for the project and channel these resources effectively to address core issues that may or may not arise. These include pollution, demolition or destruction of natural habitat and much more. Evans explains that as is the case with any system, there are strengths and weaknesses that stakeholders need to be aware of. In the building construction industry, there is a fine line between right and wrong, and ignorance can be very costly. “Our market research shows that irrespective of where your interests lie in building construction, it is all a balancing act really. We’ve noted strengths linked to EIA as being that it is relevant and applicable to all sized projects, it helps to set the right foundation for a project in terms of eco-consciousness, socio-economic impact and other critical factors, and it is a public demonstration of intent – companies who prescribe and apply the assessment show that they have more than the bottom line in mind,” says Evans. However, there are pitfalls, warns Evans. “It is to protect the environment and conserve resources by detecting energy emission reductions and CO 2 removal and by assisting in the development of greener transportation networks, monitoring deforestation, and predicting extreme weather conditions. And Digital Twins assist us in making smart decisions about infrastructure investment. But humans will ultimately be responsible for deciding which solution best fits the context and for implementing it. We must not, however, forget that technology doesn’t work on magic. It interacts with the natural environment: Massive volumes of water are required to However, the public sector has demonstrated that policy changes can be made relatively quickly when there is an urgency to do things differently. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced the government’s new energy plan, which aims to accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity, increase private investment in generation, and enable businesses and households to invest in rooftop solar. Governments should also cultivate stronger relationships with the private sector, which is ready and willing to execute on the ground. It’s interesting to note that although 75% of countries view climate change as their biggest threat, 64% believe many of the world’s problems can be solved by working together and learning from other countries. Teamwork makes the dream work, anyone? A perfect example of this in engineering is the International Water Association’s (IWA’s) Digital Water Programme, which aims to facilitate the journey of the water industry towards digital uptake through access to knowledge and best practices on the application of digital approaches to improve water utilities’ capacity and performance. Technology is not the silver bullet many believe it to be Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins can do much of the thinking that humans have traditionally done to solve sustainability challenges. It has the potential to accelerate global efforts
interesting to look at a website like Bizfluent.com, which lays out nicely for browsers what it feels are the good points and what are the pain points. For example, the website offers a detailed description of how much the system relies on technical information and that EIA spells delay for any project of any size, at any phase.” An EIA is a process, which means that it requires due diligence and complete evaluation is required for the whole undertaking to mean anything. There are a number of online resources that outline the relevance of due diligence, evaluation and follow-up. Tandfonline.com offers the reader a thorough perspective in terms of independent verification and outlines an interesting argument under the heading “EIA follow-up frameworks that may influence independence requirements of verifiers”. Evans adds that with so much at stake and so many stakeholders involved, it is essential to have a clear strategy and environment conducive to negotiations and mutual benefit. After 100 years of enhancing society together with our clients and stakeholders, we’ve learnt two things: History repeats itself, but humans have a short memory. We don't have to look too far back into history to find things we've forgotten about, such as Day Zero in Cape Town, floods in KwaZulu-Natal, and drought in the Eastern Cape. Even after devastating events, we move on relatively quickly–especially if we are not directly impacted or affected. Floods and droughts will occur again, becoming more frequent and severe. And unless we begin to take sustainability seriously and change how we do things across all areas, we will become increasingly ill-equipped to deal with and recover from the effects of living unsustainably. Businesses, governments, and engineering firms are made up of citizens, of you. You, who can shift the narrative of your organisation and effect change. You have a say in leaving a legacy to be proud of. We’ve already begun. Join. There is space for everyone. cool data centres, and blockchain is energy-intensive and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twins provide virtual mirrors of real-world assets and systems, providing insights into how the system behaves and responds under various simulated conditions. These ecosystems increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enable engineers to create more informed solutions to today's major societal and environmental challenges. More conscious of decisions Hyper-consumption is arguably among the most significant obstacles to sustainability. Our decisions have consequences. Long-term sustainability will be impossible to achieve unless human behaviour changes dramatically. When I find myself overwhelmed as a single person in the global push toward a more sustainable and equitable society, I am reminded of a quote from David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, “What is an ocean but a multitude of drops?” Join the movement
19 CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2023
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