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Materials Technology
Materials & Environment
Overview
CoreThe student will learn about…The economic use of resources
The student will be able to…Recognise the need for economic and sustainable use of energy and materials (including recycling), and take account of time and other factors
07/09/2014
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Overview
OptionThe student will learn about…The environmental and social considerations applied in product design and manufacture
The student will be able to…Describe how economic use of the earth’s resources informs selection of materials, processes, finish, etc
Materials Technology
To a pessimist the glass is half emptyTo an optimist the glass is half full
To a technologist the glass is just twice as big as it needs to be!
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Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesDo we need economic and sustainable use of materials and resources?
The pictures speak for themselves!
Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesIt is increasingly recognised that significant changes in production and consumption systems will be required to meet the needs and aspirations of a growing world population.
The Earth’s finite resources are limited and must be used in a sustainable manner
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Economic & Sustainable Use of Resources
Economic and social considerations have always been an integral part of engineering design and a force for refinement and sophistication of design methods
Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesEngineers traditionally see themselves as the interface between science, technology and business allowing industry to create wealth from scientific and technological developments.
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Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesIndustrial ecology is an approach to organizing industrial systems that uses natural biological ecosystems as a model. The structure and processes of natural ecosystems, including the complex interactions of organisms with each other, are used as a basis for creating industrial networks. Nature shows us the way to finding equilibrium!
(a) Traditional linear industrial system
(b) Industrial ecology system
Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesIndustrial ecology in practice is outlined below
Material & energy exchanges in the eco-industrial park in Kalundborg, Denmark
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Economic & Sustainable Use of Resources
Life Cycle of a Product over Time
Careful consideration must be given to a product from the ore extraction / raw material stage to its final end of use stage. Each stage is managed and planned.
Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesEnvironmental impact statements are used to ensure that the environment is considered by those designing significant engineering projects
Shannon Tunnel
Lansdowne Stadium
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Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesEnvironmental impact statements deal with the gross impacts of developments on the environment. However…
Engineers and scientists now need to consider at the design stage of every product, irrespective of size, how their choice of materials, processes and serviceability, will impact on the environment over the lifecycle of the product
Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesEngineering design is based on a collective engineering science base which includes a comprehensive and detailed analysis of materials and their behaviour under certain operating conditions
James Joyce Bridge Dublin BCE Place Toronto
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Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesSustainable development brings the designer closer to the context of use of the final product – particularly the environmental context
Ecological considerations need to be assessed as part of the design process in the way that economics is, so that micro-decisions at every stage of the design process take account of resources, energy use, recyclability, pollution and sustainability
Economic & Sustainable Use of Resources
Traditional Engineering Sustainable Engineering
Considers the object Considers the system in which the product will be used
Focuses on technical issues Integrates technical and non-technical issues
Solves the immediate problem Looks towards the long term
Considers the local context Considers the global context
Assumes others will deal with politics, ethics and societal issues
Engineers interact with other experts related to the problem
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Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesClosing
Thoughts
We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to –Terri Swearingen
Economic & Sustainable Use of ResourcesClosing Thoughts
The boundless blue sky, the ocean which gives us breath and protects us from the endless black and death, is but an infinitesimally thin film – Vladimir Shatalov - Cosmonaut
