncy.html

CIVIL ENGINEERING ORIENTATION

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE
RESEARCH WORK NO. 9

CIVIL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE | GROUP 7