ESEM Principle

Posted: August 26th, 2021

ESEM Principle

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Institutional Affiliation

ESEM Principle

Earth systems engineering and management (ESEM) principles are used in analyzing, designing, engineering development and management of complex environmental systems in ESEM projects and programs (Allenby, 2012). It is an emerging area of study being practiced in various universities in the United States. Among its core founders of the discipline are Michael Gorman and Braden Allenby. According to Brad Allenby (2012), there are about 16 principles designed to facilitate sustainable engineering. These principles are called ESEM. The aim of this paper is to discuss one of these principles, applying it to the topics learned in class.

The selected principle is “Evaluating Technological Fix” (Allenby, 2012). The technological fix means using technology or engineering to address the existing problem. The principle demands that before implementing engineering work, there is a need to evaluate major shifts in the technological systems and associated technologies(Allenby, 2012). The step is meant to ensure that appropriate policies and initiatives are adopted to enhance project capability. The principle targets at modifying the procedures for maintaining and operating the engineering system (Allenby, 2012). It is based on the understanding that technological fixes are inevitable in the current engineering development; hence, proper evaluation should be performed to find a suitable fix(Allenby, 2012). The reason is that many technologies devised to facilitate a solution to a given problem tend to contribute to other problems or externalities. Externalities are the unintended consequences of technology (Allenby, 2012). As a result, implementers should focus on addressing gaps in ESEM projects while questioning the predictions proposed in the development stage. In this way, the principle attempts to appreciate that besides being technological and scientific, ESEM projects have powerful economic, political, ethical and cultural influence(Allenby, 2012). Therefore, successful implementation of ESEM programs and projects should integrate all these facets. 

References

Allenby, B. (2012). The Theory and Practice of Sustainable Engineering. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. pp. 356-373.