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Enhancing technology development through integrated environmental analysis: toward sustainable nonlethal military
Oral S Saulters1, Larry E Erickson, Blase A Leven
1Urban Operations Laboratory, Center for Hazardous Substance Research, Kansas State University, 104 Ward Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA. osaulter@ksu.edu
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
|November 6, 2009
Summary
New technologies are vital for industrial and military success and sustainable development. Integrating environmental, safety, and health assessments early in systems engineering ensures responsible technology deployment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science and engineering
- Systems engineering
- Sustainable development
Background:
- New technologies are crucial for industrial and military advancement, as well as for achieving sustainability goals.
- Economic challenges necessitate streamlined design and dissemination of key technologies.
- A proactive, holistic approach aids in understanding tradeoffs for novel and existing products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of integrating environmental, safety, and occupational health (ESOH) evaluations early in the systems engineering process.
- To showcase how these integrated analyses support the development and deployment of sustainable technologies.
- To present the Urban Operations Laboratory process as a model for inclusive environmental analysis.
Main Methods:
- Prioritizing mechanisms like strategic life-cycle environmental assessments (LCEA), programmatic environment, safety, and occupational health evaluations (PESHE), and health hazard assessments (HHA).
- Employing integrated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and iterative analyses with flexible expert groups.
- Utilizing the Urban Operations Laboratory process for environmental analysis.
Main Results:
- Successful development and deployment of various nonlethal military technologies.
- Establishment of a framework for addressing complex ESOH risks affecting personnel, infrastructure, property, socioeconomic, and natural/cultural resources.
- Demonstration of the Urban Operations Laboratory process enabling inclusive and transformative environmental analysis.
Conclusions:
- Early integration of ESOH assessments within systems engineering is critical for responsible technology development.
- Multidisciplinary analyses and collaborative platforms facilitate the management of complex risks.
- The Urban Operations Laboratory process offers a pathway to sustainable systems and advancements.
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