Lect 1 A systems aproach to Environmental Engineering.pptx

an introduction to environmental engineering from a systems perspective

1. Lecture 1: A system’s approach to Environmental engineering

2. A. Introduction to systems A group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements forming a complex whole –Free online dictionary A set of ​connected things or ​devices that ​operate together – Cambridge Dictionary A set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole –Oxford Dictionary

3. Complicated (Non-adaptive) systems

4. Complicated (Non-adaptive) systems Multiple parts with simple interactions. Can only be understood completely by a description of all of its component parts. Often functionality depends on very specific combinations of interactions.

5. Complex Adaptive systems

6. B. Complex adaptive systems Composed of a set of independent agents reacting to each other at many different levels or scales. Interactions between agents result in emergence of complex group behavior. Non linearity (1+1 ≠ 2) High degree of connectivity. The nature of this connectivity defines the system rather than the nature of each component. No top-down organization Elements are subjected to selection and the therefore the system is subject to evolution.

7. C. Resilience in systems

8. C. Resilience in systems Resilience is the capacity of a social-ecological system to absorb or withstand perturbations and other stressors such that the system remains within the same regime, essentially maintaining its structure and functions. It describes the degree to which the system is capable of self-organization, learning and adaptation ( Holling 1973, Gunderson & Holling 2002, Walker et al . 2004).

9. D. Adaptive cycles

10. Thresholds The point at which a variable in a system changes in ways that change the whole system in its essential function and are hard to reverse.

11. Is resilience itself always desirable?

12. E. Panarchy

13. Some characteristics of resilient systems Diversity Openness Reserves Tightness Modularity Leadership, social networks, social capital

14. Diversity

15. Openness And Innovation CIRCOS / KRZYWINSKI, M. ET AL.

16. Reserves

17. Tightness of feedbacks

18. Modularity

19. Leadership and social capital

20. Questions?