Using the automobile as a case study of one of the industries most attuned to the concept of industrial ecology (i.e., the means by which humanity can deliberately and rationally approach and maintain a desirable carrying capacity, given continued economic, cultural and technological evolution), this text provides a general introduction to how to design for environment -- a key component of the repertoire of the 21st century engineer. Although the focus throughout is on the automobile, the concepts, suggestions, and insights are appropriate to all of technology.
From the Back Cover
FEATURES:
* Shows that an industrial system must be viewed not in isolation from its surrounding systems, but in concert with them.
* Outlines a systems view in which one seeks to optimize the total materials cycle — from materials to components and whole products, through obsolescence and disposal.
* Focuses on resources, energy, and capital as factors to be optimized.
* Explores various experiences encountered by the automobile industry in designing an automobile with the environment in mind. Considers:
* What choices are desirable?
* Which decisions work?
* Which are difficult to implement?
* Where is more research needed?
* Places automobiles in the context of broad societal structures — economics, psychology, culture.
* Provides historical perspectives on the evolution of the automobile and the evolution of the automotive infrastructure. (Chs. 4, 5) Considers:
* Road network development, maintenance and repair.
* Petroleum exploration, recovery, and delivery network.
* The automobile as a facilitator of urban sprawl.
* Discusses the many steps and factors to be considered in designing for environment:
* Choosing materials. (Ch. 6)
* Energy consumption. (Ch. 7)
* Environmental impacts during manufacture. (Ch. 8)
* Environmental interactions during product use. (Ch. 9)
* Design for recycling. (Ch. 10)
* Surveys global trends affecting the automobile, the transportation infrastructure, and the society of the next quarter-century.
* Contains Matrix Evaluation Guidelines and Checklists. (Appendix A)
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