Sustainable Engineering and the Emerging Technologies: Application, Policy Development and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue provides a platform for papers on the multiple aspects of sustainable engineering and emerging technologies, encompassing digitalization, policy development and implementation, and the imperative for on-going innovation—all of which significantly impact businesses and society at large. 

Sustainable engineering is defined as “the science of applying the principles of engineering and design in a manner that fosters positive social and economic development while minimizing environmental impact” [1] (para. 1). The scope for sustainable engineering applications is varied and wide, including waste disposal and management, energy development and consumption, industrial process efficiency, pollution reduction, water supply, and housing and shelter.

A strong connection lies between sustainable engineering and global initiatives toward sustainable development. UNESCO [2], for example, recently noted that “addressing sustainable development within the challenges of climate change, population growth and urbanization will require innovative engineering and technology-based solutions” (p. 4), and sustainable engineering solutions will be central to meeting these global challenges, not least in the provision of housing and shelter, or in the installation of reliable water and other services in developing countries.

Emerging technologies are those for which their development and practical application are not yet fully apparent. In the computing field, these include robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and new educational (“EdTech”) technologies, amongst others. These technologies have “the potential to exert a considerable impact on the socio-economic domain(s) which is observed in terms of the composition of actors, institutions and patterns of interactions, along with the associated knowledge production processes. Its most prominent impact, however, lies in the future" [3] (p.4).

In the business environment, and particularly in manufacturing, the application of sustainable engineering overlaps with digitalization initiatives and the adoption of circular economy practices. Moreover, pollution reduction and energy management are the concern of both government agencies and the private sector, and sustainable engineering is at the forefront of new initiatives in these fields. Similarly, waste disposal technologies and policies are being reassessed and revised by local authorities in the light of new sustainable engineering options [4].

At the intersection of these challenges lies an opportunity for sustainable engineering to play a key role in their resolution and engender positive environmental and social impacts. Collaboration across sectors and partnerships between technology companies, government agencies, private sector users, NGOs, and the research community will be necessary to foster innovation and motivate appropriate solutions.

This Special Issue aims to explore these themes individually and collectively, and to examine sustainable engineering applications, emerging technology convergence, policy issues, challenges, and success factors. More specifically, case studies and analytical reviews on the deployment of sustainable engineering or emergent technologies in organizations are welcome, outlining specific use cases, implications, costs, and benefits. 

References

1. Maier, K. What is Sustainable Engineering? 6 August, 2022. Available online: https://www.allthescience.org/what-is-sustainable-engineering.htm.
2. Engineering for Sustainable Development: Delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. 2021. Available online: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375644.locale=en.
3. Rotolo, D.; Hicks, D.; Martin, B. What is an emerging technology? Research Policy 2015, 44(10), 1827-1843. Available online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/56071/1/2015RP_Rotolo_Hicks_Martin_Preprint.pdf.
4. Jones, P.; Wynn, M. Local Authority Waste Management Strategies, the Circular Economy and the Generation of Energy from Waste in England. Journal of Energy and Power Technology 2024, 6(2). art 009. doi:10.21926/jept.2402009.

Dr. Martin Wynn
Prof. Dr. Kamal Bechkoum
Guest Editors

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• sustainable engineering
• emerging technologies
• sustainable development
• manufacturing efficiency
• energy management
• digitalization
• pollution reduction
• technology convergence

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