A conversation with Professor Upmanu Lall, Director of the Columbia Water Center and Professor of Engineering at Columbia University

How the relationship between mankind and nature has changed over the last decades, given the worsening environmental conditions and the associated effects on human activities? 

This is a very broad question and perhaps the most visible sign of such a change is the global climate change, but there are many competing factors also, for instance related to the widespread pollution and reduction of fresh water sources which have led to major ecological changes in many parts of the world. On the other hand, we now have a much better awareness of these issues and the need to protect nature. It is even possible that on a per capita basis many environmental problems have actually improved – which then puts the challenge on the growing population and the growing per capita use of resources as people become wealthier. For example, 97% of the Indian population now is non-vegetarian compared to a very small percentage in the 1950s – the population has also increased from 350 million to 1.35 billion. There is no way in such a situation to significantly modify nature.  

Over the past few years, civil, hydraulic and environmental engineering has been re-emphasising infrastructures which, fulfilling their engineering functions, contribute to strengthening the ecosystems’ resilience. From this perspective, we would like to know your views on the way engineering infrastructures embedding nature within them can help bring human and environmental needs into harmony. 

I have very mixed feelings about this – today many things are promoted as green infrastructure, simply because “nature” or natural barriers are used for flood control or for wastewater treatment. I welcome the integration of different elements and I think such integration may be a good idea, but we need rigorous analysis and data collection to provide a basis for the proper design of such measures. 

As new technologies are developed, early warning systems enabling communities to be prepared to face a calamitous event before it occurs are starting to be implemented. What are the benefits of disaster prevention technology and sensorisation? 

Sensors come in many forms – from sensors in rivers that tell us how fast they are rising, or of the level of oxygen in the water, or they can be from satellite based observations of the color /sediment in the water or of flood evolution. I expect that by 2100 sensors of all kinds will be ubiquitous and they will allow automated control and warning. Their role in disaster prevention can be significant to avoid loss of life and property. China is making great strides implementing sensors and monitoring population movement through cell phone density and mobility to provide evacuation pathways during disasters. Similarly, sensors on dams and bridges that can provide early warning are a necessity to avoid major impacts of dam /levee failure. 

In light of the growing demand for solutions that can cope with extreme phenomena, mainly water-linked, in your opinion, are engineering products’ testing and technical performance evaluation key to ensure their durability and serviceability in the long run? 

These are critical – as I said earlier many things being done lack these efforts and hence are harder to justify. 

How do you believe the challenge of balancing economic growth and environmental protection can be achieved? 

A fraction of the economic returns have to be earmarked for environment monitoring and protection from the beginning of every development project. 

In an increasingly sustainability-conscious world, how can we rethink the infrastructure development model? 

A first step is to think of infrastructure development from a consumers perspective rather than a producers perspective – we seem to forget to consider the consumer as a partner – and meet the needs to affordable, reliable and serviceable systems. To improve the user experience and engage them in maintaining and operating the system and providing feedback we need to understand the fundamental ways in which consumers and producers can work together to assure a longer and more reliable life of infrastructure and the reuse of materials.