Sustainable Design Exam 2 PDF

Module 4: Day 19 Lecture: Biochemical cycle- describes the amount of material stored, produced or consumed with a repository (atmosphere, geologic, ocean seawater, dead organic matter, living organism) Water cycle - Evaporation: process of converting liquid water from surface water sources to...

Module 4: Day 19 Lecture: Biochemical cycle- describes the amount of material stored, produced or consumed with a repository (atmosphere, geologic, ocean seawater, dead organic matter, living organism) Water cycle - Evaporation: process of converting liquid water from surface water sources to gaseous water - Transpiration: water is conveyed from living plant tissue, especially leaves, to the atmosphere - Evapotranspiration: combines evaporation and transpiration - Infiltration: fraction of precipitation seeps into ground Residence Time (insert calculations) What can civil engineers do? - Clean drinking water and treating waste water - Hydropower - Irrigation techniques - Transportation, protecting wetlands and habitats from roads, waterway and navigation - Recreation - keeping lakes and rivers Groundwater contamination - People drill wells and obtain groundwater from aquifers, which is a body of water underneath soil - Landfills, pesticides and septic tanks can leak and contaminate groundwater Water terms: - Non-consumptive water - Water that can be captured after use and treated - Waste water from homes and industry - Consumptive water - Water that cannot be captured after use: irrigation water and hydropower - Indirect Potable reuse (IPR) - Non-consumptive water is treated and put back in lake or aquifer and then reused - Direct Potable reuse (DPR) - Non-consumptive water is treated and goes directly back to homes and business for potable use Examples: Las Vegas Water - 90% from Lake Mead and 10% from groundwater - For water that is non-consumptive water use - Sent wastewater treatment plant, not to drinking water standards - Sent back to lake mead or used for irrigation on large public land or golf courses - Allowed withdraw a gall for every gallon returned to lake mead - Las Vegas consumptive water use - Irrigation of home landscaping ( incentive of $3 per square foot to remove existing lawn and limits pool size to 600 square feet) Los Angeles Water - Indirect potable reuse to aquifers - Partially treats 130 million gallons daily San Diego Water - Water is from a water district controlled by Los Angeles - LA withheld 30% of San Diego water - Water from farmers in imperial valley - San diego built 58 miles of impervious concrete canals - San diego given 25 billion gallons of water from farmers supply - Desalination! Research- goal is to develop and validate methods to control PFAs site management/contatimination - There are source zones, with different weather conditions and different soil types - Trying to develop description of the source, terms, logic tree and calculator guide for PFAS and scenarios - From groundwater and runoff - Want to figure out how much PFAs get released over time - Methods and demonstration - Help with clean up decisions Module 5: Day 21 Lecture: PFAS: Forever Chemicals: Slide 1 - Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances: they don’t break down naturally, thus cause health problems - Carpet protectant, paint, non-stick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant apparent and fire-fighting foams Slide 2: Perfluorinated Chemical Contamination in Drinking Water - Fung Fei talked about mostly being in soil and then leaching into the groundwater (also can in the surface water) - Higher than anticipated levels in drinking water in US - Groundwater - Surface water - Health Effects - Accumulate in Body - Reproductive and Developmental - Liver and Kidney - Increased Cholesterol Slide 3: Other Water Pollutants - Micro and Nano Plastics - Oil Spills - Ethanol from seeds - Forest Fires - Aging Infrastructure - Microorganisms - Water Stratification and Climate Change Slide 7: Oil spill in Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Ida (2021) - Company leading the clean up says it is not responsible for the leak - 9 segments of pipe owned by 7 different companies - Many abandoned pipes and infrastructure on sea floor (they pipe the oil back to the main land- when the oil wells go dry, some companies just leave the pipes there - after hurricane- oil spills) Slide 8: Ethanol Plant in Nebraska - Ag companies “donate” excess supplies fo treated seeds - AltEn uses seed coated with fungicides and insecticides to produce ethanol - This process reduces a pesticide laden waste product - Sold to farmers as a “soil conditioner” - Stored excess on the grounds of its plant  - Polluting the soil and water - Acceptable level of clothianidin is 11 ppb - “Soil conditioner” tested at 427000 ppb (summary: the companies coat seeds with pesticides and fungicides and that gives the seeds a chance to grow before any animals can eat them—-- a waste product left over after they produced ethanol - so they took the waste product and sod it to farmers as a soil conditioner – these contain large levels of pesticides which would be getting into the groundwater ) Slide 9: - Hurricane Florence in 2018 in north carolina - 8 trillion gallons of rainwater - Open Air manure pits at hog farms - 6 levees failed - 28 farms overtopped (impacts on agriculture) Slide 10: Water and fire - In 2017 tubbs fire melted the underground water infrastructure - Melted water lines created volatile organic compounds which exceeded the state’s safe drinking water limit - “Do-not-drink / do-not-boil-water advisory” lasted 11 months (plastics into the water) Slide 11: Same thing as slide 10 - The “camp fire” in california in 2018 - Miles of underground melted pipes - Plastics peeked into the water system, where the liquid sat for weeks Slide 13:Flint michigan - low income city (lead into the water pipes) Slide 14: Baltimore, Maryland Water  - Brown water from tap - Meets standards from the water treatment - Pipes are old and leach Slide 15: Jackson, MS (similar slide 13 and slide 14) - August 2022, pearl river flooded due to severe storms in the state - OB curtis water treatment plant which was already running on backup pumps due to failures the month prior - Stop the treatment of drinking water indefinitely - 150,00 residents of the city with no safe drinking water - EPA eventually took over the city water system Day 22 Lecture: “waste is a uniquely human concept” Renewable energy : replenish themselves through the natural biogeochemcial cycles non-renewable energy : regenerate extremely slowly or not at all What do natural resources do for us? - Cultural services - spiritual and religious, recreation, aesthetics, education - Regulating services - climate regulation, disesase regua.tion, water regulation - Provisioning services - food, freshwater, fiber - Supporting services : soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production Four traditional engineered solid materials: (the four traditional solides are classes of materials that each share physical properties of characteristics) - Metals, ceramics, polymers, composites Advanced materials (no standard definition with no common physical and chemical properties, manufactured with highly sophisticated technologies)  - Nanotechnology, smart materials Waste: - Fashion waste - China stopped importing waste which has led the United states to send waste to other smaller countries like India, Vietnam and Indonesia - California prevented companies from using the arrows symbol unless they can prove the material is in fact recycled in California communities US municipal solid waste by type of material and quaity Paper and paperboard > food > plastics > yard trimmings Facilities waste can lead to problems -> more water contamination -> modern engineered landfill that meets RCRA which monitors and controls leachate Love Canal: infamous environmental tragedies in US history in Niagara falls, Love canal was a dumping ground for approximately 21,000 tons of toxic chemicals, - Residents began noticing alarming issues such as strange odors, chemical seepage and rising health concerns National Ambient Air Quality Standards - Carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide - CO, PB, NO2, O3, PM, S02 Supreme court ruled that EPA cannot put state level caps on CO2 emissions How to calculate Air Quality Index: AQI = C Environment / C NAAQs * 100 EXAM 2 TOPICS - Review Homework #6-#9 - Topics: Built Environment; Equity; Transportation; Stormwater; ENVISION, Site Visit, Water Quantity; Water Quality; Nitrogen Cycle; Water Treatment; PFAs; Waste; Wind Turbine Reuse; LCA; Ethics; IPAT; HDI; Population Growth NEED TO KNOW FOR EXAM - Student Presentations a. What did learn from your presentation? i. We learned alot about porous concrete and how it is mostly made of coarse aggregate. It is a material that is starting to be used in New York city due to its helpful properties in letting water seep through. b. What is one thing you learned from two other presentations that were from a different category than yours (SDGs, ENVISION, ArmyCorps, Drawdown)? i. Cadence: Sustainable cities- a lot of cities are being overtaken by air pollution with limited area for greenery. Engineers are taking steps to reduce the carbon emissions from industries and trying to make cities sustainable by adding more electric chargers and more greenery. ii. Esma: iii. (lets ask someone for their presentation c. Describe the 3 most important UN Sustainable Development Goals i. Clean water and sanitation 1. Having access to clean water and proper sanitation practices is essential in living a healthy and long life. ii. No poverty 1. A lot of areas and a lot of people are still living in vulnerable communities with limited essential services like education, health and social protection. iii. Zero Hungry 1. Ensures the food security and nutrition of the population - Design Thinking: Significance of your project (HOMEWORK 6)  - MyBrick is an important project that aims to lower construction costs and time as it merges the insulation and the concrete exterior into one block. MODULE 4: BUILT ENVIRONMENT 1. Built Environment (DAY 14: BUILT ENVIRONMENT) (ZONING-HW 7 + DAY 17 (SLIDES 4-31) d. Zoning Types, Land Use; Tax Revenue; Nashville Transportation Referendum - Zoning Types and Land Use: - Single-use zoning (exclusive to one type of land use, e.g., residential) vs. Multi-use zoning (allows for mixed residential, commercial, and industrial uses). Multi-use zoning is viewed as more sustainable because it encourages higher-density development and more efficient land use, reducing urban sprawl and supporting more tax revenue​ - Urban sprawl: This is discussed as a negative consequence of certain zoning practices. It leads to more infrastructure costs (roads, sewers, electricity) per capita, habitat loss, and less efficient stormwater management​ - Tax Revenue and Urban Sprawl: - The economic consequences of land-use planning - high-density areas generate more tax revenue per acre compared to sprawling, car-centric developments. Chain businesses like Taco John's provide less revenue than old, dense buildings​ - High density areas: More taxes than investment by city - Chain Business: Less taxes than investment by city - Nashville Transportation: - address sustainability and transportation challenges, particularly focusing on reducing the impact of transportation on greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation was recognized as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the city. This led to initiatives such as Complete  Streets, which aim to redesign urban spaces to accommodate various modes of transportation, including walking, biking, and transit, while improving safety and accessibility for all users​. EXTRA DETAIL: In Day 17's Stormwater and Envision content, there is an emphasis on how transportation infrastructure intersects with environmental sustainability. Complete Streets projects like those along 12th Avenue South are designed to incorporate stormwater management features such as Low Impact Development (LID). LID techniques, including bioretention and pervious pavements, aim to reduce runoff, filter pollutants, and improve groundwater recharge. This approach aligns with Nashville's policy of managing stormwater sustainably, requiring developments to handle the first inch of rain through infiltration or other natural processes. THE MAIN GOAL: A citywide transformation of its transportation network to not only reduce greenhouse gasses but also to address stormwater challenges, improve public health, and ensure equitable infrastructure​ 2. Equity in Civil Engineering (DAY 14: BUILT ENVIRONMENT) a. INEQUITY IN ENGINEERING DECISIONS: i. Interstates ii. Redlining iii. Toxic Waste iv. Pipelines v. Policies vi. People b. Impact of past policies and construction i. Policies like redlining and infrastructure decisions like the routing of highways have disproportionately affected poor and minority neighborhoods 1. EXAMPLE: Organizers of lunch counter sit-ins lived in this area  Interstate was intentionally designed to disrupt this thriving community Home values decreased by 30% within a year of construction Increase in noise, air, and soil pollution Businesses Closed Music clubs that hosted musicians such as Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Etta James Black-owned Banks, Black-owned cafes, etc. - Nashville incarceration rates: - The state has a responsibility to address historical injustices caused by the intentional destruction of Black communities through highway construction. - Before highways, these neighborhoods were vibrant and successful. - Highway construction disrupted families, leading to external buyers purchasing homes and raising property taxes. - This forced many local families out of their homes due to unaffordable tax rates. - The state should protect residents from being displaced by rising property taxes and predatory real estate practices. 3. Site Visit to Gulch and 12 South transportation (HW 7 - TRANSPORTATION - DAY 15: TRANSPORTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY) a. Draw versions of street cross section; Draw and describe a Complete Street North Gulch up to Charlotte Avenue  Charlotte Avenue up to Division (main Gulch area) Division to Acklen (new stormwater and transit infrastructure) A Complete Street ensures that the needs of all transportation modes are met. Activities involve designing street cross-sections that accommodate different users within the space available  Acklen to Kirkwood (12 South Tourist area 4. Stormwater; ENVISION: (DAY 17: STORMWATER; ENVISION + HW 7- QUESTION 7) a. Don’t know what this is for to be honest Complete Streets projects like those along 12th Avenue South are designed to incorporate stormwater management features such as Low Impact Development (LID). LID techniques, including bioretention and previous pavements, aim to reduce runoff, filter pollutants, and improve groundwater recharge. This approach aligns with Nashville's policy of managing stormwater sustainably, requiring developments to handle the first inch of rain through infiltration or other natural processes MODULE 5: BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES 5. Water Quantity (DAY 19: WATER QUANTITY) - (HW 8 - Q1-4 : WATER MANAGEMENT ) a. Describe Colorado River Water Basin (SLIDE 32) The Colorado River Water Basin is a crucial water source for the western U.S., but it faces challenges: Agricultural Use: 80% of the river's water supports agriculture. Urban Demands: Cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles rely heavily on its water. Over-Allocation: States extract more water than the river provides, leading to depletion of reservoirs like Lake Mead. Environmental Stress: Drought conditions and climate change exacerbate scarcity. Innovative water-saving methods include using tiered pricing, xeriscaping, and direct potable reuse. i. Colorado Use: Colorado uses the river primarily for agriculture, municipal needs, and industry. Water Source: Although Denver is located on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, water from the river is piped over the mountains to the South Platte River and then distributed. Challenges: ○ Water scarcity due to urban expansion. ○ Dependence on the transmountain diversions. Innovations: ○ Developments like Sterling Ranch focus on efficient water use by metering and tiered pricing, resulting in significantly lower water usage than other Denver communities. ii. Nevada Use: 90% of Nevada's water comes from Lake Mead, the Colorado River reservoir behind Hoover Dam.  Las Vegas depends heavily on the river for both consumptive (irrigation, cooling) and non-consumptive (reuse) purposes. ○ Water Conservation: Strict regulations on landscaping, with incentives for removing grass lawns. Limits on pool sizes and bans on evaporative cooling systems to reduce water loss. ○ Innovations: Las Vegas treats and returns wastewater to Lake Mead, allowing the city to withdraw an equivalent volume of water for reuse iii. Arizona Use: ○ Agriculture is a significant consumer, especially for crops like alfalfa (exported to other countries). ○ Urban areas like Phoenix also depend on the Colorado River for drinking water and urban development. Challenges: ○ Declining river levels threaten supplies to cities and farming communities. Innovations: Arizona is exploring water rights, aquifer recharge, and improved irrigation methods like drip systems to conserve water. iv. California Use: ○ 80% of the river water allocated to California is used for agriculture, producing 90% of the nation’s winter vegetables. ○ Urban areas like Los Angeles use the river for drinking water, aquifer recharge, and indirect potable reuse. Challenges: ○ High water demands for almond and other crop exports. ○ Dependence on senior water rights despite declining resources. Innovations: ○ Indirect potable reuse (IPR) projects and desalination plants. ○ Purple pipe systems for industrial and irrigation reuse​ v. Utah Use: Primarily for agriculture, but also for municipal and recreational purposes.  Challenges: Utah's increasing population and urban development place additional pressure on river allocations. vi. New Mexico Use: The river supports smaller-scale agricultural use and municipal needs in New Mexico. Challenges: Limited access due to its position in the basin and reliance on shared allocations with other states. b. Use the Water Budget Equation (SLIDE 42 - P = R+ I + E+ T + S + C) (HW 8 - QUESTION 5) EX: The Mitchell River spans 75,000 km2. The runoff is 11,000,000 megaliters of run-off per year. The wet climate has 1,100 mm of precipitation per year. Annual evapotranspiration rates are 900 mm. Reservoirs store 450,000 megaliters annually. The average annual water withdrawal from groundwater is 55,000 megaliters. Is the amount of water withdrawn sustainable? P (Precipitation): R (Runoff): I (Infiltration):. E (Evaporation):. T (Transpiration):. S (Storage): C (Consumption): 6. Biogeochemical Cycles (DAY 20: WATER QUALITY) a. Impact of fertilizers and fossil fuels on Nitrogen Cycle (HW 8 - QUESTION 6) - (DAY 20 - slide 9) Before fertilizers and fossil fuels: The nitrogen cycle was balanced, relying on natural processes like nitrogen fixation by microbes and denitrification returning nitrogen to the atmosphere. After fertilizers and fossil fuels: Excess Nitrogen: Increased nitrogen fixation from synthetic fertilizers and emissions. Impacts: ○ Greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide (200x impact of CO₂). ○ Ozone layer depletion and smog formation. ○ Acid rain and water contamination (e.g., Blue Baby Syndrome). ○ Algal blooms from nutrient runoff leading to eutrophication in water bodies. b. Streeter Phelps equation for Organic Nutrients (DAY 20 Water quality with solutions - slide 29 ) (HW 8 - QUESTION 7) (HOMEWORK 9) 7. Describe the impact of PFAs on water (DAY 21: WATER TREATMENT) + (DAY 21 PFAs Guest lecture) a. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of synthetic chemicals known for their chemical stability and resistance to degradation. Due to their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, they are persistent in the environment and are referred to as "forever chemicals." PFAS contamination in water primarily arises from industrial discharges, firefighting foams, and consumer products. They accumulate in groundwater and surface water and have been linked to various health risks such as reproductive, developmental, liver, and kidney issues. PFAS contamination is challenging for water treatment plants due to their resistance to conventional treatment methods 8. Describe basics of how water goes from source to use in a municipal water system (DAY 20: WATER QUALITY) Water from a natural source, such as a river, is typically treated in stages before it reaches the end user. The basic process includes: Intake and Screening: Raw water is taken from the source and filtered to remove large debris. Coagulation and Flocculation: Chemicals are added to water to bind with suspended particles, forming larger particles (flocs) that can settle out. Sedimentation: The flocs settle to the bottom, separating from the water. Filtration: The water passes through filters to remove smaller particles. Disinfection: The water is treated to eliminate pathogens, often using chlorine, UV light, or ozone. Storage and Distribution: Treated water is stored in reservoirs and then distributed through a network of pipes to homes and businesses​ a. How are PFAs and Microplastics treated? i. PFAS Treatment: Removing PFAS from water typically involves advanced filtration techniques such as Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) filters, ion exchange resins, and reverse osmosis. These methods can capture PFAS molecules, but disposal of the concentrated PFAS waste remains challenging. Some emerging  solutions include using bacteria capable of degrading PFAS under specific conditions ii. Microplastics Treatment: Treating microplastics in water is still a developing field. Microplastics often persist in treated wastewater, with removal strategies focusing on physical processes like fine filtration or advanced wastewater treatment stages. Strategies include sedimentation, coagulation, and the use of microfilters​ 9. Wind Turbines repurposing (DAY 22: WIND TURBINE GUEST LECTURE) The repurposing of wind turbine blades, as presented in Yulizza Henao's guest lecture, involves reusing decommissioned blades as high-voltage transmission poles, also known as BladePoles. This approach is analyzed through both a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA). a. Describe in terms of LCA The LCA shows that repurposing blades can lead to lower emissions compared to alternatives like landfilling or recycling. Transportation is a significant contributor to emissions, with over 45% of the fossil fuel depletion and global warming potential being attributed to blade transportation. However, repurposing blades into BladePoles generally results in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional disposal methods such as landfilling or recycling. (HOMEWORK 9) 10. Types of waste (DAY 22: WASTE AND AIR) a. Municipal, Construction and Demolition, Hazardous Municipal waste:includes waste from homes, businesses, and other sources paper and paperboard, glass, plastic, food, wood, glass and metals Construction and demolition: Materials included in the C&D debris generation estimates are steel, wood products, drywall and plaster, brick and clay tile, asphalt shingles, concrete, and asphalt concrete. Hazardous Waste: Defined by the EPA as any waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment Liquids, solids, gases, or sludges.  Cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the Byproducts of manufacturing processes. List the NAAQS pollutants and their primary sources (DAY 22: WASTE AND AIR) NAAQS pollutant Primary source CO carbon monoxide Fuel combustion Pb Lead Smelters, metal refineries and other metal industries NOx Nitrogen oxides Fuel combustion from electric utilities , wood burning O3 Ozone Secondary pollutant typically formed by chemical reactions of volatile organic compounds and NOx in the presence of sunlight PM particulate matter Chemical reactions and industrial processes, unpaved roads SO2 sulfur dioxide Fuel combustion, volcanoes 11. Carbon Dioxide – is it in the NAAQS? (DAY 22: WASTE AND AIR) - No it is not a National ambient air quality standard. MODULE 6: MEASURING SUSTAINABILITY 1. Life Cycle Analysis, LCA (DAY 23: RISK, LCA, ETHICS) a. Explain and give example of a functional unit, goal, scope i. Functional unit: to establish a basis for comparison of two products or process Functional Unit: 1 kilogram of protein delivered for human consumption. Goal: To identify the more environmentally sustainable source of protein, aiding individuals and policymakers in making sustainable dietary choices. Scope: Included: Production (e.g., cattle farming, soybean farming), processing (e.g., slaughtering, tofu production), and transportation. Excluded: Post-purchase impacts like refrigeration at home. b. Given an LCA, describe i. Cradle to Grave: Raw materials extraction to the disposal of finished goods ii. Cradle to Gate: raw materials extraction to finished goods iii. Gate to Gate: one processing stage to another iv. Cradle to Cradle: focuses on designing products so their material is completely recycled and reused at the end of their life v. Calculate GWP, AP, etc. given the tables GWP - global warming potential= Quantity * GWP at given year= value (then add everything) vi. (DAY 23: RISK, LCA, ETHICS - slide 19) 2. Calculate Hazard Index (DAY 23: RISK, LCA, ETHICS - slide 29) 3. Evaluate a sustainability decision from one of the ethical frameworks. (DAY 24: International a. Utilitarianism - states the morally right is the one that produces the most good for the greatest number of people b. Deontological - judges the rightness or wrongness of an actio based on whether it adheres to the rules or principles regardless of the consequences c. ASCE Code of Ethics - a form of professional ethics based on prioritizing safety, health and welfare of the public d. Deep Ecology - posits that all living beings, including humans, have intrinsic value and a right to exist 4. ASCE CODE OF ETHICS: II. NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT Engineers: a. adhere to the principles of sustainable development; b. consider and balance societal, environmental, and economic impacts, along with opportunities for improvement, in their work; c. mitigate adverse societal, environmental, and economic effects; and d. use resources wisely while minimizing resource depletion. 5. Calculate and evaluate the Human Development Index 6. Calculate exponential growth rate 7. Assess the IPAT equation ASCE CODE OF ETHICS: II. NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT Engineers: a. adhere to the principles of sustainable development; b. consider and balance societal, environmental, and economic impacts, along with opportunities for improvement, in their work; c. mitigate adverse societal, environmental, and economic effects; and d. use resources wisely while minimizing resource depletion.