Difference between revisions of "Systems Engineering and Environmental Engineering"

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This topic discusses three issues that arise in system design and operation.  They include design for a given operating environment,  green design, and compliance with environment regulations.  This topic is a stub, and reviewers are invited to contribute additional material and references.
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==Operating Environment==
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A system is designed for a particular operating environment. Product systems, in particular,  routinely consider conditions of temperature and  humidity.  Depending on the product, other environmental conditions may need to be considered, including UV exposure, radiation, magnetic forces, vibration, and others.  The allowable range of these conditions must be specified in the requirements for the system.
 +
===Requirements===
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The general principles for writing requirements  [[System Requirements]]  also apply to specifying the operating environment for a system and its elements.  Requirements are often written to require compliance with a set of standards.
 +
===Standards===
 +
Depending on the product being developed, standards may exist for operating conditions.  For example, ISO 9241-6 specifies the office environment for a video display terminal.  Military equipment may be required to meet MILSTD 810G in the US, or DEF STAN 00-35 in the UK.
 +
 
 +
==Environmental Impact==
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Many countries require assessment of environmental impact of large projects before regulatory approval is given.  The assessment is documented in an environmental impact statement (EIS).  In the  United States, a complex project can require an EIS that greatly adds to the cost,  schedule, and risk of the project. 
 +
===Scope===
 +
 
 +
In the United States, the process in Figure X is followed.  A proposal is prepared prior to a project being funded.  The regulator examines the proposal.  If it falls into an excluded category, no further action is taken.  If not, an environmental assessment is made.  If that assessment determines a finding of no significant impact (FONSI), no further action is taken.  In all other cases, and environmental impact statement is required.
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Figure X.  Flowchart to decided if an EIS is necessary.  Figure created for BKCASE.
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 +
 
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Preparation of an EIS is a resource significant task.  Bregman (1999) and  Kreske (1996) provide accessible overviews of the process.  Lee and Lin ( 2000) provide a handbook of environmental engineering calculations to aid in the technical submission.  Numerous firms offer consulting services. 
 +
 
 +
===Legal references===
 +
 
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Basic references in the US include the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969:, and its implementing regulations.  (http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm) ()http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/Nepa/regs/ceq/1502.htm.  The European commission directive is found at (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1985L0337:20090625:EN:PDF).  State and local regulations can be extensive,  and Burby and Paterson (1993) discuss improving compliance.
 +
 
 +
===Cost and schedule implications===
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Depending on the scale of the project, the preparation of an EIS can take years and cost millions.  For example, the EIS for the Honolulu light rail project took four years and cost $156M (Hawaii Report, 2011). While a project may proceed even if the EIS finds a negative impact, opponents to a project may use the EIS process to delay a project.  A common tactic is to claim the EIS was not complete in that it omitted some environmental impacts.  Eccleston  (2000) provides a guide to planning for EIS.
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 +
 
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===Best practices===
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The US Federal Aviation Administration publishes a list of EIS best practices (FAA, 2002).
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 +
==Green Design==
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2011)  defines Green Engineering as:
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Green engineering is the design, commercialization, and use of processes and products, which are feasible and economical while minimizing 1) generation of pollution at the source and 2) risk to human health and the environment. Green engineering embraces the concept that decisions to protect human health and the environment can have the greatest impact and cost effectiveness when applied early to the design and development phase of a process or product.
 +
 
 +
The EPA (2011) offers the following principles of Green Engineering:
 +
 
 +
a. Engineer processes and products holistically, use systems analysis, and integrate environmental impact assessment tools.
 +
b. Conserve and improve natural ecosystems while protecting human health and well-being.
 +
c. Use life-cycle thinking in all engineering activities.
 +
d. Ensure that all material and energy inputs and outputs are as inherently safe and benign as possible.
 +
e. Minimize depletion of natural resources.
 +
f. Strive to prevent waste.
 +
g. Develop and apply engineering solutions, while being cognizant of local geography, aspirations, and cultures.
 +
h. Create engineering solutions beyond current or dominant technologies; improve, innovate, and invent (technologies) to achieve sustainability.
 +
i. Actively engage communities and stakeholders in development of engineering solutions.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Energy efficiency===
 +
There is much written about design for energy efficiency.  Lovins (2010) offer ten design principles .  He also offer case studies (Lovins, 2011).  Intel (2011) provides guidance for improving the energy efficiency of its computer chips. Much has also been written about efficient design of structures; (DOE, 2011) provides a good overview. 
 +
 
 +
Increased energy efficiency can significantly reduce total life cycle cost for a system.  For example, the Toyota Prius was found to have the lowest life cycle cost for 60,000 miles, three years despite having a higher initial purchase price (Business Fleet, 2011).
 +
 
 +
===Carbon footprint===
 +
Increased attention is being paid to the emission of carbon dioxide.  BSI British Standards offers a specification (PAS 2050:2011) for assessing life cycle greenhouse emissions for goods and services (BSI , 2011). 
 +
 
 +
===Sustainability===
 +
Graedel and Allenby (2009), Maydl (2004), Stasinopoulos (2009), Meryman (2004), and Lockton and Harrison (2008) discuss design for sustainability.  Sustainability is often discussed in the context of the UN report on Our Common Future (World Commission on Economic Development, 1985) and the Rio Declaration (UN Environment Programme, 1992).
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 16:07, 15 January 2012

This topic discusses three issues that arise in system design and operation. They include design for a given operating environment, green design, and compliance with environment regulations. This topic is a stub, and reviewers are invited to contribute additional material and references.

Operating Environment

A system is designed for a particular operating environment. Product systems, in particular, routinely consider conditions of temperature and humidity. Depending on the product, other environmental conditions may need to be considered, including UV exposure, radiation, magnetic forces, vibration, and others. The allowable range of these conditions must be specified in the requirements for the system.

Requirements

The general principles for writing requirements System Requirements also apply to specifying the operating environment for a system and its elements. Requirements are often written to require compliance with a set of standards.

Standards

Depending on the product being developed, standards may exist for operating conditions. For example, ISO 9241-6 specifies the office environment for a video display terminal. Military equipment may be required to meet MILSTD 810G in the US, or DEF STAN 00-35 in the UK.

Environmental Impact

Many countries require assessment of environmental impact of large projects before regulatory approval is given. The assessment is documented in an environmental impact statement (EIS). In the United States, a complex project can require an EIS that greatly adds to the cost, schedule, and risk of the project.

Scope

In the United States, the process in Figure X is followed. A proposal is prepared prior to a project being funded. The regulator examines the proposal. If it falls into an excluded category, no further action is taken. If not, an environmental assessment is made. If that assessment determines a finding of no significant impact (FONSI), no further action is taken. In all other cases, and environmental impact statement is required.

Figure X. Flowchart to decided if an EIS is necessary. Figure created for BKCASE.


Preparation of an EIS is a resource significant task. Bregman (1999) and Kreske (1996) provide accessible overviews of the process. Lee and Lin ( 2000) provide a handbook of environmental engineering calculations to aid in the technical submission. Numerous firms offer consulting services.

Legal references

Basic references in the US include the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969:, and its implementing regulations. (http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm) ()http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/Nepa/regs/ceq/1502.htm. The European commission directive is found at (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1985L0337:20090625:EN:PDF). State and local regulations can be extensive, and Burby and Paterson (1993) discuss improving compliance.

Cost and schedule implications

Depending on the scale of the project, the preparation of an EIS can take years and cost millions. For example, the EIS for the Honolulu light rail project took four years and cost $156M (Hawaii Report, 2011). While a project may proceed even if the EIS finds a negative impact, opponents to a project may use the EIS process to delay a project. A common tactic is to claim the EIS was not complete in that it omitted some environmental impacts. Eccleston (2000) provides a guide to planning for EIS.


Best practices

The US Federal Aviation Administration publishes a list of EIS best practices (FAA, 2002).

Green Design

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2011) defines Green Engineering as: Green engineering is the design, commercialization, and use of processes and products, which are feasible and economical while minimizing 1) generation of pollution at the source and 2) risk to human health and the environment. Green engineering embraces the concept that decisions to protect human health and the environment can have the greatest impact and cost effectiveness when applied early to the design and development phase of a process or product.

The EPA (2011) offers the following principles of Green Engineering:

a. Engineer processes and products holistically, use systems analysis, and integrate environmental impact assessment tools. b. Conserve and improve natural ecosystems while protecting human health and well-being. c. Use life-cycle thinking in all engineering activities. d. Ensure that all material and energy inputs and outputs are as inherently safe and benign as possible. e. Minimize depletion of natural resources. f. Strive to prevent waste. g. Develop and apply engineering solutions, while being cognizant of local geography, aspirations, and cultures. h. Create engineering solutions beyond current or dominant technologies; improve, innovate, and invent (technologies) to achieve sustainability. i. Actively engage communities and stakeholders in development of engineering solutions.


Energy efficiency

There is much written about design for energy efficiency. Lovins (2010) offer ten design principles . He also offer case studies (Lovins, 2011). Intel (2011) provides guidance for improving the energy efficiency of its computer chips. Much has also been written about efficient design of structures; (DOE, 2011) provides a good overview.

Increased energy efficiency can significantly reduce total life cycle cost for a system. For example, the Toyota Prius was found to have the lowest life cycle cost for 60,000 miles, three years despite having a higher initial purchase price (Business Fleet, 2011).

Carbon footprint

Increased attention is being paid to the emission of carbon dioxide. BSI British Standards offers a specification (PAS 2050:2011) for assessing life cycle greenhouse emissions for goods and services (BSI , 2011).

Sustainability

Graedel and Allenby (2009), Maydl (2004), Stasinopoulos (2009), Meryman (2004), and Lockton and Harrison (2008) discuss design for sustainability. Sustainability is often discussed in the context of the UN report on Our Common Future (World Commission on Economic Development, 1985) and the Rio Declaration (UN Environment Programme, 1992).

References

Citations

Citations

Primary References

Primary references.

Additional References

Additional References.

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