Florida Engineering Society (FES): Engineers' Impact on Society and Responsibility

By David Cowan, Jr. Senior Engineer, CMADavid Cowan, Jr., P.E., ENV SP, is a senior engineer at CMA in the West Palm Beach office. David has over 10 years of experience and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering with a water resource focus. David serves as a state director for FES, District Director for TBP, and on the Urban Drainage Standards Committee for EWRI.

Engineers make daily decisions that significantly influence how people interact with the world, emphasizing the need for responsible, sustainable and efficient choices.

From designing sustainable infrastructure to developing renewable energy sources, engineers have a profound impact on our daily lives. With this influence comes great responsibility. Engineers must prioritize safety and environmental sustainability in their work.

Sustainability, defined by the United Nations in 1987, involves meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. Depending on the organization you look at or the person you ask, you will find the goals that define sustainability differ. For the sake of this article, let’s look at sustainability in the context of efficient resource use, with a particular emphasis on our future people as a valuable resource.

Engineers employ lifecycle analysis to select materials and products that maximize lifespan, reduce upfront impact and facilitate reusability, thereby addressing limited resources and minimizing end-of-life costs. Efforts to reduce waste during manufacturing involve efficient use of raw materials and robust waste management, diverting scrap from fabrication processes to recycling centers.

We have so many opportunities to incorporate sustainability into what we do. Let’s look at a few ways we as engineers are creating a more sustainable world and profession.

Energy Efficiency In Design

Completed designs inevitably consume resources, particularly energy. Engineers strive for high energy efficiency through innovations like smart infrastructure at building or city levels, optimizing energy consumption based on demand.

We have also enhanced our approach to improving energy consumption by transitioning to more sustainable energy sources. Over the past few decades, society has shifted towards using renewable resources, reducing pollution and preserving the limited amount of carbon-based fuel for future generations.

Community Impact And Engineering

Engineers play a pivotal role in impacting communities through the design of energy-efficient transportation systems and innovations in water treatment. We can design transportation systems that provide safe and reliable energy efficient modes of transportation, reducing the long-term impact of the movement of materials and people in the world.

Clean drinking water production, an energy-intensive process, has witnessed revolutionary improvements in energy efficiency. Society has found better ways to use the water that is produced and reduce the waste of one of our most precious resources.

Promotion Of Sustainable Design

Sustainable design is promoted by professional engineering societies such as FES, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). For instance, ASCE promotes its Roadmap to Sustainable Development with four priorities for change: sustainable project development, consistent standards and protocols, expanded technical capacity, and communication and advocacy.

These societies encourage responsible and sustainable infrastructure development, considering the dignity and fairness for all users. Designers overcome challenges through the integration of emerging technologies, aiming for more efficient designs with lower lifecycle costs.

Through the development of new standards, education and training for their members, and advocacy and policy influence at local, national and international levels, these professional societies provide engineers with a platform to promote sustainability within their profession and contribute to building a more sustainable future for society as a whole.

Nurturing Future Generations

Professional societies emphasize the importance of mentoring the next generation, fostering continuity and sustainability. Engineers engage with the public, highlighting STEM careers to inspire and guide future professionals.

Mentorship is seen as a sustainable business model, ensuring a smooth transition of knowledge and skills to the upcoming generation. As we mentor and nurture the next generation of engineers, let us pass along the importance and lessons of sustainable practices that we continue to develop and iterate.

Conclusion: Considering Future Impact

As we progress in our careers, it is essential that we consider the long-term impact of designs on future generations and communities. It is also critical that we are actively involved in professional, civic and community affairs that contribute to a sustainable and responsible engineering practice and society.

Should we do these things, we’ll help ensure a sustainable profession for future engineers and a more sustainable world.

The Florida Engineering Society (FES), representing engineers in the State of Florida for over 100 years, continuously strives to support its members, fostering innovation, professional development, and leadership opportunities. FES upholds a code of conduct that prohibits discrimination and harassment and protects the profession of engineering. FES actively promotes initiatives like MATHCOUNTS, the Florida Engineering Foundation, and student chapters to cultivate future engineers.

To learn more about FES, please visit fleng.org.