Telford Apprentices 2006 07 Why should civil engineers address the Sustainability Agenda?

Proceedings of the Institution ofCivil EngineersEngineering Sustainability 160March 2007 Issue ES1Pages 4–10doi: 10.1680/ensu.2007.160.1.4

Paper 2007269

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Why civil engineers should address the sustainability

agenda

ICE’s ‘Telford Apprentices’ are 13 young engineers from around

the UK. Here they discuss sustainability and the role of young

engineers in advancing and delivering the sustainability

agenda.

1. Foreword: Quentin Leiper, President, ICE

During his presidential year, Gordon Masterton introduced the

apprentice scheme to enable young engineers to gain a greater

understanding of the workings of ICE and the role of the

President. This initiative was a great success and one I wish to

continue. This year is the 250th anniversary of the birth of

Thomas Telford and therefore I decided to name the 13 successful

candidates ‘Telford Apprentices’.

The apprentices were all eager to get off to a flying start, so task

one was set: what can young engineers do to best promote and

deliver the sustainability agenda? They each produced an

excellent response and their work is published in this issue of

Engineering Sustainability. This is an excellent result and a real

example of how well they work together.

It is my full expectation that, as well as other tasks (and they are

currently on number eight), they will produce further

contributions for publication. Later on in the year, the apprentice

programme will be going international, with prospective

apprentices joining from Australia and New Zealand.

I congratulate them for becoming the successful candidates and

thank them for the enthusiastic way they have taken up the

challenges set them and for their contributions to date during my

visits. They have already developed into a great team and I’m sure

will do well in the future. Finally, my thanks go to their

companies for allowing them to participate in the programme.

They have already made a valuable contribution and will

continue to do so.

2. Trina de Silva, London region

Sustainability, a current buzz-word, is not a new idea. Roman-era

drains, unearthed during construction of buildings at the

Guildhall, show a silt trap—evidence the designer was

thinking about how to extend the life of the drain and make

it easier to maintain. I believe this is an example of

sustainable thinking.

Engineering Sustainability 160 Issue ES1 Why civil engineers should address the sustainability agenda

My generation of engineers lives with ancient and modern

engineered infrastructure—the basis of our civilisation. From

the workings of our water/wastewater systems—analysed

publicly when problems arise—to the recently built flat I lived in

that was chilly in winter and baking in the summer, decisions

made by yesterday’s designers and contractors continue to

resonate with today’s owners and users. We are educated by these

good and bad decisions. This is why engineers must address the

sustainability agenda. Our exposure to existing buildings and

infrastructure means we cannot be ignorant of the effects of our

decisions.

At the start of a project, good development policies and

careful consideration of how the project will work in its

surroundings will affect its environmental impact. The chosen

materials and construction processes also make a huge

difference to the environmental impact of construction.

However, sustainability goes beyond the current environmental

credibility of a project. The three drivers of projects are cost,

time and quality. Cost and time are important to us; they

reflect our design skills and success at managing projects.

A more critical assessment will reveal the success of a project

in terms of sustainability. It may be a decade or more into the

life of a project before its ability to meet the needs of future

owners/users becomes obvious. Sustainability is a quality

criteria felt not only at the beginning of a project, but throughout

its life cycle.

Infrastructure from previous eras demonstrates the resilience of

good design. Some of our engineering forefathers, by chance or

(over)design have created sewers that are coping with our

massively increased flows, bridges that carry not only pedestrians

and horses but lorries their designers could not have imagined.

Adaptability and the ability to modify extends the useful life of a

structure, making it more sustainable.

Engineers are too well informed to have a defence of

ignorance. It is not good enough to add environmental

performance targets as an afterthought. As engineers, it is our

duty to really make the difference, create the buildings that stay

cool with less effort despite rising temperatures, take

brave decisions on our energy and water supply

concerns and ensure our transport network continues to

service our needs without creating problems for future

generations.

3. A. Feretzakis, West of Scotland region

It is essential for civil engineers to understand the duty of their

profession in the contexts of the environment and society, and in

understanding this duty they must try to create changes in

thought and action. This essential change can come through

design and construction processes but in order to be successful

everyone involved needs to support and promote sustainable

thinking.

Design sustainability is not an easy process as it must be applied

in every design principle. Starting from the conception of the

design and moving to the location, the structural materials, the

structural methods and finally the possible demolition of the

project, design sustainability must be applied in many areas. On

the other hand sustainable construction must aim to use less

natural materials and also less energy to decrease the amount of

waste and minimise the environmental pollution without

compromising the quality of the projects.

Sustainable thinking, planning and acting must be involved

in civil engineering to minimise the environmental impact

projects have over their entire design life. Only through this

process, and by adopting sustainable thinking at every stage in a

project, can a set of principles to improve the quality of life be

created.

All the relevant elements that go into the design and construction

of a project must be considered, making it a hard task, but we

must all try in order to succeed. Clearly, it is going to be a long

and difficult process before these principles are established, since

all the information, the values and the resources available to both

design and construction teams develop constantly, but from

project to project it will become easier.

The civil engineering profession has a unique opportunity to

create a progression of change that will improve and sustain the

environment and our planet in the long term. These are the very

actions that make civil engineering a unique and very important

profession for our planet and for our lives.

4. Doug Forbes, East of Scotland region

The environmental dimension of sustainability is probably the

most frequently discussed, and is the aspect which receives the

most attention. As civil engineers we are responsible for

designing, constructing, maintaining, operating and changing

both the built and natural environment. Civil engineers have

been involved in many projects that impact on the environment,

affecting individuals and organisations, both today and in the

future. These projects account for a significant proportion of the

world’s resource usage and impact. As civil engineers we must

accept responsibility for our actions.

The economic component of sustainability has been the main

driver of projects. As civil engineers addressing the sustainability

agenda we need to consider more than today alone. It is vital to

account for costs over a whole life cycle and the impact on

future developments. These costs must be considered in tandem

with the social consequences and environmental impacts.

The social aspect of sustainability is one that has only

recently come to the forefront, but has this not been part of

the civil engineer’s role for many years—one which has been

Engineering Sustainability 160 Issue ES1 Why civil e

carried out well? The influence of engineers of the past and

present has had wide-ranging social benefits in transportation,

natural and physical security, safety, resource management

and heritage, all of which improve the quality of life. The

social benefits of these are immeasurable but need to be

considered together with the impact on the environment and the

economy.

Civil engineers have the potential to address all three facets of

sustainability. We are in a privileged position because our work

involves a wide range of positions and responsibilities. In these

various roles our profession is currently attempting to create

sustainable environmental, social and economic conditions for

tomorrow. The biggest challenge is to ensure that we attain a

balance. It is dangerous to focus on one element to the detriment

of the other two, as has often been the case in the past. As civil

engineers, we must harness our profession to develop our

imagination—shaping projects by addressing full sustainability.

We must actively use that creativity to ensure that today’s needs

are met without compromising tomorrow’s.

5. Katerina Fytopoulou, North east region

The built environment is inevitably influenced by socio-political

context. Sustainability as a series of ideals is a concept

grounded in the ethics of environmental responsibility.

The techniques and technologies of green design are now

generally understood. What is still lacking is an architecture

profession which gives priority to ecological issues and a

construction industry which puts sustainability at the heart of its

operations.

Evidence that global warming exists appears to be increasingly

overwhelming. It features frequently in the media as well as in

multi-million-dollar Hollywood productions. Climate science has

established the correlation between burning fossil fuels,

planetary warming and weather instability. However, other

human activities are also accelerating the rise in global

temperatures, such as the creation of landfill waste or the

destruction of rainforests, often to supply the construction

industry and despite regular protests from organisations like

Greenpeace. This all creates an uncomfortable reality for many

species, whose habitats are threatened by sea-level rise,

desertification and so on.

Additionally, a drift to cities by the human population puts

pressure on housing land, water and energy supplies, and sewage

and waste capacity. The year 2000 marked the first time in human

history that the urban population exceeded the rural one. This not

only entails an intensification of urban problems (pollution,

space, crowding and resource stress), but urban living also raises

expectations of an enhanced lifestyle. The personal goals of air-

conditioning, cars and energy-consuming gadgets of various

kinds require resources whose supplies seem increasingly finite.

So we consume more, waste more and pollute more, a reality

which inevitably shifts the emphasis from simple choices (such as

energy) to complex ones (such as sustainability) and from a

profit-driven agenda to an ethical one. Global warming is an

uncomfortable fact for politicians, designers and the construction

industry, even though acting in accordance with sustainability

principles nowadays is a defining characteristic of being a

professional.

ngineers should address the sustainability agenda 5

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One of the principal barriers to the wider adoption of more

sustainable design and construction solutions has been the

perception that they incur substantial additional costs; too

high to justify their application in this competitive market.

As a result there has been a lag in the application of

more sustainable solutions that improve performance

beyond that required by regulations. Reaching the highest

standards of current practice does incur some cost premium,

but recent research and successful ‘green’ projects around the

globe show that careful consideration of designs and

specifications at an early design stage can minimise these cost

premiums.

Often the most powerful and direct driver for addressing

sustainability is that the client, funder or planning authority has

made it a key project requirement. For example

(a) the Housing Corporation requires an EcoHomes

‘good’ rating on any scheme they fund or English

Partnerships require partner developers to achieve a

minimum Building Research Establishment environmental

assessment method (BREEAM)/EcoHomes ‘very good’

rating

(b) public sector contractors should achieve a BREEAM

‘excellent’ rating for all new buildings and their proposals

are often critically evaluated according to the extent to

which they address sustainability issues

(c) local authorities become confident to adopt sustainability in

transportation and other civil engineering projects (e.g.

Newcastle City Council achieved a sustainable design and

construction approach related to the award winning

development works of Scottswood Road)

(d) many high-profile private developers and landowners are

seeking higher standards of sustainability performance from

their partners

(e) investors are becoming increasingly interested in

sustainability and are engaging with major property

industry partners to understand how they contribute to the

wider sustainability agenda.

Engineers have always been pioneers in society; they have driven

advances in development and made things happen. There is

significant advantage to be gained from actively addressing the

sustainability agenda, by accepting the ethical responsibility and

understanding the financial and programming implications of

committing to sustainability issues.

More initiatives should be created from governments, cultural

education promoted and additional research funded to explore

how change can be achieved effectively in the industry within the

short amount of time we have available before it is too late for the

future of the planet.”

6. Christopher Paul Jones, Yorkshire and

Humber region

It is without doubt that a profession which designs, builds and

manages the built environment, underpinning aspects of civilised

society, has a key role to play in environmental performance and

meeting the challenges of sustainability. In addition, the

construction industry consumes resources on a massive scale to

create the infrastructure which society craves and is essential

Engineering Sustainability 160 Issue ES1 Why civil eng

to our prosperity, our public services and our quality of life.

As engineers we possess the ability to influence and

shape society and, as such, should be leading the sustainability

agenda.

Engineers are well equipped to play a vital role in ensuring the

longevity of the planet, being at the forefront of all new

development and capable of creating innovative solutions in

consideration of the following key aspects.

6.1. Design

(a) Energy: carbon targets: on-site renewable energy sources.

(b) Environmental issues: biodiversity, open space provision,

contaminated land, flood risk, drainage strategy.

(c) Materials: embodied environmental impact.

(d) Transport: access to other modes of transport, reduce need

to travel.

(e) Water: maximise grey water reuse, water efficiency,

rainwater harvesting, sustainable urban drainage schemes

(SUDS).

( f ) Waste: reuse demolition waste, segregate for recycling, ICE

demolition protocol.

6.2. Construction

(a) Waste: on-site waste management, separation for recycling,

‘just in time’ site management.

(b) Environmental: minimise impact during construction.

6.3. Operation

(a) Access: car parking standards and restrictions.

(b) Economic benefit: national/regional/local strategies.

(c) Energy: sustainability performance—BREEAM.

(d) Environment: noise management.

(e) Social capital: safe streets, fear of crime, affordable housing,

quality of public realm.

( f ) Water: SUDS, long term water management.

In order to succeed in addressing the sustainability agenda,

engineers need to have a broader understanding of issues which

impact on development and communities if they are to make

better places, where people want to live and work. This means

today’s engineer will have to be knowledgeable in different

disciplines as outlined in the Egan review, Skills for Sustainable

Communities1 that recognises the need for better training. We

should be encouraging students to follow such an influential

career path and support universities to provide the characteristics

required.

A multi-discipline perspective is being promoted by the

Academy of Sustainable Communities (ASC) and for

engineers to influence the sustainability agenda it is

imperative to gain such an appreciation. In this respect, Thomas

Telford practiced as an architect and engineer, and was an early

exponent of a multi-disciplinary professionl, well ahead of his

time.

In conclusion, engineers are well placed to devise and implement

strategies for sustainable development and drive worldwide

collaborative input from a wide range of stakeholders. We are all

custodians of the environment and have a collective

ineers should address the sustainability agenda

responsibility to ensure sustainability is achieved; but as

members of ICE our contribution is pivotal.

7. Ben Maltby, West Midlands region

The most vital elements of our economy and in fact much of the

way we live our daily lives, are delivered by engineers, and in

particular it could be argued, civil engineers. Energy, power,

water and travel are among many other vital services that the

modern world depends on. How can we best address these

elements, that are so key to our economic and natural survival,

to provide them in a sustainable manner? In particular,

why should it be the responsibility of civil engineers to

ensure problems are tackled to a level not only to halt, but

reverse, damage caused to our small and fragile planet

through years of neglect stemming from ill-education? There

is, of course, a short answer to the question posed in the

original specification for this article which would bring it to an

all too abrupt end. That answer is: ‘If we as civil engineers do

not address the sustainability agenda, who else will?’ To put

it into a simpler context, the question may be reformulated

to: ‘Why should civil engineers design the first bridge, road,

railway or sewage system?’ Civil engineers have a vital role

in creating a world where there is no shortage of energy,

pollution is under control and unwanted climate change has been

reversed.

There is a grim reality that the economic risks of not dealing with

the environmental challenges faced by the modern world are

unimaginable. As civil engineers struggle with some of the

world’s most pressing environmental problems, the general

public must support their efforts by making sensible, informed

choices about personal lifestyle.

Something must be done to make the world a better, less

polluting, place. The media will continue to argue, politicians will

continue to set targets, protesters will continue to hold placards

and distribute leaflets, but ultimately civil engineers have the

skills and knowledge to provide practical solutions to the world’s

greatest environmental challenges. To do so is a ‘heroic

challenge’ which will take a blend of creativity from the greatest

artist, with the technical skill of the greatest mathematician. With

my early impressions of the civil engineering industry, it would

appear as if there is an abundance of talent and skill waiting

to meet the world’s problems ‘every step of the way’.

8. Patricia McElduff, Northern Ireland region

We are all witnesses and accomplices to the continual

degradation of our local and global environment. Issues such as

deforestation, global warming, waste and rising sea levels are all

testimony to the fact. The management of sustainable

construction must integrate the four dimensions: cost, time,

quality and the environment. There is a number of aspects

involved in the area of sustainability. Each of which has local,

national, international and global implications. In assessing the

sustainability agenda many differing aspects of the project must

be addressed. In order to do this communication is required

between personnel, projects and companies to ensure the lessons

learned and the information gathered is passed on and used to

address the issue of sustainability.


Sustainability is every person’s responsibility and as engineers

we have the fundamental role of ensuring projects are

intertwined with the reality of sustainability. In doing so we

enable the sustainability agenda to be brought to the forefront of

the design and delivery of all infrastructure projects in which we

are involved. This needs to be from conception to implementation

as the future of our planet depends on addressing the current

issues, ensuring that the sustainable agenda is approached and

that in all areas it is implemented. The construction industry is

traditionally and by its very nature a high usage sector of

resources.

As an engineer the first introduction to the concept of

sustainability was during civil engineering design. The concept

was simple; the sustainability agenda was to be included as an

integral part of the design process. As a concept sustainability

was easy to define but when it came to the actual application

to the project it became more difficult. In retrospect application

of sustainability is more difficult than a definition.

In achieving sustainable infrastructure we have the chance to use

lessons learned over time from innovative high profile

sustainable construction projects and to implement new and

improved systems of construction to schemes in which we are

involved. As engineers we have the opportunity to influence

others by innovative and modern approaches to delivery of

projects and to forge the way ahead for other industries. This

cannot be about appearing to fulfill the objectives, it must be

a holistic approach for ideas to work and this will not happen

overnight.

In the long term everyone is aware that adopting a more mature

and active approach to the sustainability agenda is really the only

sensible option. I do believe that it is essential that civil engineers

address this issue as well. We are the designers and constructors

of the future infrastructure and as such have a greater

responsibility to the population and indeed the environment, but

it is believed there is a bigger question to be posed to engineers

everywhere: ‘Why are we not?’

9. Tim O’Brien, Wales region

The most efficient way of solving any problem, such as resource

use, is to tackle it at source. Engineers are in a unique position to

tackle sustainability as they have roles in both public and private

sectors, being able to influence construction from conception to

completion. As a profession we can use ICE to lobby and advise

governments on sustainable development issues. Therefore our

position in society is a good reason why we should consider the

sustainability agenda.

Replacing and maintaining structures can be costly, and so it has

been realised that a sustainable development would have in-built

longevity. A good example of longevity is Telford’s Menai

suspension bridge, first built in 1829, which has so far lasted for

nearly 200 years. Conversely the current average design life of

structures is around 50–100 years. We can do much to improve

the longevity of our designs and finished products by considering

the ease with which buildings can be maintained or altered

alongside the quality of materials used. This should include

weighing up the value of using materials that last longer against

those that require regular replacement, while considering the


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embodied energy of the materials from a whole life (and

replacement) perspective.

Our work covers many aspects such as infrastructure, transport,

power generation and general construction. With such a wide

breadth of working areas, civil engineers are in a key place to

influence sustainability issues having both the opportunity and

the knowledge to make a difference.

In addition to the embodied energy of buildings, civil engineers

are in a position to influence overall design of buildings.

Buildings can be designed to be very energy efficient in use, far

more efficient than the present average. The BREEAM ratings are

one example where engineers should lobby clients and architects

to meet high standards and go further than simply installing

‘super’ insulation. Consistently combining low energy

construction, with buildings that have low lifetime energy usage,

would be a major advance towards sustainable development and

is another reason why civil engineers should consider the

sustainability agenda.

Finally, civil engineers should address the sustainability

issue to raise their public profile. Currently the civil engineer

has a poor status in society, being misunderstood and

unable to command high fees. It is the responsibility of all

civil engineers to promote the profession and educate the public

about the contribution that civil engineers make to modern

society.

10. Katie Symons, East of England region

When planning and building the London to Holyhead road,

Thomas Telford would have had to make many decisions about

the route that would have required analysis of the short and long

term consequences. As the route forms most of the A5 trunk road

still used today, he obviously considered the latter as important,

if not more important, than the former.

Engineers benefit from having the analytical skills to use when

solving problems, as we are trained to understand the physical

principles that drive everyday processes. Our designs are the

result of a solid understanding of the problem, and deciding on

the most effective, efficient and suitable solution. Through this,

we have the ability to look at the long term consequences of a

solution or policy, rather than just the short term results. We are

trained to think: is the solution sustainable?

Contrast this with politicians, the traditional policy makers.

By the nature of democracy, their time frames are short and

irregular, with no guarantee of power, and therefore

responsibility, beyond the next election date.

Commercial activity provides the link between engineers and

policy makers. As designers of technology or infrastructure,

we contribute to, and influence our local, national and global

economies, the drivers of government policies. The traditional

business person’s view is that if pursuing a sustainable approach

to business activity harms their commercial position, they are

unlikely to adopt it unless forced to.

Yet this ignores the environmental issues that need to be factored

into mainstream business thinking, including how to mitigate


against deterioration of the natural world. Businesses must

acknowledge that they exist within the earth’s eco-system, and

rely on it for their profits. Unlike politicians, companies’ boards

and directors have an obligation to act in the best long-term

interests of their firm, which must include addressing issues

about how that business interacts with its surroundings.

As engineers, with our ability to analyse problems from first

principles, we need to highlight both the long- and short-term

consequences of solutions to our clients. We need to highlight the

potential financial rewards for investing in a design that

minimises future impacts, in other words, that sustainability

is essentially good business practice.

Engineers operate using the ‘precautionary principle’—that is,

you do not hope for the best, but plan for the worst. This simple

principle has been expanded into an entire area of study, known

as ‘risk management’, now a key part of every business’ strategy

formation.

For civil engineers, ‘planning for the worst’ means that we are

forced to consider the long-term impacts of solutions to

problems, and mitigate the negative consequences on the

environment that will simply require more costly work down the

line. Take climate change as an example: some people may

welcome the prospect of a Mediterranean climate in the UK, but

not many will relish the thought of living and working in

buildings designed for northern Europe.

Our ability to look at the bigger, long-term picture means that

engineers are in an ideal position to ensure sustainability is

debated properly, and show that embracing sustainability is

essential to risk management.

11. Sally Walters, South west region

It is hard to answer or address a question, when the answer seems

so obviously to be within the question itself. Why should

engineers address the sustainability agenda? Surely the answer

must simply be, because we are engineers.

There are many reasons for believing that simply being engineers

means we should address sustainability; from the fundamental

basic reasons to being an engineer through to the ethical codes

and rule of professional conduct that any member of ICE agrees

to abide by.

Examining the basic qualities of engineers, we have a skill, ability

or what could even be described as a talent for working with

problems and challenges to provide the solutions. Engineers

often think beyond the convention, achieving the innovative.

At our core, is the fascination with investigating problems and

a strong desire to solve them. The sustainability agenda poses one

of the biggest challenges facing modern engineers, the necessity

to balance the needs of a continually developing, fast-paced

world, with changing global conditions, while considering the

needs of our future generations. These factors alone should surely

have any engineer eager to become involved.

Much of our world has developed, or is developing, at a rapid

pace. Expectations of societies for better standards of living and

basic rights are continually growing, yet across the world our

climates are altering and land space is becoming more fiercely


competed for. The challenge is how to address all these needs for

now and for our future.

There are social and ethical considerations and responsibilities

that are part of being an engineer and why we should adopt

sustainability. We become engineers to solve problems and aid

the development of society. Part of a desire to become engineers

is to utilise our skills to help others; this is also a value upon

which the Institution has developed and is permanently recorded

within the rules of professional conduct.

The challenges that faced the great engineers such as Brunel

and Telford are still the same challenges that face us today;

to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world with higher

expectations and daily demands. Engineers are now, just as

then, required to actively take hold of the challenge

with the same sense of pride, enthusiasm, commitment and

drive that saw Brunel and Telford become famous names

worldwide.

Rather than the question being ‘why should engineers address the

sustainability agenda?’ the question is surely ‘why would

engineers not address the sustainability agenda?’

12. Paula Farshim, South east England region

Engineers utilise vast amounts of energy and resources to create

what is required for the human race to live a 21st century

lifestyle, and this makes the construction industry one of the

biggest threats to the future security of our planet. What is worse

is the unavoidable realisation that everything engineers create

has a finite life, therefore producing waste and compounding the

problem.

The utilisation of resources and energy to create waste

opposes the very basic rules of life, humanity and

sustainability. That is to say that even if the processes

involved are necessary to provide for humans to live and

function, the end waste product is often more damaging than any

benefit it may have given.

These simple facts portray the reasons why the work of engineers

and their associated industries have a critical impact on the

principles of sustainability. An engineer is responsible for the

design, construction, maintenance and disposal of the

infrastructure required for today’s lifestyle. It is the duty of

engineers to consider the concept carefully and aim to tackle the

associated problems effectively and throughout the entire cycle.

Although the reasons behind the need for engineers to address

such issues is very simple, the challenge in making the

necessary changes in order to ‘meet the needs of today

without compromising those of tomorrow’ may not be so

straightforward.

That is why even following the simple realisation that the

resources of our planet are limited and fast diminishing, it has

been difficult to establish and action a global strategy to

encourage sustainable approaches to life. In fact, within the

construction industry itself much has been said about

the principles of sustainability, but it is only very

recently that the industry has been actively contributing

towards its aims.


The engineering community and its associated policy makers

such as ICE should tackle the challenges of the sustainability

agenda by enhancing their mechanisms and supporting the

training and education of engineers and investing in research and

innovation to aid their members who can make a difference to

this global issue.

Once a well-educated industry is established, within markets that

environmental pressures such as global warming, investor

interest, competition for resources and legislation have grown,

engineers can act to develop sustainable approaches and

technologies for their industry. Furthermore, engineers can

educate both government and clients of the technological

advances created and benefits in order to motivate them into

devoting prominent precedence to sustainable development and

the business that governs its economy.

In my opinion, engineers must act in a sustainable manner, as it is

they who, through providing the world with its modern

requirements, can have the biggest influence upon how these

requirements are created and utilised. The ultimate aim must be

education, in order to develop a new generation of engineers

within a sustainability-conscious industry that can develop and

foster a new generation of living.

13. James Wallace, North west region

On the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Telford, we are

reminded of his illustrious engineering legacy. In 1820, Telford

designed and constructed an innovative iron bridge; one of the

earliest of its kind, carrying the West Coast Great North Road, to

span the main arterial link between North West England and

Glasgow, the River Esk Bridge, known as ‘Metal Bridge’.

Telford considered and calculated not only the engineering

difficulties of the area, as the span at the River Esk is as wide as

the Thames, but additionally, the huge tidal range of the River

Esk, which is over 5 m. He also assessed the socio-economic

needs of the region, in the middle of the UK’s industrial

revolution. Remarkably, the bridge lasted 95 years, before being

replaced by Cumbria County Council in 1916, due to the

emergence of the automobile. This bridge is testimony to Telford

as a visionary of sustainability; he had comprehensively designed

a project that would be sustainable in almost every facet.

In his day, Telford recognised the importance of sustainability

in engineering. In today’s world the importance of

sustainability is becoming increasingly paramount, because of

issues ranging from carbon emissions, depleting natural energy

resources, continuing pollution of the environment, to

changing socio-economic world markets. It is imperative that we

engineers exercise our influence on society to address

sustainability issues, while advancing engineering knowledge.

We must build upon the foundations laid by engineers such as

Telford. Telford had engineering foresight; he constructed

projects for the needs of future generations.

Today, a modern Telford is challenged with the same engineering

principles, but must take in hand the many advances in

knowledge and sustainability. Presently I am concerned with

ensuring the new River Esk Bridge is sustainable in every

element. We engineers are working on environmental,


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geomorphological and hydrological studies of the new bridge’s

impact (which was not a concern for Telford, apart from the high

tides!) to ensure that the integrated engineering solution

minimises the environmental impact on tomorrow’s

environment. We have adopted new techniques to reduce risk

to health and safety and improve productivity, by for instance

launching the steel deck superstructure across the piers. The

project must also be economically viable; the early contractor

involvement team is set up to deliver value for money on

behalf of the Highways Agency, funded by government.

In conclusion, if engineers don’t address the sustainability

agenda today, we pay the price tomorrow.

14. Joseph Roberts, East Midlands region

When broken down to its most basic meaning, life is about

survival. Whichever civilisation one considers throughout time,

engineering solutions have shaped the way people survive. From

sanitation to power to transport and shelter it has been the task of

civil engineers to use the tools of innovation and knowledge to

implement solutions making the task of survival achievable.

In the late 1700s the solutions provided by Telford and his peers

included vast networks of canals and roads. The newly connected

corners of Britain kick-started and sustained the country’s

industrial revolution.

The engineering world has moved on since the time of Telford but

the fact that we are still reliant on solutions provided by these

master builders should provide inspiration to all designers. Civil

engineering solutions will often be required to outlive the

designer. In this time of economic prosperity we must also build

with the needs of the future firmly in mind.

This does not mean that every building or infrastructure project

needs to last forever, but through whole life costing the solutions

engineers prescribe can achieve a design life that justifies

construction and eventual disassembly. Wherever possible,

solutions should be adoptable with maintenance issues designed

in at conception.

The booming economies of China and India are modern day

examples of man’s insatiable thirst for growth. After years of


debate we have now reached a world consensus that many of the

technologies in use today are unsustainable. It would be futile

to attempt to restrict the expansion of the world’s growing

economies in order to save the planet. Through the power of

sustainable technology, however, we can mitigate the impact

of this growth.

At the other end of the economic scale, underdeveloped

countries desperately need affordable and appropriate

engineering solutions. These will form the foundations

on which to build and sustain a steady economy, essential

to meet the basic requirements of the world’s

poorest citizens. Solutions appropriate to the local

population are needed to meet the global objective for

sustainable living.

As outlined in ICE’s strategy and action plan, 2002–2003,

the business case for sustainability needs to be clear

and credible to ensure it is always considered.

Environmental management systems can help companies

to cut waste and reduce costs. Ideas such as the use of local

suppliers to cut down on transport costs will also cut carbon

emissions.

Politicians, activists and film makers can continue to raise

awareness of the dangers of climate change and push the

sustainability agenda but it is the engineering community

that will address it. It is therefore the responsibility of

each individual engineer to keep up to date with current

practice through continuous professional development in order

to provide the sustainable solutions which legislation should

insist upon.

The answer to the question above is simple: because we have to.

Our task, as civil engineers, is to continually answer the question

how can the construction industry address the sustainability

agenda?

REFERENCE

1. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. The Egan Review—Skills

for Sustainable Communities. ODPM, London, 2004.

What do you think?To comment on this paper, please email up to 500 words to the editor at [email protected]

Proceedings journals rely entirely on contributions sent in by civil engineers and related professionals, academics and students. Papersshould be 2000–5000 words long, with adequate illustrations and references. Please visit www.thomastelford.com/journals for authorguidelines and further details.


Documents

Telford Apprentices 2006 07 Why should civil engineers address the Sustainability Agenda?