CIVIL ENGINEERING AND THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Despite the significant role civil engineering plays in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improving quality of life (QOL), there remains a lack of specific research examining the relationship between civil engineering, SDGs and QOL.  

Several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are directly related to civil engineering because the discipline plays a critical role in developing infrastructure, managing resources, and promoting sustainable development. Here’s a breakdown of the relevant SDGs and how they connect to civil engineering, explaining their connections and assigning a degree of importance. The degree of importance can vary based on the criticality of civil engineering's involvement in achieving the goal. 

 

 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Public health is enhanced by infrastructure such as hospitals, clean water systems, proper sanitation, and disaster-resilient buildings. Civil engineers ensure safe living environments.
• Degree of Importance: High
  Civil engineering is essential for public health and safety through infrastructure that supports healthcare and well-being.

 SDG 4: Quality Education

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Engineers construct schools, universities, and research facilities. They also design resilient and inclusive educational infrastructure, especially in underserved regions.
• Degree of Importance: Moderate
  While not the primary focus, civil engineering significantly contributes by enabling access to quality education through infrastructure.

 SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Civil engineers design and construct water supply systems, sewage treatment plants, and sanitation facilities that provide clean water and prevent waterborne diseases. Their work ensures sustainable water management and improves public health.
• Degree of Importance: High
  Civil engineering is indispensable for achieving this goal. Without it, clean water access and sanitation solutions would be impossible to implement.

 SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Civil engineers design and construct renewable energy facilities such as solar farms, wind farms, and hydropower plants. They also improve energy efficiency in infrastructure projects.
• Degree of Importance: High
  Civil engineering is fundamental to transitioning to affordable and clean energy systems.

 SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Civil engineering projects generate jobs and contribute to economic development by creating infrastructure that supports businesses and industries.
• Degree of Importance: Moderate
  Civil engineering indirectly supports this goal by driving economic growth and providing employment.

 SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Infrastructure development is at the core of civil engineering. This includes roads, bridges, railways, buildings, and industrial facilities. Engineers also innovate construction methods and materials for sustainable development.
• Degree of Importance: High
  This SDG directly aligns with civil engineering, as it focuses on building resilient and sustainable infrastructure to foster economic growth.

 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Civil engineers contribute to urban planning, transportation systems, affordable housing, waste management, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. They ensure cities are inclusive, safe, and sustainable.
• Degree of Importance: High
  Civil engineering is critical to creating sustainable and livable urban environments for current and future generations.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Sustainable construction practices, recycling materials, and reducing waste are essential to civil engineering's contribution to this goal.
• Degree of Importance: Moderate
  Civil engineers influence sustainable consumption by adopting eco-friendly materials and minimizing resource use in construction.

 SDG 13: Climate Action

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Civil engineers design climate-resilient infrastructure and integrate low-carbon technologies in construction. They also contribute to flood management, renewable energy systems, and sustainable urban planning.
• Degree of Importance: High
  Civil engineering plays a vital role in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change, making it highly relevant to this goal.

 SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Coastal and marine engineers design sustainable harbors, manage coastal erosion, and mitigate pollution to protect marine ecosystems.
• Degree of Importance: Moderate
  Civil engineering supports

 SDG 15: Life on Land

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Civil engineers implement sustainable land-use practices and minimize environmental degradation during infrastructure development.
• Degree of Importance: Moderate
  Civil engineering indirectly contributes by integrating environmental protection measures into construction projects.

 SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• Relation to Civil Engineering:
  Civil engineers provide the physical infrastructure for institutions, courts, and governance, fostering societal stability.
• Degree of Importance: Indirect
  Civil engineering plays a secondary role by enabling governance and justice systems through infrastructure.

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Summary of Degree of Importance:

1. High Importance: SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 13, SDG 3
2. Moderate Importance: SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 12, SDG 15, SDG 14
3. Indirect Importance: SDG 16

Using the CE-QOL Framework, the CE-QOL facets can be aligned to the UN SDGs which is summarized below:

Summary of Civil Engineering Facets and Their Aligned SDGs:

• Infrastructure Development

  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 1: No Poverty
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequality

• Water Supply and Sanitation

  • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Disaster Resilience

  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 15: Life on Land
  • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Environmental Sustainability

  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Climate Change Adaptation

  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger

A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK RELATING CIVIL ENGINEERING TO QUALITY OF LIFE

QOL is a comprehensive concept that encompasses the overall well-being of individuals and communities, incorporating physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions. It is influenced by a wide range of factors, including health, education, income, the environment, safety, relationships, cultural enrichment, and access to resources and opportunities. 

Shown in Figure 1 are five domains as proposed by Felce and Perry (1995) plus a sixth domain. The six QOL domains are described below:

1)    Physical well-being focuses on aspects related to the health and safety of individuals or communities, encompassing factors such as physical health, safety, and access to healthcare.

2)    Material well-being pertains to living conditions, including income, housing, privacy, food security, transportation, and overall personal or community security.

3)    Social well-being emphasizes the quality of interpersonal relationships within families and friendships, as well as broader interactions and engagement within the community.

4)    Development and activity relates to factors that contribute to the personal or communal growth, such as competence, independence, and participation in functional activities like work, leisure, and education.

5)    Emotional well-being includes self-esteem, a sense of status or respect, and spiritual or religious faith, all of which contribute to an individual’s sense of fulfillment and stability.

6)    Environmental well-being - Although not explicitly part of Felce and Perry’s domains, environmental well-being can be seen as an implicit aspect of quality of life today. This domain refers to the quality of the natural and built environment in supporting human health, safety, and overall life satisfaction. It encompasses the conditions of air, water, soil, ecosystems, and the sustainability of urban and rural spaces.

Quality of Life (QOL) in the context of civil engineering refers to the enhancement of community living standards through the strategic design, implementation, and maintenance of infrastructure and services. Five key facets of civil engineering that significantly contribute to QOL are as follows:

1. Infrastructure Development: Enhancing well-being by supporting employment, income generation, mobility, health, recreation, and other essential needs through efficient and reliable infrastructure.
2. Water Supply and Sanitation: Safeguarding public health and hygiene through the development of sustainable water systems and effective sanitation solutions.
3. Disaster Resilience: Ensuring community safety and resilience by constructing robust structures that can withstand natural and human-made hazards, thereby saving lives, reducing injuries, and protecting physical assets.
4. Environmental Sustainability: Embedding eco-friendly practices in civil engineering design and construction to preserve ecosystems and reduce carbon footprints.
5. Climate Change Adaptation: Integrating sustainable urban planning and design to balance development with environmental stewardship, addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

The five CE facets can be aligned to the six QOL domains as follows: 

Table: Alignment of QOL Domains and Civil Engineering Facets

QOL Domain	Aligned Civil Engineering Facets	Explanation
Physical Well-being	Water Supply and Sanitation, Disaster Resilience, Infrastructure Development	Focuses on health, safety, and access to essential services.
Material Well-being	Infrastructure Development, Climate Change Adaptation	Supports financial security and access to material resources through employment and sustainable growth.
Social Well-being	Infrastructure Development, Disaster Resilience, Climate Change Adaptation	Enhances community inclusion, safety, and cohesion through inclusive planning and disaster management.
Emotional Well-being	Disaster Resilience, Environmental Sustainability, Infrastructure Development	Promotes security, comfort, and life satisfaction through safety and eco-friendly practices.
Development and Activity	Infrastructure Development, Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Sustainability	Facilitates growth, learning, and meaningful activities through infrastructure and innovation.
Environmental Well-being	Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change Adaptation	Improves ecosystems, reduces pollution, and ensures sustainable living conditions.

• Felce, David and Perry, Jonathan (1995). “Quality of Life: Its Definition and Measurement,” Research in Development Disabilities, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 51-74, 1995, Elsevier Science, Ltd.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Quality of Life (QOL), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), refers to “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.” 

The quality of life (QOL) is deeply influenced by the built environment and the infrastructure that supports daily activities. Structural engineering, as a specialized field within civil engineering, makes a unique and essential contribution to Quality of Life (QOL). From the perspective of a structural engineer, QOL encompasses the role of safe, resilient, and efficient structural systems in enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities. This involves the design and construction of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure that go beyond meeting safety standards to also improve usability, accessibility, sustainability, and aesthetic appeal. By creating structures that are functional and adaptable, structural engineers contribute to better living and working conditions, fostering a sense of security and comfort in the built environment. 

Structural engineering also prioritizes minimizing risks associated with structural failures, particularly during natural disasters, by incorporating advanced techniques and materials to enhance resilience. Ensuring the long-term durability of structures reduces maintenance demands and associated disruptions, while the optimization of resources supports economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. Collectively, these contributions elevate the standard of living by promoting safer, more reliable, and sustainable infrastructure, aligning structural engineering with broader societal goals of well-being and progress. 

Structural engineering, as a specialized field within civil engineering, makes a unique and essential contribution to Quality of Life (QOL). To understand and assess the contribution of structural engineering to QOL, a conceptual framework is proposed. A preliminary conceptual framework, termed STE-QOL (Structural Engineering and Quality of Life), identifies 12 key facets associated with civil structures throughout their lifecycle—from planning to implementation. Each facet aligns with QOL domains and demonstrates how structural engineering integrates technical expertise with social and environmental responsibility. These facets are as follows:

1. Understanding of Community Impact – Addressing community needs to promote satisfaction, equity, and cohesion.
2. Safety and Resilience – Ensuring structures withstand disasters, accidents, and aging to protect lives and livelihoods.
3. Sustainability and Environmental Impact – Reducing carbon footprints, conserving resources, and promoting environmental harmony.
4. Accessibility and Inclusivity – Creating infrastructure accessible to diverse populations, promoting independence and equity.
5. Economic and Social Benefits – Supporting economic growth, job creation, and improved community connectivity.
6. Aesthetic and Cultural Considerations – Enhancing community identity, pride, and emotional well-being through thoughtful design.
7. Health and Well-being – Promoting physical and mental health through clean, functional, and recreational infrastructure.
8. Maintenance and Longevity – Ensuring infrastructure reliability and durability for long-term use with minimal disruptions.
9. Innovation and Technology – Incorporating advanced technologies to improve efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability.
10. Compliance and Best Practices – Ensuring adherence to standards, ethical practices, and safety requirements.
11. Collaboration and Communication – Engaging stakeholders for inclusive decision-making and improved project outcomes.
12. Post-Completion Evaluation – Assessing and improving projects to maintain long-term relevance and effectiveness.

The STE-QOL facets can be grouped based on type of activity or output: a) Design of the Structure, b) Design Practices and c) Designing with People.   The facets related to the three categories are shown together with the QOL domains. The STE-QOL facets can be associated to the domains of QOL. A checklist was designed using the 12 STE-QOL facets to assess the awareness and practices of structural engineers in relation to QOL of a community. A online survey will be conducted targeting Filipino structural engineers and design firms. 

NOTE: This blog is based on the concept paper (to be published or presented in a conference) on 

""DEVELOPING A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND CHECKLIST TO ASSESS STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO QUALITY OF LIFE" by Andres Winston C. Oreta and Ronaldo S. Ison, 17 Dec 2024

Experiential Learning about Seismic Performance of Buildings through Shake Table Competitions

Understanding the seismic behavior and performance of structures under earthquake ground shaking considering the various factors like structural stiffness, building period, soil properties and frequency of ground shaking becomes effective if lectures are supplemented with actual demonstration through model testing and videos. Experiential learning through shake table testing and competitions are opportunities to understand more about earthquakes. The introduction of shake table activities in schools can enhance students’ comprehension of earthquake-resistant designs. These activities also stimulate students’ creativity in seismic engineering.

“Experiential learning is an engaged learning process whereby students “learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience.” Examples of ELE activities are hands-on laboratory experiments, internships, practicums, field exercises, study abroad and undergraduate research. Through ELE activities, the teacher aims to apply Kolb's theory on ELE which consists of a spiral of learning involving four phases (https://www.bu.edu/ctl/guides/experiential-learning/):

1. Concrete Experience – Engaging directly in authentic or real-world situation
2. Reflective Observation – Relating observations to past experience and knowledge
3. Abstract Conceptualization – Generating ideas and distilling perceptions
4. Active Experimentation – Testing new ideas and designs, honing new skills

To maximize and test the capability and performance of the shake table, a hands-on group exercise, “Shake the Tower Challenge” is introduced as a fourth hour activity in the undergraduate course on earthquake engineering with course code, STERQUA. A fourth hour activity is a student-centered learning activity which is accomplished outside of the regular class meetings at their own time and place. The main objective of the exercise is for the students to develop an understanding and an intuition regarding the dynamic nature of structures when subjected to ground shaking. The “Shake the Tower Challenge” is a group exercise where the students construct a 24-inch tall tower made of sticks glued together by glue stick. The shake table exercise as an experiential learning strategy is described as follows: 

Watch the Video of a Group Shake Table Construction and Testing

Through this exercise the students observed the swaying of the tower at different frequencies and the change of the swaying with respect to frequency and amplitude as the tower is damaged. The student feedback on the exercise is positive, to quote one student: “The Shake the Tower Challenge was a very interesting activity because I was able to view various towers and how they performed under various shake table settings. It helped me understand and appreciate the concepts related to structure stiffness, period, frequency, and displacement. It was fun building towers and experimenting with the shake table to create the competition parameters because I was able to apply the lessons learned (in structural dynamics). I noticed that the best towers were the ones that had designs that minimized the number of joints while still being able to provide bracings. This helped reinforce my understanding of building retrofitting and the design of earthquake resistant structures. I would definitely recommend this type of activity for future reference.” 

Related link: https://animociv.blogspot.com/2023/11/dce-faculty-presents-papers-at-icee.html

Reference: "Experiential Learning about Seismic Performance of Buildings through Shake Table Competitions" by Jade Vanessa Ching,  Aldrei Ong, Vicente Raphael Chan, Rei Kevin Tungcab, Rodolfo Mendoza Jr., and Andres Winston Oreta. Presented at the 9^th International Conference on Engineering Education Philippines (ICEE-PHIL) 2023, UPLB on Nov 10-11, 2023, Hosted by the Phil Association of Engg Schools (PAES). 

HERITAGE CONSERVATION ASSET VALUE RATING OF BUILDINGS IN A SCHOOL CAMPUS FOR DISASTER RISK ASSESSMENT - 8ACEE KEYNOTE LECTURE

Prof. Andres W.C. Oreta presented a keynote lecture on HERITAGE CONSERVATION ASSET VALUE RATING OF BUILDINGS IN A SCHOOL CAMPUS FOR DISASTER RISK ASSESSMENT co-authored with Corinne Wesnee D. Yu,  Carlyse Nicole L. Kah, Aldrei Charles C. Navera, Charles Janzen C. Sy and Rodolfo P. Mendoza, Jr. at the 8th ASIA Conference on Earthquake Engineering (8ACEE) held at Taipei, Taiwan on Nov. 9-11, 2022. 

ABSTRACT. A campus is an area occupied by the buildings of an educational facility, usually a university or college. A school campus, especially those located in hazard-prone regions, must be safe and resilient to various disasters like earthquake, wind or flood to protect the community of learners and teachers and to assure the continuous operation of the school. Hence, the existing buildings in a campus must be assessed to determine if immediate repair or retrofitting is necessary. Structural assessment and retrofitting is costly and time consuming, though, especially if there is a large population of school buildings in a campus. Hence, a rapid assessment that is not expensive and easy to implement must be conducted first before any detailed inspection and retrofitting be implemented. To prioritize which buildings need immediate detailed inspection, risk assessment using a disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) framework may be used. The disaster risk assessment framework involves the interaction of hazard, vulnerability, and asset. At the center of disaster risk assessment is the “Asset” which has an associated value that depends on the importance and function of the building. In this study, the value of a school building is viewed with a heritage conservation perspective. A simple and qualitative asset value rating of existing buildings in a campus considering educational function and the building’s architecture and  history is presented. The asset value rating can then be integrated to the DRRM framework for the overall risk assessment of existing buildings in a campus. A case study of the qualitative asset value rating and seismic risk assessment of De La Salle University campus in Manila, Philippines is presented. In the case study, two important buildings with significant heritage value to the university were identified.

Nagoya Adventures (Mad in Japan): Memories with Pinoy Students and Friends (1988 - 1994)

Living in a foreign country where you do not speak fluently the language like Japan makes one lonely and homesick. In my five and six months stay at Nagoya, Japan from 1988 to 1994 as a graduate student (M. Eng and D. Eng), keeping myself connected with my family in the Philippines kept me going and surviving. But in time, you will develop friendship with fellow scholars from other countries. But bonding with fellow Pinoys is really different and the experience is that "you may be faraway but feels like close to home." Presented in this blog are compilation of photos with my fellow Filipinos  (students, OFWs and friends).  Enjoy our Nagoya Adventures!

Nagoya Adventures #1 - Highlights: Our first bike tour around Nagoya - our team - Mel, Jerry, William, Joe, Cynthia and myself travelled by bicyle around Nagoya visiting the Nagoya Expo 89 passing through Tsurumai park. Other highlights are our Sunday sports activity at the Nagoya University Gymnasium, Bowling, Midnight Gomi Bazaar, Get-together at my apartment at Misato-en and Obon-o-dori with foreign students.

Nagoya Adventures #2 - A trip to Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Our outing at Toyohashi and Gifu with Pinoy students and friends, AFSA trip to Inuyama. 

Nagoya Adventures #3  - Highlights:My Kyoto Trip, Pinoy students participating in the AFSA Foreign Students' Night and Pinoy Get-Together at Sakurayama Foreign Students House. 

CE4L Webtalks - Civil Engineering for Good Governance and Sustainable Infrastructure

CE4L Lugaw ng Kaalaman Logo designed by Joenel Galupino.

The Civil Engineers for Leni (CE4L) hosted the "Lugaw ng Kaalaman (LK)" CE Webtalks as their contribution to the campaign for VP Leni Robredo as president and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan for vice president in the Philippine national election in May 2022. The LK project actually targetted  civil engineering students and young civil engineers to influence them to become responsible civil engineers and lead them to understand that "politics" and "engineering" are dependent; that is, good governance and leaders with integrity and qualification are key components towards achieving a sustainable infrastructure and built environment where civil engineers are the main actors. There were some negative reactions from some people and trolls that "we should not use our profession in politics." Really? When in fact the major agency where you can find the biggest corruption are agencies engaged in infrastructures. And politics is the major reason why corruption in infrastructure projects is rampant both in local and national levels. 

The LK webtalks project is addressed to all civil engineers in government, private practice and academe - whether you support pink, blue, red, green, yellow or any color. Only the corrupt and the  irresponsible will not support our efforts to educate our students and young civil engineers to be responsible and ethical professionals. 

The CE4L Lugaw ng Kaalaman Webtalks consist of ten topics plus one web Talk Show on OFW engineers. The topics are varied - safe design of houses, buildings and bridges, sustainable design vs wind, flood, earthquake and geotehcnical hazards, environmental protection and waste maanagement, sustainable transportation and responsible engineers in government.  Visit the FB Page or YouTube Channel to view the complete Lugaw ng Kaalaman CE webtalks.

> FB  - https://www.facebook.com/LugawngkaalamanCEWebTalks 
> YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXa_nRLIek7QWvNXFKyeUg

Here is the the menu of the CE Webtalks. 

Here are the YT links to the LK CE Web Talks:

• #01 Safe na Bahay, Ligtas na Buhay! - Rannie Ison
• #02 Konkreto: Bakit ang Tibay Mo? - Rodolfo Mendoza, Jr.
• #03 Matibay na Tulay, Matuwid na Buhay! - Adam Abinales
• #04 Matatag na Bahay sa Malakas na Hangin! - Joshua Agar and Timothy Acosta
• #05 Puso man ay Masaktan, Huwag lang ang Kalikasan! - Tonette Tanchuling & Jeffereson Vallente, Jr.
• #06 Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka! - Marla Redillas & Gil Cruz, Jr.
• #07 Matibay na Pundasyon, Gusaling pang Habang Panahon - Jonathan Dungca
• #08 Ramdam ko ang Pulso at Kalusugan Mo, Building! - Fer Germar & Jaime Hernandez, Jr.
• #09 Inhiyero sa Mahusay na Gobyerno - Federico Alconcel & Rogelio Singson
• #10 Trapik at Tranportasyon: May Patutunguhan ka pa! - Dayo Montalbo & Alexis Fillone
• #11 Kwentong Inhenyero't Kabayang Overseas  - Jason Quizon, Analene Montesines &Mike Gotera

CE4L deeply appreciates the time, expertise and support shared by the resource speakers, moderators, donors and technical team members. We hope that our students and young civil engineers were enriched with new and useful knowledge and ideas that may guide in their professional practice as responsible and ethical civil engineers.