Engineering is the practice of applying technical skills and concepts towards making practical ideas a reality, in the hopes that it might help contribute towards the betterment of everyday life on the whole. Behind the successful implementation of engineering practices, with maximum benefits and efficiency, there exists an abundance of vital information to take into consideration when gauging what the best decisions to be considered are to ensure the success of the project. This report will detail the case study regarding the waste problem in Western Australia, with particular emphasis on the City of Swan, and will look towards developing a thorough understanding of the contextual information surrounding the project. The project aims to tie in the Noongar Institute of Western Australia ( NIWA) as a partnering organisation and strives towards executing a creative and efficient means of reducing the waste problem in WA while incorporating the organisation's fundamental goals and beliefs into the proposal. The proposed solution will aim to generate profits for NIWA through the revitalisation of waste material, involve the Noongar community, with a particular focus on the youth, and will endeavour to establish the foundation for more technical careers in the future. Engineering aims to eliminate significant social issues through creative problem solving, bearing this in mind the planned proposal addresses pressing societal, economic and environmental problems, such as extensive resource use, significant unemployment and climate change while simultaneously incorporating our partner organisation’s (NIWA) planned goals and objectives.
Part 1: Contextual Understanding
Waste Challenges in Western Australia:
Western Australia has the worst recycling statistics in all of Australia. According to a 2011 report into the waste management industry by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, WA recycles only 28.2 percent of all its landfill waste; an abysmal statistic when compared to the national average of 42.6 percent (Mercer, 2011). Despite these shocking numbers, these figures do not look to be decreasing anytime soon, with over 30 landfills currently in WA and an average of 2.4 tonnes of waste generated per person each year, Western Australia has the highest waste production per capita in Australia (Instant Waste Management, n.d). In a 2016 survey of problematic waste materials for local governments by WALGA, six out of the top eight most troublesome materials have no recycling schemes set in place leaving them destined for the landfill to eventually decompose, which as a result contributes towards significant environmental issues such as climate change (WALGA, 2016).
Figure retrieved from ASK report on recycling activity in WA in 2015-16
City of Swan:
The City of Swan bears a very illustrious and vibrant history. After its colonisation following the arrival of Captain Stirling in 1827, the City of Swan became home to one of WA's most powerful trading ports. Following the arrival of inmates from abroad in 1840, the city continued to thrive due to the increased workforce and the discovery of gold (City History, n.d). The city continued expanding after the establishment of a railway station in 1886, which lead to a significant increase in the city's population and economic status (Midland Local Area Plan, 2016). Today the city is a bustling economic hub with over 50,000 businesses currently practising there. As a result of a large number of businesses present there and a continuously increasing population, the city faces challenges with the recycling of waste from the households and businesses. If the city fails to address this issue, the repercussions will be severe. A 30-80 percent decrease in rainfall, 300 percent increase in the likelihood of severe fire danger and a higher frequency of erratic weather are just some of the severe adverse externalities the city faces should it fail to solve its waste crisis (Strategic Community Plan Review, 2015).
The Whadjuk Noongar People:
The Noongar people are the original landowners of the Swan region in WA by virtue of their birthright as the traditional custodians of the land. Archaeological studies have found that the Noongar inhabitation of the entire south-western region of WA dates back to over 50,000 years ago (Perth Region NRM, n.d). The Noongar people have an incredibly colourful history and are very proud of their heritage. Despite the vibrancy of their culture, they are victims of a very turbulent and often violent past. The Noongar people's cultural identity often lies within various aspects of the land and nature; with numerous sacred cultural sites, meeting places and artefacts (Perth Region NRM, n.d). They also looked to maintain their own culture, languages, religion and general way of life but this was made impossible after European colonisation. The traditional Noongar way of life was heavily reliant on hunting for food and preserving and ensuring the well being of their lands, but once the colonists arrived, they were violently opposed and often forced off their traditional lands and homes. Clashes continued between the Noongar people and the colonists until eventually, the Noongars were allowed to live in peace on allocated land reserves (Whadjuk history timeline, n.d). Towards the start of the 20th century, the Noongar people slowly began their integration into modern society; however, they were still treated as outsiders in their own land. Change only began to come about in 2006; when a federal court ruling resulted in favour of the indigenous people, which declared that the land always has been and always will be traditionally owned by the indigenous people of Australia (Whadjuk history timeline, n.d).
NIWA (Noongar Institute of Western Australia)
NIWA was established to provide a platform where Noongar youth and adults can receive access to formal education and training; in the hope that it will help provide viable future employment options to better the lives of the individuals involved and members of their respective communities (NIWA,2017). NIWA is situated in the City of Swan which has been identified by the government as an area of vulnerability for Noongar people, with higher than average unemployment, health and housing difficulties and a disconnected youth who feel alienated from the workforce. NIWA works with these people, who may not have had access to traditional methods of education, and strives to provide them with an alternative pathway towards future education and employment through its partnership with participating organisations such as UWA (NIWA,2017).
Part 2: Project Review
Project Proposal:
For our planned project proposal, we chose to address something that falls under two categories from top 8 most problematic materials for disposal: beer cans. Beer cans can be considered both as a beverage container and as scrap metal, neither of which currently have any satisfactory recycling schemes in place (WALGA, 2016). Our project aims to utilise discarded beer cans to design and manufacture phone cases. The process is relatively simple; it involves cutting the beer can into a flat sheet of metal and then using the sheet to form a mould of an iPhone (we decided this would be the most suitable product for our prototype given its popularity) through slightly intricate folding of the sheet metal. After the base is completed, our next step will be to cut the holes for the camera, aux cord, volume buttons etc.. The final step of the process is slightly more technical as it involves incorporating a Noongar design onto the phone and will also serve as a method of further reinforcing the case. To do so, we will have place the design on top of the case and then layer it with plastic; after this is finished, we will use the hot press to incorporate the plastic into the case, which will further embed the design into the case and offer the case additional durability and resistance.
Community Involvement and Benefits:
Given the context presented before us to take into consideration, before commencing this project, we believe that our proposal addresses all the issues our stakeholders currently face. The Noongar employment force currently faces a very high unemployment rate; this can be attributed to a younger workforce with little to no prior skills or experience that can be applied to the workforce (Ord, D., 2004). NIWA aims to address this shortcoming by offering a means of receiving training and education. We believe that our project will be well received by the Noongar youth as it offers them the opportunity to craft something personal which proudly puts on display symbols of their culture and heritage. According to article 11 of the United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous People, the indigenous people have the right to display and revitalise their traditional customs and traditions, and we believe this project gives them a productive outlet in which to do so (UN,2008). The technical aspects of the project look to provide a foundation for the Noongar youth, in the hopes that they use this base to develop their technical skills further and work towards the prosperity of their community. The proposal also looks to help scale down the waste problem in WA by using wholly discarded materials and recycling them to make an incredible finished product. NIWA can then sell these phone cases to generate a source of income for the organisation.
Part 3: Conclusion
An article by the Royal Academy of Engineering states that "Engineering needs to be understood in the context of its role in society, and your role as an engineer has to be understood in the context of your work within a company and ultimately within society(Lawlor.R, n.d)." I believe this quote comprehensively describes my experience within this unit and my understanding of the engineering practice. To ensure the success of a project, engineers must first look at the contextual information presented before them. By doing so, you eliminate the risk of unforeseen issues occurring with the project and can appropriately plan and develop contingencies for every possible adverse outcome. This unit aided my understanding of just how important communication is in the engineering field, whether you are writing a report or dealing with teammates, your ability to communicate and express your thoughts and ideas properly can play a vital role in determining the success or failure of your project.