"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Engineering
Hiding Your Face From Observation Cameras
06/01/20
“How can you hide your face from observation cameras?”
Protesters often have to deal with institution cameras observing and tracking their faces. However, by hiding your face, whether it be through sunglasses, a mask, or make-up, these machines will become unable to track you down. This is how you can start Hiding Your Face From Observation Cameras.
Why Police Body Cameras Can Increase Law Enforcement Accountability
05/28/20
“Why is implementing body cameras on police a good idea?”
Like any state agency, police forces hold the potential to misuse their authority, culminating in horrific outbreaks such as what was recently seen in Minneapolis. In the past, these forces were able to get away with such events. However, with the advent of body cameras, footage can be automatically recorded to show any human rights violations taking place, allowing for proper evidence for prosecution. This is Why Police Body Cameras Can Increase Accountability.
Image credit urban.org
How 5G Can Aid in Disaster Recovery
05/26/20
“Why would 5G technology help facilitate disaster response efforts?”
Data collection systems can help disaster response officials establish situational awareness. However, a lag in data transfer can hamper with these efforts. The advent of 5G can solve this by bringing faster data speeds and better internet of things connectivity, facilitating quicker and higher-quality responses. This is How 5G Can Aid in Disaster Recovery.
Green Recovery
05/25/20
“How can economies recover from a recession using sustainable infrastructure?”
Investment in construction is a time-tested method in helping an economy recover after a recession. It allows for large sums of capital to be focused on projects that generate a large number of jobs and leave lasting benefits. Given the ever-pressing challenge of climate change, a focus on the construction of sustainable infrastructure would have the added benefit of preventing further damage from climate change. This is why a resilience and sustainability-focused Green Recovery would be a logical course of action.
Why the Increase in Extreme Weather May Offset Energy Efficiency Improvements
05/24/20
“How may the increase in more extreme weather offset energy efficiency improvements?”
With the advent of climate change, extreme weather is going to become more and more common. Areas that used to barely see a scorching day in Summer may now have to deal with weeks of extreme heat. This will make people more reliant on internal temperature control, increasing energy usage, and offsetting some of the gains made by energy efficiency improvements. This is Why the Increase in Extreme Weather May Offset Energy Efficiency Improvements.
Image credit http://www.weaa.org
Smoke Inhalation
05/20/20
“Why is smoke inhalation bad?”
When smoke occurs, whether it be from wildfires or a kitchen accident, particulate matter is released. If this is trapped indoors, then people can breathe it in and develop problems from Smoke Inhalation.
Waste Treatment Centers and Inequity
05/19/20
“Why are waste treatment centers usually located closer to less-privileged communities?”
Although useful and necessary, waste treatment centers can be a burden on communities. They create volatile outputs, emit noxious smells, and are generally unpleasant. For this reason, communities with social and economic influence push to keep them away, often into areas with less clout. This means that more communities with less privilege have to take the burden of hosting these facilities. Scientific research has confirmed these findings, showing that there is a long history of discrimination in terms of environmental justice. This is why there is a connection between Waste Treatment Centers and Inequity.
Why Building More Affordable Housing in Wealthy Areas Will Build Climate Resilience
05/17/20
“Why would building more affordable housing in wealthy areas lead to greater climate resilience?”
Due to historic and ongoing structural discrimination, wealthier neighborhoods not only have greater opportunities but are located disproportionately in areas more resilient to climate change. Due to the steep costs of living in these places, climate refugees will have a difficult time finding shelter in them, leaving their options for a new community more limited. But if more affordable housing was developed in these wealthier places, then this barrier can be lifted and a greater range of people can find safe habitation for the rest of their lives. This is Why Building More Affordable Housing in Wealthy Areas Will Build Climate Resilience.
Misadaptation
05/16/20
“How can climate adaptation be appropriated for nefarious purposes?”
Discussion of climate adaptation and resilience is becoming more apparent in the world. However, just like greenwashing takes place in mitigation, misadaptation can exacerbate climate vulnerabilities for marginalized populations while benefiting privileged ones. For example, building a levee that causing flooding down a river only shifts the climate risks, not mollifies it.
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