In order to make the condition of the earth more tangible, the lecturer at the TH Lübeck, Detlef Hau, uses the so-called planetary boundaries. A scientific approach that attempts to quantify the earth’s ecological limits. There are nine of these limits in total; if they are exceeded, the risk of irreversible environmental changes increases.
What are the limits to preserving our livelihood?
In order to make these limits more tangible, the students’ task in the compact week is to feed a chart with actual measurement data – the so-called breaking load chart. Each new cohort of students takes on a new curve. This year it was about oil production – a classic and politically very relevant topic.
Overall, the chart shows data starting around 1700 to 2100. While the future data is an estimate, the other points on the curves are based on actual measurement data. The goals of this breaking load chart are to show the state of the earth, make connections visible and make us aware of the speed of man-made changes. For example, two of the other curves show the decrease in forested areas and the increase in CO₂ concentration. Deforestation increases the greenhouse effect because more CO₂ remains in the atmosphere – one causes the other.
These two curves therefore have an influence on two of the planet’s boundaries: climate change and land use change. The chart is intended to show the state of our earth in order to make it clear to students that civil engineering today no longer just means designing stable and efficient buildings, but also taking responsibility for the effects on the earth system.
Construction affects several planetary boundaries
Because the construction sector directly influences several planetary boundaries. When it comes to climate change, for example, the construction industry plays a central role because the production of building materials such as concrete or steel causes large amounts of CO₂. At the same time, construction projects massively change land use, for example by sealing areas or interfering with ecosystems, which in turn can increase the loss of biodiversity. The use of resources such as sand, water or metals also impacts global material cycles.
The compact week showed aspiring civil engineers what effects their work can have and what adjustments they can make to make possible improvements.