Does the environment have a major role in what engineers do? Is it a limiting factor?

Answer 1

Everything engineers do there is a requirement to meet because of environment. Some, not all, requirments are listed below.
Chemical engineers - Air and water polution (emission) standards
Automobile engineers - Air emission standards
Civil Enginees - Noise level (especially when construction is in residential or commertial areas)
Civil Engineers - Lead and asbestose level in air for demolition work.
Senitary engineers - land and groundwater pollution for landfill, water pollution for waste water, etc.
These standards are getting tougher and tougher as time passes. One can say environment is limiting factor, but I look at with different view. It is the opportunity for engineers to come up with better solution. There is a saying "necessity is mother of invention." Without enforcing tougher regulations we can not have better quality of life. Let me give you one example.
I am civil engineer worked in NYC for 15 years in construction industry. If we see the practice to remove paint form steel bridge beams 25 years ago, it was just remove old paint and apply new paint. Today no one can think to do so. Engineers have to prepare special drawings for containment system, contractor has to make shop drawings and get approval, there is a large section of specifications for this type of work, constant air sampling is required to make sure containment system is not leaking from anywhere. New paint must not have lead in it. (this new paint production was forced by environmental regulations.) Resulting less lead in air, near by community can breath clean air. Think about an elimentary school just a block away form this work and your son or daughter is going to that school. Lead is more harmful to kids than adults.

This is just one example. There are thousands of areas where envoronmental regulations forces engineers to think differently and make our life more enjoyable. So it is not a limiting factor, but it really is forcing engineers to use available modern technology to give us better results.

Answer 2

It does because of the fact that intelligence is the potential to adapt to new environments. in some way is self regulated, the ecosystem is impartial however the guy provides the which potential to the distinction and abilities with the intention to proceed to exist, some human beings stay greater advantageous under pressure different´s choose greater time to adapt. some environments do no help in an excellent way yet even that, there are people who adapt to it and learn from some thing damaging many valuable issues. now and lower back environments might desire to alter with the intention to help boost in any way: non secular, cognitual, organic and organic.

Answer 3

Yes, I'm afraid it does,and it is getting more limiting all the time.

Engineers designing fired power plants and automobiles are limited by having to meet strict government anti-pollution standards, and engineers involved in using water in their processes whether they are chemical or municipal are limited by what they can release into the environment when they are done with it.
Efficiency standards for motors and appliances are being increased, etc., etc. etc.

Answer 4

yes. There are actually environmental engineers!