Writing Assignment : Is technology beneficial or detrimental in the sustainable design

Is technology beneficial or detrimental in the design of sustainable environments?

Introduction One cannot deny that environment of the future will encounter bigger and more demanding challenges. In the past architects or designers generally focussed on the technical and design possibility because it was widely accepted that architects are expert coordinators of building projects, of different disciplines and building trades (Davis and Peters, 2013). However, the radical change of temperature (global warming) not only brought about environmental pollution but also including indirect effects which require a shift in architectural thinking and ways to create new design for responding the situation (Alwi et al., n.d.).

The purpose of this essay is to determine and evaluate the factors that influence the sustainable development of computer-aided design in architecture, which is result of technology. Specifically, because of technologies can be benefit or drawback in the sustainable environmental design is a controversial topic, so the topic question will be demonstrated by investigating the both sides of impact of technology.

Technology in design industry This is the digital age as artificial intelligence (computer, smartphone etc.) can control almost everything we do in daily life. Technological growth takes place on several infrastructures and most technology recently relies on computers, there must be software involved (Bigham, 2014). From figure 1 the economic, environmental and social aspects should be much more sufficiently assessed for their potential

to

benefit

sustainability.

Therefore,

architecture of the future should have the responsibility to address the essential aspect of sustainability. This is the key of the urgently needed dimensions for transforming architect and related

Figure1: The changing way of thinking of architect

profession such as engineer to be a much more creative profession, which goes far beyond what it is presently. Thus, the model for ‘sustainable design’ requires holistic, dynamic, integrated analyses of present and future product life cycles of any architectural processes, entire supply chains and the eco-systems which are really necessary for sustainable societies (Alwi et al., n.d.).

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Vasuta Chan – MSc Advanced Sustainable Design Environmental simulation program is inspired by current ecological issues and enabled by science and computer capabilities that allow the environment to be measured in a complete system and integration of social and economic considerations. The problems are considered by the various approaches of the environmental system, involving their impacts and diversity of stakeholders (Laniak et al., 2013). Furthermore, it can be seen that environmental software now can be used for several environmental aspects such as risk analysis, environmental site assessment, cost analysis, energy analysis, design calculations, emission data management, toxicology, site characterisation, wastewater management and ground water management. This could highlight that many issues are now predictable by technology. Thus, it can be implied that architects could earn a lot of benefits from this point.

Technologies, moreover, can contribute to sustainable development by improving living conditions and simultaneously cause sustainability problems such as emissions. Analysing environmental, economic, and social aspects related to technologies supports decisions by identifying the term “more sustainable� technology are necessary (Lehmann et al., 2013). Consequently, this can be referred as unless the technologies are successfully applied, a proficient contribution of technologies to sustainable development cannot be accomplished (Lehmann et al., 2013).

Notwithstanding, it is inevitable that software will become obsolete over time and from this point it should be kept up to date to ensure that we have the best software solutions for our needs. In addition, Matott et al. (2009) note many software technology-based barriers to collaboration, such as different programming languages, compilers, and development platforms; inconsistent separation of system and model components. All of these reasons would affect the efficiency of software because an efficient decision-making needs some techniques such as artificial intelligence to be developed within the module. In other words, this regular upgrading and developing allows a system to calculate accurate results rapidly and effectively (Bigham, 2014).

Computer-aided design (CAD) in the role of architectural developing Reducing the time and efforts required of designer to produce architectural models is the purpose of developments in the field of computer-aided design. Creating robust parametric models is more time consuming particularly as there can be large amount of features and lots of mathematical codes to create. Improvements to CAD have focused on reducing the number of user operations necessary to define the topology and geometry of products. (Bansal and Kumar, 2014).

According to Davis and Peters (2013) the radical change in architectural culture has been seen since the computer-aided design (CAD) software spread to designers and architects, they could use 2

Is technology beneficial or detrimental in the design of sustainable environments? programs to create eccentric geometry and explore new complex form of architecture, where architects become the formulators rather than just the end users of programs. Architects and or designers have been able to quickly generate large amounts of geometry using relatively simple software. Importantly, the model can also be used to forecast and predict the environmental solution of by-products, as well as suggest the possible solution for developed design which cannot reach by hand-working skill (Alwi et al., n.d.).

The boundary of architect and designer is now covering the collaborative discipline of design environment and technical possibility. These are environments design by architects from core components created by architects, environments continually changing in dialogue not only with the project (Davis and Peters, 2013). To do so, several design methods are being improved towards automation via computer-aided software. They can be sophisticated and comprehensive that they focus on a specific level of the design procedure (Alwi et al., n.d.).

Environmental software is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently to reduce negative impacts on the environment. Most studies and regulatory controls focus on hardwarerelated measurement, analysis, and control for energy consumption (Bener et al., 2014). In addition, environmental simulation program can combine quantitative and qualitative information about a modelling system’s appropriateness and effectiveness for the problem of site context and ability to feature the uncertainty of surrounding model predictions. Environmental, social, and economic data influence software development. Exploring, retrieving, and preparing empirical data for CAD is particularly challenging due to a diversity of cross-disciplinarily (Laniak et al., 2013).

However, Bener et al. (2014) emphasise the importance of indirect impact of the sustainability requirements: an analyst should consider not only direct effects of the requirements such as energy consumption, but also indirect effects such as change in consumer behaviour. Framework conditions should also concern, for example, the access to material resources (Figure 2) or the consciousness of sustainability approaches of the local community and society (Lehmann et al., 2013).

Complexity of sustainable problem is a direct function of the effect statement, decision ecological objectives, social system understanding, and economic data availability. It is compulsory to include all known science related to the social, Figure2: Direct and indirect impact of environment issues

economic, and environmental disciplines (Liu et al. 2008,

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Vasuta Chan – MSc Advanced Sustainable Design cited in Laniak et al., 2013). The challenge is to investigate which of the detailed processes are essential in simulating the system behaviour at an appropriate scale of application (Sidle, 2006).

These challenges must be adequately considered in a consistent manner across each stage of the modelling process, beginning with the formulation of a problem statement and followed by the system conceptualisation, an integrated modelling methodology, and the synthesis of the modelling results (Hinkel 2009, cited in Laniak et al., 2013). Consequently, efficient project would be produced by combination of typical hand-working and advanced technology.

Environmental impact of Computer-aided design (CAD) Because of the complication of “sustainable social dimension” as well as different viewpoints and emphasises, the number and categories of social index might change greatly in these methods. It needs to be remembered that sustainable development can greatly benefit from technological development (Lehmann et al., 2013). As the concept of sustainability including the environmental, economic and social dimensions at the present time addressed in various structural, technical, and international frameworks and programs; analysing potential impacts of products and identifying highlight along their life cycles enable to support decisions aiming at contributing to a generic sustainable development (Lehmann et al., 2013). According to Haase (2012) the knowledge of technological design which addresses sustainability is considered essential to the future direction of our planet. Technology is typically expected to hold the major factor to overcome or at least offer some advantages of the environmental, social and economic issues that everyone and particularly related professions must concern about it. Furthermore, it is increasingly clear that lots of new materials by new technology, such as Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), can be beneficial to environment. This means that architects or designers could have more opportunities to choose appropriate material in different design conditions.

Architects and professionals are trying to seek greater potential in order to develop the design environment. The ‘plug-ins’ have been improved by many programing engineers as a crucial CAD platform. Every plug-in can be used to solve a particular problem or chance that an professional has already recognised, which result in expanding the general environment for digital design around designers’ appetency (Davis and Peters, 2013). As a result, this can make great contribution to the growing usage of Green simulation software in order to achieve sustainable evaluation of environment. Since the technological contribution to sustainable development—through the provision of their function and service (for instance, development of living conditions through the

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Is technology beneficial or detrimental in the design of sustainable environments? improvement of water distribution)—could be realised when technologies could be properly applied and utilised (Lehmann et al., 2013).

Nevertheless, although software systems don’t consume energy directly, they affect hardware utilisation, leading to indirect energy consumption.

The environmental software has recently been paying attention to sustainability, as the increased number of simulation software, empirical studies, and publications on the topic demonstrate.

Performance in software recently targets to reduce the environmental impact caused by the Figure3: The positive and negative of new software

software itself (Bener et al., 2014). As software is now influencing all aspects of our lives in ever-

changing forms, software developers need to cope with the balance between customer pressure (new functional requirements and a high level of quality processing) and being as environmentally friendly as possible (Figure 3). In other words, keeping software available on requirement with a high quality of service (with respect to user demands) creates a contrast in terms of software energy consumption. As the new features are introduced, they always raise the demand of energy consumption, so it is not easy to keep environmentally friendly software. On the other hand, software systems could play a vital role in saving energy by providing feedback about the way they consume resources. This is such an ambiguous case. This could lead to changes in user’s behaviour to make sustainable processes. Building robust software systems has suggestions for environmental awareness and behavioural changes that might contribute to the large scale building and also influence green communities and cities (Bener et al., 2014). For instance, it has been a common knowledge that vehicles which are in the same classification tend to have different degrees of fuel effectiveness. However, drivers’ driving techniques should be taken into consideration as well. Thus, some might wonder if this can be applied to software system. According to “The Impact of User Choice on Energy Consumption,” Daniel M, Abram Hindle and Chenlei Zhang conducted an analysis on the energy consumption of software application in the same classification under different usage circumstances (Bener et al., 2014).

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Vasuta Chan – MSc Advanced Sustainable Design

‘Environmental issues’ the reflection of behaviour In Lehmann et al., 2013, Jorgensen et al. 2008 considered that some social problems could be directly linked to environment. A majority of social issues means organisational behaviours: to solve the problem of life cycle. Therefore, the supply chain of background system, for instance, transportation, materials, constructional energy, and technological usage are included. Besides, the organisational evaluation of the supply chain is also needed. The connection of social influences in the supply chain is mentioned for company impacts and decision making (Lehmann et al., 2013).

Therefore, it can be referred that social issues relate to environmental issues which reflect to people behaviour.

Simulating program was developed to utilise environmental model and the software applications to facilitate the scientific progress and the decision making process, boost the interaction amongst social, physical and natural scholars and software professionals from different nations, promote the coordination between the scholars and decision makers/consultants on environmental issues and share information through workshop regarding to the area of environmental model and software application in different technological and educational companies as well as private firms (Laniak et al., 2013).

Participators in the workshop tend to constantly express their demands for special attention on education. In order to boost and facilitate the simulation program in the community of stakeholder, learning institutions need to cultivate professionals for the next generation. Thus, the development of skilful experts and professionals need to handle various challenges and requires an environment with more comprehensive comprehension. Participators in the workshop also endorsed the belief of recognising exemplary environmental software and using them as an educational tool to facilitate the real practices (Laniak et al., 2013). An important part of the implementation is that the solutions to common problems tend to represent community-oriented acceptance as well as involvement (Laniak et al., 2013).

Conclusion To summarise, computer-aided design can be advantage for sustainable environment in several ways, at the same time can influence some negative effects to environment as well. However, the solutions to resolve problems are also depending on green software. It is such a complicated factor to define that this is the advantage or drawback but in term of development of the design environment, architects tend to take new role in the society. In order to adjust to the environment as soon as possible, designers need to assure that the correlation between components is of enough 6

Is technology beneficial or detrimental in the design of sustainable environments? flexibility to adapt to any new change. In terms of inflexibility, the project delay might be incurred unexpectedly whereas the correlations can be identified. Nonetheless, in order to prevent all these challenges, designers need to take on a new role to maintain flexible correlations between components under the design environment.

A majority of program developers have already started to take environmental and continual tactics into consideration so as to decrease the expense of energy and stick to sustainable development of environment. Nonetheless, in order to continue, these companies have to handle all the infrastructural demands and environmental IT influences in which both software and hardware are included. In terms of Software improvement, trade-offs between consumer requirements and needs are required for the social accountability activities of companies. Under such environment, environmental software has become an effective way for IT firms to realise environmental sustainability and decrease the expense for the maintenance of goods and system. Multidisciplinary cooperation amongst different social stakeholders has become an important factor for development of company goods, procedures and system a vital element of the future sustainability.

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Vasuta Chan – MSc Advanced Sustainable Design

Reference Alwi, S, Manan, Z, Klemes, J, and Huisingh, D n.d., 'Sustainability engineering for the future', Journal Of Cleaner Production, 71, pp. 1-10.

Bansal, R. and Kumar, P. (2014). A Computer Aided Design Modeler for Designing the Plastic Components Using a Set of Programmatic Operations. Journal of Engineering and Technology, 4(2), p.95.

Bener, A., Morisio, M. and Miranskyy, A. (2014). Green Software. IEEE Softw., 31(3), pp.36-39.

Bigham, R. (2014). 2014 Environmental software review: the right software will save time and money. Pollution Engineering, 2, pp.31-33.

Davis, D. and Peters, B. (2013). Design Ecosystems: Customising the Architectural Design Environment with Software Plug-ins. Architectural Design, 83(2), pp.124-131.

Haase, S. (2012). An Engineering Dilemma: Sustainability in the Eyes of Future Technology Professionals. Sci Eng Ethics, 19(3), pp.893-911.

Laniak, G., Olchin, G., Goodall, J., Voinov, A., Hill, M., Glynn, P., Whelan, G., Geller, G., Quinn, N., Blind, M., Peckham, S., Reaney, S., Gaber, N., Kennedy, R. and Hughes, A. (2013). Integrated environmental modeling: A vision and roadmap for the future. Environmental Modelling & Software, 39, pp.3-23.

Lehmann, A., Zschieschang, E., Traverso, M., Finkbeiner, M. and Schebek, L. (2013). Social aspects for sustainability assessment of technologies—challenges for social life cycle assessment (SLCA).The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 18(8), pp.1581-1592.

Matott, L., Babendreier, J. and Purucker, S. (2009). Evaluating uncertainty in integrated environmental models: A review of concepts and tools. Water Resour. Res., 45(6).

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