Much like medical professionals, engineers are under an obligation to protect the people they are serving — as well as the workers on the job site. Engineering standards, whether for a highway or apartment building, must be based around the safety of human life. Starting with the early conception and planning stages, projects must be designed and built to prevent assets from failing — with the people using the services considered at every stage.
Keeping people in mind is not only imperative from a safety perspective but also when it comes to social justice. Social justice refers to the fair and even distribution of resources, opportunities and privileges in society. While typically wealthier areas might have the financial means to invest in improved roads and reliable power, engineers have a responsibility to design and construct projects of the utmost standards for every community regardless of the tax bracket it will affect.
The financial burden a project may place on a community must also be taken into account. While residents can voice their opinions in the form of voting, not much else can be done to sway whether a tax is levied, or a project is approved and moved forward. A power project that would progress sustainable initiatives might be better for the environment, for example, but higher rates for power could crush a community financially. Critical infrastructure solutions must make sense from both an engineering and financial standpoint for the people that it will impact.
For those currently working in critical infrastructure, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a significantly impactful project. Seeing the physical size of a wind turbine and thinking about the major contribution such an asset could provide toward decarbonization is awe inspiring. However, the individuals this will impact, whether physically on their land or financially through an increased rate of power, must be taken into consideration.
To maintain human-centric critical infrastructure, it’s important to take a step back and understand the complexities involved with every project. A diverse workforce is imperative to bring together the perspectives needed to implement these successful solutions and consider all angles.