Integrating Sustainability into Civil Engineering and the Construction Industry
Michael Toryila Tiza
Abstract
In terms of the impact of human activity on the natural environment, civil engineering is one of the most significant productive pursuits. The production and use of building materials, the advancement of engineering and construction, the use of the project after it is completed, the removal of discarded components, and other procedures all require significant energy expenditure and ongoing waste generation, which can have severe consequences for the natural environment. To meet the demands of both economic and social development, advancements in civil engineering must be made while also protecting the natural world, limiting the use of natural resources, and promoting sustainable development. This study examines the long-term strategy in civil engineering and explores the role of environmental sustainability throughout the various stages of the civil design process, including the conceptual stage, the technical design stage, and the building stage. The research finds that the construction industry should adopt practices that adhere to sustainability principles such as environmentally-friendly design, durability, energy efficiency, waste reduction, improved indoor air quality, water conservation, and the use of sustainable building materials in construction.