Till Sun and Moon Shines [Part 16]

This column under the title commenced around one and a half years ago in SLEN, with the intention of addressing engineering insights towards achieving the sustainable solutions. Sustainability is the organizing concept that rallied support for environmentalism and has now emerged as a core global value. Sustainable societies are said to relay on growing capabilities to manage global environmental issues. Much quoted definition (loosely) of sustainability, ‘meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability to meet the needs of future generations’ indicates some directions in which the concept of ‘sustainability’ is perceived in current circles.  In line with these perceptions, new trends are developing to implement the theoretical and perceptual frameworks as practical manifestation. Sustainability principles are part of school curricula worldwide and education systems are adjusting to provide the needed skills. International environmental science and engineering programs are in place under the auspices of many institutes. Hundreds of thousands of new jobs have been created for environmental professionals. Environmental engineering is an area of booming job prospects. The expertise of civil engineering today includes monitoring infrastructure’s effect on the environment. Environmental monitoring capabilities are built into the infrastructure, such as in roadside emissions testing.

With all these measures in place, how this column attempted to re-evaluate whether we are in the right path. One question raised at the very first article was ‘Are we to wait for few future generations to evaluate the ultimate effect of those measures, we are currently taking to establish the sustainability? One possibility suggested was to turn back and look at the past societies and understand how they survived for thousands of years without jeopardizing the futures. As Sri Lankans, we are much fortunate in this endure.   With archaeologically proven urbanized settlements since 7th century BCE and literally recorded history since 3rd century BCE, Sri Lanka is a land of many ancient engineering accomplishments scattered all over the island. Many of them are in dilapidated state serving no practical purpose today, but some are still serving us, virtually fulfilling the original function they were supposed to fulfill. This long-term functioning may give us some direction to think of sustainability in a different perspective.

A sticking example of the SUSTAINABILITY is visible when we visit the Abhaya veva bund at Anuradhapura. Considered to be the earliest reservoir built around the city of Anuradhapura, Abhaya veva is dated to the reign of king Pandukabhaya (circa 4th century BCE) (Mahavamsa x:89). Over the waters of Abhaya wewa, the dome and the spire of Ruwanweliseya is visible in shining white. Its construction is dated back to the reign of king Dutugemunu (161-137 BCE) (Mahavamsa xxix:1-70), and up to date, one of the world's tallest ancient monuments. The parts from 5 to 15 were dedicated to discuss the possible framework for that type of sustainability, taking our ancient water system as an example. Components of ancient small village tanks were discussed in the context how such components would have contributed to the sustainability of the system. Those man-made physical structures were complying with the natural water cycle, so that the principle of cyclicity is maintained. In the last column, this contribution was presented in a figure. There, it was evident that micro scale cycles are operating to ensure water availability and soil conservation in local range, embedded with macro scale “natural hydrology cycle”. That may be the underlying principle of long use of these water structures, nicely blended with the local environments and contributing to the well being of all the living creatures.  

That may be an appropriate opportunity for ending this column, with making a note in our minds. During our engineering accomplishments, we are using vast amount of materials either in their original forms or in processed forms. The structures we are building with those materials will collapse in one find day. Obviously, all the materials we used could not be returned back to the environment in the same form we have taken them. This violates the material cyclicity and heading towards the un-sustainable material use. At least, if we engineers can think of this necessity and try our best to ensure the material cyclicity in our engineering design, that may be the:

• lesson we can learn from our forefathers
• insight where we can blend our past knowledge to the modern assignments
• contribution we can make towards a better future
• march towards the SUSTAINABILITY, leading to shine the humanity till the SUN and the MOON shines.    

Eng. (Dr.) Chandana Jayawardana has earned his first degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Moratuwa and then, post graduate qualifications in Industrial Engineering and Buddhist Studies. He is currently working as Design Manager, Balfour Beatty Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd, Katunayake.