Future Challenges

Future Challenge

6.1 Expanding World Population

 

Half of the population growth is in 6 countries:

1. India
2. China
3. Pakistan
4. Nigeria
5. Bangladesh
6. Indonesia

"There are many who believe challenges surrounding world population growth have implications which touch almost all of the other future challenges we face." 

6.2 Pollution

Air pollution

http://aqicn.org/city/beijing/

http://www.who.int/airpollution/en/

Air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. WHO data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits containing high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures. WHO is supporting countries to address air pollution. 

 21.5% of energy in Texas was renewable in 2019

https://pulsepowertexas.com/customer-care/blog/blog-library/2019/11/12/the-future-is-renewable-energy-in-texas

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/verify/in-era-of-climate-change-texas-leads-the-nation-in-wind-energy-production/287-cb896ee0-d38b-4198-a041-a7638445f090

Causes of air pollution:

Use of Fossil Fuels

• Sulfur dioxide → combustion of coal & petroleum
• Carbon Monooxide → incomplete combustion from vehicles
• Nitrogen Oxides→ natural and man made processes.

Agricultural activities: 

• ammonia
• insecticides
• pesticides
• fertilizers

 Manufacturing industries

carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons,
organic compounds,
misc chemicals

Mining

Water Pollution & Freshwater resources

Eutrophication: nitrogen → algae→bacteria

http://www.wri.org/our-work/project/eutrophication-and-hypoxia

 Dead Zone in the Gulf

Solid waste

Energy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_consumption

Conserve energy

 

Transportation

https://www.futuresplatform.com/blog/12-trends-will-drive-future-transport

https://abag.ca.gov/tools-resources/maps/map-month/estimated-vehicle-miles-traveled-all-roads 

Will the pandemic spark a change in urban mobility?

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https://wiki.unece.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=101553282

Update: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/travel_monitoring/tvt.cfm?CFID=202848117&CFTOKEN=bc516996fec93bb6-2EE2DA87-C2B3-9E6F-9943436D8C9A17BB

https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10315

Solutions:

 Public transportation

Shorten commutes through better urban planning & working from home.

6.5 Infrastructure

A new report card gives America’s infrastructure a D+

infrastructure = critical factor in international economic competitiveness.

https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/china-us-tumble-australia-stays-at-18th-in-annual-competitiveness-ranking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_SuperCorridor_Coalition

 http://sps.esd.ornl.gov/desalinationpage.html

New Materials

Group discussion:

* What are the largest challenges facing the world in the next 20 years?
         * Help developing nations?

         * Pollution

         * Energy needs

         * Food and water needs

         * Housing, transportation, & infrastructure

         * Health needs

         * ???

* What possible engineering solutions will help solve these problems?

     

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/9132.aspx