Engineering Ethics Overview

The ability to think critically and independently about moral issues and apply these principles to professional scenarios.

This ethical theory focuses on maximizing overall happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people. It considers the consequences of actions.

This ethical theory emphasizes following rules and duties, regardless of the consequences. It prioritizes moral principles over potential outcomes.

This theory prioritizes the rights of individuals and focuses on safeguarding their freedoms, dignity, and autonomy. It considers actions from the perspective of individual rights.

This theory emphasizes developing good character traits, values, and virtues. It focuses on becoming a morally good person through actions and habits.

A significant shortage in funding needed to maintain and improve the nation's public parks, adding up to $66 billion.

A large percentage of the funding for national parks comes from taxpayers.

A program designed to provide funding for park maintenance and restoration.

A significant financial gap exists for infrastructure spending in U.S. ports, estimated at over $12 billion.

These ports, often smaller, face particular challenges in securing investment funds.

The two main categories of rail transportation in the U.S., with freight rail primarily financed by shippers and passenger rail heavily relying on government funding.

A significant financial shortage exists for maintaining and improving passenger rail infrastructure in the U.S.

A significant portion of the nation's roads are in poor condition, leading to wasted time and fuel for drivers.

The increasing number of miles driven on roads that are in poor condition.

The second largest sector of public infrastructure in the U.S., encompassing a vast network of school buildings.

The ability to sustain current needs without diminishing the ability to meet future needs.

The design and development of solutions to address environmental problems, focusing on human and environmental health.

The study of how pollutants enter the environment, their movement and transformation, and their impact on humans and ecosystems.

The fundamental characteristics of a substance, such as length, mass, and time.

Derived units that are derived from fundamental dimensions.

International System of Units: a standardized measurement system used worldwide.

US Customary System: a measurement system used primarily in the United States.

The mass of a substance per unit volume.

School infrastructure in the US needs considerable improvement, with over half of school districts requiring significant repairs and more than a third relying on temporary portable buildings.

The majority of Americans rely on municipal wastewater treatment plants, which are responsible for cleaning and treating sewage. However, many of these facilities are nearing their design lifespan, and there's a significant funding gap for infrastructure upgrades.

The US produces a vast amount of waste. While recycling rates have plateaued, a significant portion of waste still ends up in landfills. Emerging contaminants from old landfills are a growing concern.

Stormwater runoff is rainwater that flows over streets and other impervious surfaces, carrying pollutants into rivers and lakes. The existing infrastructure for managing stormwater runoff is often inadequate, leading to water quality issues.

Public transit in the US faces challenges, with many Americans lacking access to reliable transit options. Much of the existing system is aging and in need of upgrades and investments.

A five-step problem-solving method is commonly used in engineering to approach challenges systematically. This method involves defining the problem clearly, creating a visual representation, selecting relevant theory, solving the problem, and verifying the solution.

The process of identifying, analyzing, and assessing the condition of school buildings and infrastructure to determine their suitability for educational purposes.

A comprehensive plan that outlines the long-term needs and strategies for maintaining and improving school facilities.

A method for determining the most cost-effective way to build and maintain a school facility, considering factors like construction, operation, and maintenance costs over time.

Alternative financing approaches for school infrastructure projects, such as public-private partnerships or bonds, to address funding gaps.

These are substances that are released from a source and impact air quality, such as gases and particles.

These are the places where pollutants are released into the environment, such as cars, power plants, and factories.

These are pollutants that are directly released from a source, like smoke from a car exhaust.

These pollutants are formed in the atmosphere from chemical reactions between primary pollutants or other atmospheric components.

This is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface where most weather occurs.

This is the process by which air pollutants mix, travel, and change in the atmosphere.

The reduction of pollutant concentration in the atmosphere through dispersion and mixing.

The removal of pollutants from the atmosphere through processes like gravity, rain, or absorption by surfaces.

The lowest acceptable amount of arsenic (As) in drinking water that is deemed safe for human consumption, considering health risks.

A guideline value represents the recommended limit for arsenic (As) in drinking water, based on scientific evidence and health considerations.

A graph showing the relationship between the dosage of a substance (e.g., arsenic) and the percentage of individuals showing a specific effect (e.g., liver disease), used for risk assessment.

Sources of pollution that are widespread and difficult to pinpoint, such as runoff from farms, urban areas, or construction sites.

Sources of pollution that are easily identifiable, such as wastewater treatment plants or industrial facilities.

A system that collects and treats wastewater from homes and businesses before releasing it back into the environment.

A process that removes pollutants from drinking water to make it safe for consumption.

A physical property of water related to its cloudiness or haziness, caused by suspended particles.

An atmospheric condition where warmer air sits above cooler air, trapping pollutants near the ground.

The harmful effects of air pollution on human health, such as respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

The study of how pollutants interact with the atmosphere, including their transport, transformation, and fate.

Pollution that originates from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels or industrial processes.