Welcome to The Society of Environmental Engineers
Engineering Ethics in Practice
The Engineering Council is circulating and promoting a new document from The Royal Academy of Engineering on “Engineering Ethics in Practice: a guide to engineers. This document contains practical guidance”. This document including case studies and discussions on ethical situations a professional engineer may encounter. Anybody who is contemplating registration as CEng or IEng should consider this document to be essential reading as knowledge of Engineering Ethics is one of the competences that will be tested at the Professional Review. For existing registered engineers the document is a well written and useful guide. Moreover, reading this document would contribute towards your continued Professional Development (CPD).
Download pdf copy here: Engineering_ethics_in_practice
Chartered Environmentalist
The Society is a Constituent Body (CB) of the Society for the Environment (SocEnv). This means that we are able to enrol suitably qualified Members of the Society as Chartered Environmentalists (CEnv).
The Society for the Environment (SocEnv) (www.socenv.org.uk) is the leading co-ordinating body in environmental matters and is a champion of a sustainable environment.
SocEnv was formed in 2000 and granted a Royal Charter in 2004. The qualification of CEnv is a high level professional qualification available to environmental practitioners. It demonstrates high standards of professional practice, knowledge, competence and engagement, and is recognised by employers as the test of professionalism in sustainable and environmental management. Chartered Environmentalists work in many sectors and are leading in managing environmental assets and they are playing an important part in the goal of a sustainable world.
The following link will take you to the Chartered Environmentalist Specification.
Please contact the SEE Secretariat for more details and application form, email: office@environmental.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1763 271209.
"CEN WS10 Expert Group 8 Final Report"
"CEN Workshop 10 - European Handbook for Defence Procurement - Expert Group 17 Dependability & Safety final report."
Young Environmental Engineer of the Year Award
2011 Winner
James Regan, BSc(Hons), MSc, MSEE, CEnv
Senior Geo-Environmental Engineer
Sirius Midlands Ltd.
Introduction
The work involved in turning a vacant / derelict brownfield site into a safely inhabitable site is extensive, requiring input from a wide range of experienced and knowledgeable professionals. At the forefront of this work are pioneering individuals who seek to deliver spaces for housing, retail and industry in a manner which is efficient, sustainable and environmentally responsible. Geo-Environmental engineers play a vital part in this process, and the construction of new sites would not be possible without them.
However, the construction industry is going through strenuous times, with pressures concerning housing shortages balanced against contemporary attitudes which are in opposition to the over-use of 'greenfield' sites. This impasse is further complicated by the fact that it is set against a backdrop of the toughest economic climate in decades, although forward-thinking and energetic engineers can also envisage a future which will be both sustainable and fiscally rewarding.
A Geo-Environmental engineer must understand, utilise and implement a wide range of science and engineering based academic disciplines into “real-world' contexts. A weighty responsibility accompanies this work, which provides the basis upon which to assess a site's requirements for reuse. The majority of work undertaken by geo-environmental engineers involves the assessment, investigation and remediation / reclamation of sites which have been damaged and contaminated by historical industrial activities. This is evidently goal-orientated, and pursues a 'fit-for-use' approach which seeks to deliver a safe environment for future end-users.
A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
Many successful consulting engineering companies market themselves as 'multi-disciplinary'. However, whilst many engineers within larger firms may find themselves compartmentalised into specialist disciplines, the majority of geo-environmental engineers must still retain a thorough understanding of a variety of sciences and engineering approaches, and must also know when to seek appropriate support from specialists in other fields.
The role of a geo-environmental engineer is made even more challenging by the fact that we occupy a precarious middle-ground between the energetic and cost-driven developers, and the authorities who have the unenviable task of regulating redevelopment works with limited funds and resources.
This, however, provides us with a unique and advantageous position through which we can assist our clients to plan, prepare and eventually build safe and sustainable projects.
Within any typical week, my work takes me through a range of tasks including environmental survey inspections, site audits, site investigations, risk assessments and meetings with regulators. My vocation for chemical sciences has led me to a specialist position within Sirius Midlands Ltd as one of their main risk assessment and contaminated land engineers. This role combines aspects of chemistry, microbiology, hydrogeology and statistical analysis into a truly multi-disciplinary approach to understanding risks from contamination to both human health and the environment.
From uncontaminated farmer's fields to heavily polluted former industrial sites, this yields an everchanging and constantly involving workload.
Whilst these tangible engineering roles occupy the majority of my time, more ethereal roles concerning diplomatic duties are also a core part of my work. By presenting a developer's requirements in a compliant and mutually agreeable way to the relevant regulators, we can ensure that development progresses unhindered and in a timely manner which benefits all stakeholders.
Environmental Engineering
It may sound arrogant to suggest that the environment may be sustainably engineered to suit our needs in the way that concrete or steel can be formed to meet our construction requirements. However, with careful and responsible planning, the many biological, chemical and physical processes and cycles which characterise the environment can be utilised to help us to lessen impacts during redevelopment, and can even be manipulated to help decontaminate certain sites.
One of the prime examples of geo-environmental engineering in practice is the seemingly simple idea of ex situ bioremediation of hydrocarbon fuels. The prevalence of petrol filling stations and other bulk fuel storage sites across the UK sadly means that contamination of soils and groundwater with fuels and oils is relatively common. However, by exploiting the inherent susceptibility of hydrocarbons to natural 'weathering', and by optimising the soil environment to facilitate the breakdown of such contaminants, microbial degradation has been an established and thoroughly effective weapon in the geo-environmental engineer's arsenal for many years.
One of the sites which I am currently managing is supporting just such ex situ bioremediation activity, with the blessing and encouragement of both the Local Planning Authority and Environment Agency. Hydrocarbon impacted soils from beneath a large underground tank farm have been excavated from the ground and laid out in long windrows. The increased surface area, coupled with the current clement summertime weather, are combining to increase the rates of microbial aerobic bio-degradation to levels which are rapidly and successfully diminishing the concentrations of hydrocarbon contaminants within soils. To further optimise this process, the soils are frequently and thoroughly turned in order to aerate the soils, maintain soil structure, promote contact between micro-organisms and contaminants and to enable the end-products (mainly comprising carbon dioxide and water) to disperse into the atmosphere. Whilst environmental impacts (in the form of carbon dioxide) are still released, the wider effects to the environment are much reduced.
The performance of this technique can be enhanced by further modifying the soil conditions for optimised degradation. Measures such as covering the soils with thermal blankets to raise soil temperatures or even introducing compounds to provide nutrients for microbial growth and activity are now well-established practices.
Applied Chemistry
Of all the engineering and science-based disciplines that geo-environment engineers are required to understand, chemistry is perhaps the most important. Some of the sites we assess and investigate contain extremely hazardous chemicals and compounds which can cause immediate health hazards or long-term risks. Over the course of my career I have managed sites with a myriad of risks, ranging from derelict factories where the contamination within soils included aggressive acidic fluids, to disused warehouses where cyanide crystals were growing out of every wall.
Acute hazards aside, much of my work involves the detailed assessment of risks to human health and the environment from long-term chronic effects associated with contaminated land. This is what underpins the brownfield reclamation industry, and is a fundamental aspect of my work. From elemental heavy metals to elaborate chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds, the exposure pathways, modes of transportation, uptake scenarios and exposure durations must all be assessed in a conservative manner in order to ensure that users of redeveloped brownfield sites can work, reside and play in safety. One of the main ways in which these risks are assessed is through the comparison of analytical test results against soil screening values, although further more complex tiers of assessment are often required in order to refine the assessment and discover the most accurate and reliable conclusions possible.
Additional Roles
As mentioned above, my career ethic has been one that has driven me to continually strive for personal professional development. An example of this would be the presentations which I give (alongside colleagues at The Sirius Group) to Local Authorities and clients. Topics, which are often selected by the groups we are visiting, vary considerably (previous examples include overviews of the UK contaminated land risk assessment model and an overview of remediation techniques), but are always technically complex. This forces me to maintain a high level of awareness and understanding of many topics and areas within my industry, and also ensures continued life-long learning.
Conclusions
I don't view my job as a chore even though the work can often be stressful with high levels of responsibility and pressure. I attribute this to the fact that the work is always varied, interesting and involving, but rarely tedious. It provides ample opportunity to be a proactive professional at the forefront of sustainable and responsible environmental development, which can allow keen engineers to thrive. It also enables me to occupy a middle-ground between developers and regulators which, whilst precarious, allows abundant opportunities to guide redevelopment down a path which is both sustainable and economically effective. However, above all I enjoy the feeling that I have made a positive difference (albeit very small) to redevelopment projects, encouraging responsible and sustainable work whilst helping to ensure the safety and long-term well-being of both the environment and the people who will use these once contaminated brownfield sites.
General views of some of the sites and techniques that I am involved with
SEE Co-Sponsors SaRS events,
Paradigm Shifts: Cross-Industry Lessons Learned from Fukushima and other Major Incidents
Keynote Speaker: Dr Mike Weightman, Chief Inspector, Office for Nuclear Regulation
This event will be held on Wednesday 13th June 2012 at SaRS Headquarters, One Central Park, Manchester, M40 5BP
With each major incident, and the resulting inquiry, report and review, the basic assumptions of safety and reliability are challenged and advanced. This conference brings together speakers from various high-hazard industries in a seminar of knowledge exchange. The development of best practice, often based in specific industry-domain experience, can be shared through collaboration and cooperation as well as lessons learned from other industries. This conference draws together speakers from various industry sectors including nuclear, oil and gas, defence, rail and marine to explore lessons learned from major hazards, and how these can be brought together to identify common themes and ideas to take forward.
The format of the conference allows time for a panel discussion where there will be opportunities to pose questions to expert speakers and to discuss the implications within and across high hazard industries.
Speakers Include:
Dr Mike Weightman, Chief Inspector, Office for Nuclear Regulation
David Griffin, Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB)
Train containment – A practical example of learning from accidents
Wg Cdr Andrew Knight, Military Aviation Authority (MAA)
‘What has Reliability ever done for us?’ – Manchester
When: 3rd July, 2012
Where: SaRS HQ, One Central Park, Northampton Road, Manchester, M40 5BP
Synopsis: ‘Reliability’ is a common word that is used by many groups of people, in many scenarios. We all have a sense of what ‘reliable equipment’ is or how a ‘reliable person’ behaves – but what does ‘Reliability’ really mean for product developers and process managers? This event is about the discipline of reliability engineering – it’s tools and methodologies and how they can be applied. Reliability engineering can provide real benefits to business and society in general by managing risk and reducing costs.
This event is made up of presentations, delivered by practitioners, and interactive workshops – in which we explore how reliability methods are used in the real world.
The objectives of this event are for attendees to discover what ‘reliability’ can do for them and to share effective practices.
Reading the Tea Leaves: Performance Indicators and the Monitoring of Safety and Reliability
This event will be held on Thursday the 13th September at Friends House, Euston, London.
Synopsis of Event: Things that go wrong affect your finances, the quality of service you offer and sometimes the safety of those around you. Leading safety indicators provide vital insight into the safety of systems but are not generated in some safety bubble: they are linked to wider understanding of the system behaviour. The use of leading safety indicators will be presented and discussed in this seminar and workshop where representatives from different industries are invited to share their insights.
Members of SEE can register at the SaRS Member rates and details can be found on the SaRS website at http://www.sars.org.uk/events/
SEE Sponsors events with IMechE
IMechE are holding a number of events in the next few months where SEE are co-sponsors. Dates for your diaries are:
Generating energy from waste: risks and rewards
Seminar | London |19 June 2012
In the search for reliable, sustainable fuels, is it time to move energy recovery up the waste hierarchy? Our expert speakers will outline the challenges of energy from waste projects – from the initial funding to the day to day running of the project. They’ll also discuss risks and how to safeguard against them to ensure a reliable, efficient and profitable plant.
For more information and to book online visit www.imeche.org/events/S1680. Please note members of the Society of Environmental Engineers are entitled to book at the reduced member rate.
Cleanrooms 2012
21 June 2012
1 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ, UK
Book now or view the full programme: www.imeche.org/events/S1662
With presentations from leading figures in the cleanroom industry, as well as a networking lunch, this event will be a comprehensive guide to the latest developments in cleanroom technology.
Benefits of attendance:
- Hear from leading designers, manufactures and end-users
- Learn more about the development of the cleanrooms industry and identify future opportunities for your business
- Gain additional contacts across the industry
Who should attend?
Process Engineers, Engineering Firms, Manufacturers, Scientists, Plant Facilities Managers, Quality Control Personnel, Operations & Maintenance Managers, Nanotechnology Firms, Electronics Companies, Biotechnology Companies, Pharmaceutical Companies, Food Processing and Packaging Companies
Book now or view the full programme: www.imeche.org/events/S1662
Alternatively, call Jason Williams on +44 (0)20 7973 1273. Or email j_williams@imeche.org
Tenth International Conference on Vibrations in Rotating Machinery (VIRM10), 11-13th September 2012" , www.imeche.org/events/c1326
For further information please email: management@imeche.org or visit: www.imeche.org
Hospital Ventilation 2012 - one day seminar - 9th May 2012 , Hospital Ventilation 2012
Sustainabilitylive!
Sustainabilitylive!, the UK’s leading sustainability event for environmental, water, land, energy and sustainable business sectors, will be returning to the NEC Birmingham from 22-24 May 2012.
The event (which is free to visitors) provides an outstanding platform for companies and other organisations to share sustainable, cutting-edge technologies and industry innovations. Alongside the exhibition, is a three-day conference and seminar programme where key business leaders and practitioners will be able to explore current industry issues, best practice and pioneering applications.
For up to date exhibitor news, feature programme, information on how to exhibit and more visit www.sustainabilitylive.com/slsee
PROJECT TO USE WASTE CHIP FAT IN ASPHALT COMMENDED BY ENGINEERING INDUSTRY
Young engineer Helen Bailey has won a prestigious industry award for her pioneering work which could reduce the carbon footprint of Britain’s road building industry using waste chip fat.
Technical Forum – Current Hot Topic
Laser Vibrometry – A Practical Application
Chartered Environmentalist
The Society is a Constituent Body (CB) of the Society for the Environment (SocEnv). This means that we shall can enrol suitably qualified Members of the Society as Chartered Environmentalists (CEnv).
The BLOODHOUND Project.
New World Land Speed Record Attempt - 1000 mph
CITNEXUS - DISCOUNTED SOFTWARE
The Society has entered into an arrangement with Citnexus to make available heavily discounted software to Society Members
