Ecological Engineering is the emerging field of the use of ecological processes within natural or constructed imitation of natural systems to achieve engineering goals. Engineering applies scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. ...
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Ecological Engineering is "the design of sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both" (Mitsch, 1998)
Ecological Engineering is based on the self-designing capacity of nature to take ecosystems to sustainable optimum states. Past engineering approaches overuse fossil fuels and require intensive maintenance because they are out of balance with nature. Ecological engineering solutions rely more on natural energy flows (solar-based) and are often very low maintenance, when done correctly.
Examples of ecological engineering are the restoration of a landscape or the creation of a wetland ecosystem to treat wastewater. In the case of restoring a landscape denuded of all soil by erosion, the ecological engineer would approach the problem not by trucking in tons of soil, he or she would work to establish soil-building organisms to do the work. In the case of wastewater treatment, the conventional engineer would use electricity to pump and aerate the water while dumping in tons of chemicals. The ecological engineer would use the natural assimilative capacity of certain plants and microbes to remove the pollutants of concern in a gravity-flow system.
Ecologicalengineering and related ecotechnologies are dependent on the self-designing capabilities of ecosystems and nature.
Ecologicalengineering involves identifying those biological systems that are most adaptable to human needs and those human needs that are most adaptable to existing ecosystems, while recognising that it is counterproductive to eliminate or even disturb natural ecosystems unless absolutely necessary.
Ecologicalengineering and ecotechnology applications also emphasize understanding of the entire ecosystem rather than components of the system in isolation from one another.
EcologicalEngineering is a new field of study in engineering and we are a new research focus area of the Environmental Engineering here at Texas AandM University--Kingsville.
Ecologicalengineering is defined as "the design of sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both." It combines natural and applied sciences, especially systems ecology, with the discipline of engineering to educate professionals on how to design, construct and manage ecosystems and to develop sustainable eco-technologies.
Ecologicalengineering combines basic and applied science from the varied fields of engineering, systems ecology and other natural sciences in an effort to restore and construct aquatic, terrestrial and wetland ecosystems.
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