10 major engineering challenges of the next decade
Challenges related to climate change continue to threaten the world's population. But solutions exist, and engineers will play a major role in solving them. Here are 10 major challenges and what engineers can do about them in 2023.
1. Upgrading the aging U.S. infrastructure
The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our aging infrastructure(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) a C- grade and estimates that the U.S. is spending just over half of what is needed. Significant action is needed to bring our roads(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet), bridges,(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) water(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet), electrical(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) and sewage systems(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) to proper safe working order.
2. Educating first world engineers to understand how to solve third world problems
The Renewable Resources Journal reports that the world’s population will grow by two billion over the next two decades, 95% of this in developing or underdeveloped countries. Engineers must learn new ways to solve problems (Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet)in these countries.
3. Promoting green engineering(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) to improve sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint in manufacturing(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet)
According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, manufacturing in the U.S. produced 19,237 trillion BTUs and 1,071 million metric tons of carbon dioxide(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet).
4. Identifying viable and renewable energy(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) sources
The contributions to our energy production from renewables (Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet)and other new fuel(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) sources are growing at 6% per year according to BP and will contribute 45% of the increment in energy production(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) by 2035.
5. Rethinking how the city(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) looks and works
54% of the world’s population lives in cities. Europe leads the way in sustainability(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet), with seven out of the world’s top 10 most sustainable cities, according to the ARCADIS Sustainable Cities Index.
6. Making STEM more appealing(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) to young students
By 2018, the United States will have more than 1.2 million unfilled STEM jobs. Meanwhile, according to a UCLA study, 40% of students enrolled as STEM majors switched subjects or failed to get a degree.
7. Safeguarding our personal data and wealth from cyberattacks(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet)
34% of data breaches happen at financial institutions; 11% target retail companies; while 13% target government institutions(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet), according to the 2014 Data Breach Investigation Report.
8. Addressing climate change (Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet)through engineering innovation
Six of the 10 cities with the largest annual flood (Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet)costs by 2050 are in India and China. Three are in the U.S.: New York, Miami and New Orleans.
9. Feeding our growing population through cutting-edge bio-engineering and agricultural innovations(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet)
The U.N. warns that we must produce 60% more food by 2050 to keep up with demand, but how do we do this sustainably? Food(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) and water(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) access will be major issues in the future, and research must begin now.
10. Improving our health and well-being through life sciences, nanotechnology(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet) & bio-engineering(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet)
Administration on Aging, by 2060 the population of Americans aged 65 and older will have more than doubled in size from 2011. This puts a lot of pressure on new drug creation and also on innovative engineering techniques to deliver drugs(Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet).