Architecture, Engineering, Consulting, Operations, and Maintenance (AECOM) highlights its vital role in water engineering for sustainable development on World Engineering Day.
Jatin Hari. Supplied by AECOM
World Engineering Day takes place on 4 March 2024. AECOM recognises the day as one to acknowledge water engineering specifically, encompassing the design, construction and management of water-related systems, including water supply, sanitation, flood control, irrigation and wastewater treatment.
The 2024 theme is ‘Engineering Solutions for a Sustainable World’.
Jessica Mandlate.Supplied by AECOM
Senior Engineer for water, Jatin Hari says, “Engineering, and in particular civil engineering, is the backbone of sustainable development,” says Jatin, who obtained his professional Registration with ECSA last year. “The focus on sustainable development is crucial as we are starting to feel the impacts of many years of unsustainable practices through climate change and degradation of infrastructure. In a developing country, sustainability is often overlooked as there is more focus placed on costs and time.”
He points to the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of the provision of clean water and sanitation. The majority of the water-related projects that Hari’s team works on has sustainability and human needs as the primary focus.
Jessica Mandlate, candidate engineer for stormwater and water, Africa, says, “The day fosters conversation among engineers, scientists, governments, policymakers and society at large to promote information sharing to address pressing global concerns, while keeping sustainable development at heart. It also serves as a day to inspire young people to choose engineering professions as a way of making a difference.”
In addition to flood risk assessments, Mandlate develops maps to communicate potential flood risks. Identifying these flood zones enables communities and stakeholders to make decisions that can mitigate impact.
Senior engineer Megan de Jongh says, “As engineers, it is our responsibility to consider the impact of factors such as climate change in our designs and include recommendations to our clients that could mitigate the risks.” Examples include urbanisation and other environmental issues.
Megan de Jongh. Supplied by AECOM
“Future generations should be inspired to take responsibility for designing sustainable solutions for local and global challenges. By leading the way, we as engineers can set the example to future generations of how sustainable development should be implemented and how they can make a lasting positive impact on the world,” concludes de Jongh.
Source: AECOM
