These engineers may conduct environmental impact assessments or be involved
in natural resource management. They may specialize in pollution control or
find ways to minimize the impact of waste on the environment.
Poor air and water quality, noise and radiation are the bane of these engineers.
They develop proper disposal methods for residual waste and protect our environment
from the potentially damaging effects of human activity. Environmental engineers
design, operate and manage facilities and systems for environmental protection.
They also measure air and water quality and seek ways to improve it.
An environmental engineer may specialize in various tasks or industries,
like aerospace, air transportation, construction management, mechanics, hydraulics,
irrigation, materials engineering, structural engineering, surveying and site
engineering, urban planning and development, urban transportation, water and
wastewater treatment system design, and waterway, port, coastal and ocean
engineering.
They work in both the public and private sector. Governments employ some
environmental engineers in public works, water resources and highway departments.
They may also work at environmental protection agencies. In the private sector,
they may work for consulting firms or construction companies.
Emerging areas in environmental engineering are created as pollution trends
change. Laws and regulations are created that reduce pollution and environmental
damage in some areas. This means that conservation and protection efforts
must be concentrated elsewhere.
Areas that currently need attention are contaminant transport, ecosystem
protection, global systems protection, oceans protection and international
treaties development.
These emerging areas are just the tip of the iceberg, says Maris Gilles,
a civil and environmental engineering professor. "As the world population
grows and society becomes more technologically complex, the issues facing
environmental engineers will be even more important and the challenges more
exciting."
Technology acts as both an ally and an enemy. Our post-industrial, consumer-driven
society creates a vast quantity of garbage and pollution, the likes of which
have never before been seen on Earth.
But the technological advances driving that rush towards environmental
meltdown are also the tools that may save it.
"New technologies for the control of water and air quality and computer
models to predict the movement and dispersion of wastes in ground and surface
waters will be developed," says environmental engineer William Anderson. "As
new materials are developed, innovations in all constructed facilities, from
buildings to space stations, will be possible. Computer technology, including
machine learning, will also play a larger role.
"In all of these areas, environmental engineers are given the rare opportunity
to improve the environment and to have a direct impact on society's lifestyle."
Environmental engineers should be able to work as part of a team. They
should also be creative, analytical and detail-oriented. They should be able
to communicate well orally and in writing. Also important are computing and
design skills, practicality and creativity, the ability to integrate information,
and the ability to identify, analyze and solve problems.
These skills and characteristics can be more important than knowledge.
"Successful individuals in this area are those who are willing to keep
pace with the rapid changes in technology that will occur over their working
lives," says Mike Davis, an environmental engineer. "Some techniques learned
during their school years may become obsolete long before their careers are
over."