Schaub 4:00R09

THE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BAMBOO USAGE

Charles A. Donnelly (cad144@pitt.edu)

INTRODUCTION

The concept of sustainable building materials has become a major focus in the engineering world, but the ramifications of new materials must be carefully examined. One of these possible building materials, bamboo, has the potential to replace steel and concrete as a structural building resource while reducing carbon emissions; however, the wide spread use of bamboo may result in the introduction of species of bamboo to regions of the world where those species aren’t native, such as North America or Europe. Therefore, while bamboo utilization is being considered to have a positive impact on the global environment, there are implications that could cause negative side effects, such as the spread of this invasive species.

The strength of bamboo has been explored through research performed by a number of engineers, such as Dr. Kent Harries. Dr. Harries is a professor in the Civil Engineering department at the University of Pittsburgh, and much of his research focuses on the potential of bamboo to be used as a credible building material. In a recent paper, he stated that attributes of bamboo, such as strength and rapid growth, make it “a particularly attractive alternative for residential construction” [1]. The studies performed by Dr. Harries, as well as any other researchers, establish bamboo as a possible building material, and they continue to look into this potential.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers Code of Ethics, engineers shall strive to work for “the protection of the environment of sustainable development” [2]. In other words, a goal of any civil engineer is to find and explore any technology or practice which eliminates negative impacts on the environment.

This aspect of the ethics of civil engineering is explored in by Samuel Labi in Introduction to Civil Engineering Systems, where he analyses the extent of this section of the Code of Ethics. One of the points is that engineers must “promote the knowledge, skills, and information on subjects necessary for realizing a sustainable future; including natural systems, ecologies… of all phases of the system life cycle on the ecosystem” [3]. Thus, it is within the engineer’s responsibilities to not only examine the degree to which a certain technology impact the environment, but he/she must also promote the idea that modern technology should be beneficial for ecological systems.

Hence, the utilization of bamboo can be examined from a number of viewpoints, as there are harmful possibilities. One of these possibilities is the spread of an invasive material. The news report from the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts. Within this city, it had been discovered that areas had been

heavily harmed by bamboo, which spread quickly and covered vast areas. The main reason bamboo was able to spread so quickly was because of its elaborate root system, strength, and ability to displace native plants [4]. It is within the engineer’s responsibility to realize this, and according to the Code of Ethics they must prevent any negative attributes of this technology.

BAMBOO USE IN CONSTRUCTION

Due to the strength of bamboo, as well as its natural shape and growth patterns, bamboo has the potential to fulfill a number of roles in construction. Several of these possibilities, such as using bamboo as support beams, have been explored by several engineering groups.

One example of bamboo usage in building is that of a structural beam. By realizing bamboo’s high strength, this tubal plant can be used as a normal steel or wooden beam might be. Figure 1, bamboo can be seen being used in columns to redirect the force of weight downward, creating an upright structure. In these cases, bamboo has the potential to replace steel, which would normally be used [5].

FIGURE 1 [5]

University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering 12014-09-30

Charles A. Donnelly

Bamboo being used as a support column in a structure being built.

Bamboo can also be used as a surface, for example in walling. Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is famous for this concept, as he has propelled the idea of bamboo usage into the modern architectural world. His works focus on the utilization of layers of bamboo as a wall [6]. Shigeru Ban’s use of bamboo has certainly had an impact on the architectural aspect of this material, as many higher end building companies have realized bamboo’s aesthetic potential in addition to it’s practical.

Not only is bamboo used alone, it can also be mixed into other materials to effectively strengthen the second materials. An example of this practice can be seen at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences, located in Germany, where research was conducted on concrete panels with bamboo fragments and canes embedded in it. The results were panels of lightened concrete which had a compressive resistance greater than that of traditional concrete [5]. Essentially, by using bamboo in coordination with other materials, one is able to capitalize on its strength and create a series of composite materials. This reflects on the versatility of this material, and proves another possible use of it.

ETHICAL SENARIO

As an aspiring Civil Engineer, I am currently thinking about the various jobs I can explore. One such job would be working in the field of residential construction with an engineering firm. In this hypothetical scenario, I am a lead engineer for a firm named Future Growth, which has set up a branch in Montana, United States. The firm for which I am employed is striving to establish bamboo as a feasible building material, and they are certainly a pioneer in the industry. Due to the geographical location, as well as the low cost of land and availability of space, the firm has decided to control the production of their materials by hiring a small agricultural firm to plant and harvest the bamboo. This will also coincide with their goal to enable bamboo to be a widely recognized building material. Due to the fact that there are currently very few standards for bamboo, this would enable Future Growth to fully control the conditions of the bamboo, enabling strong and uniform bamboo without shipping costs from areas that produce the bamboo.

As an engineer overseeing the materials and use of this relatively new technology, I visit the groves of bamboo, where the company is growing and harvesting the bamboo. Although I am not in charge of the production or care for the plants, I notice that outside of the designated bamboo growing areas there are sprouts poking through the earth. It seems that the complex root system has managed to work its way under the walls and spread outward.

Bamboo is not native to Montana, and the introduction of this Asian grass could potentially be devastating to the local environment. However, if the bamboo used in production was out sourced to another country, Future Growth could lose a significant amount of money. It is far easier for the company to continue this practice, while maintaining a dominant process in the business by controlling each step of the process of construction. Therefore, it is a dilemma for the business to stop the harvesting of this plant, while at the same time this plant poses a series threat.

NEGETIVE IMPLICATIONS OF SENARIO

Bamboo, by nature, is an incredibly resilient kind of grass, which gives it the potential to be a dangerous foreign species. In any area where bamboo is not native, it is considered an exotic species. Exotic species are not harmful for the environment, as long as they do not disrupt the natural order of any ecosystem. If an exotic species, such as bamboo, begins to displace native species to a large scale, the native species will experience a threat that is not natural. This can disrupt several conditions of the ecosystem, such as the acidity of water or soil resources, or land area, or the food web, which is the interlocking web of wildlife food sources [7].

The persistent issue pertaining to invasive exotic species is the fact that they do not naturally fit into the food chain. As a result, there is little to no ability for the ecosystem to keep the population of the invasive species under control. Thus, the species, whether it is a plant, animal, or even a microorganism, encounters little resistance as it spreads and increases in numbers.

Bamboo is an especially dangerous invasive species, due to the physical characteristics of its root system and the method to which it grows. First, the bamboo plant develops a complex root system, and new stems sprout from the roots of already established plants. In addition, if one stalk dies, more can regenerate from the roots of the pre-existing structure [5]. Therefore, to effectively kill a whole bamboo plant involves the complete eradication of the bamboo plant, including the roots, which can be seen in Figure 2, which depicts a representation of bamboo’s root system. One is able to clearly see the way the plant develops below the surface of the earth, with a number of buds branching from each stem. In theory, each bud has the potential to grow into a new cane, or rod, of bamboo. This contributes to bamboo’s success in growth.

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FIGURE 2 [5]A depiction of the view of bamboo’s root system as seen

from below the earth.

In addition to the root systems, the speed to which bamboo grows is remarkable. One species of bamboo, Guadua angustifolia Kunth, grows up to 21 centimeters a day, and is able to reach upwards of 20 meters in total growth [5]. This rapid and unchecked growth has the potential to wreak havoc on ecosystems, as bamboo can gain foliage superiority as it quickly reaches the top of the canopy before other plants. As a result, the bamboo will block sunlight from the other plants, while simultaneously spreading roots and establishing a firm foundation. By choking out other plants from necessary natural resources, this invasive species has the potential to displace the native plants and animals and drastically alter the local ecosystem.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

The haphazard restriction of the bamboo puts the engineering group of Future Growth in a difficult situation, and a decision requires the correct analysis of the dangers of the bamboo plant, as well as the responsibilities of the company.

Allowing the bamboo to spread

In this circumstance, I have the choice to report the possible issue or ignore it. If I were to ignore it, Future Growth would continue business without any hindrance, and the bamboo would likely spread throughout the open Montana area. The question of the ethically of withholding the observation is called into question, and it can be determined that this option is morally wrong due to the impact bamboo can have on the local ecology.

If the bamboo outbreak were to go unreported, surely with would be detrimental to the local ecosystem. It is the responsibility of the engineers on the job to report the incidents, as it is necessary to fix. If every person did not take responsibility, the issue would spread and severely impact the environment, causing immense displacement of native species while altering features of the land. This is similar to the case of the Lorax, in Dr. Seuss’s famous work

The Lorax, who fights to prevent an outsider from destroying his native land. At one point he tells a young man, “Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” [8]. The Lorax’s message is clear; it takes one person to actively care in order for a solution to arise. If I pass by the bamboo stalks protruding from the ground, the problem would only persist, unchecked by those able to change the issue. Therefore, there is a responsibility of myself, and any fellow engineers on the team, to report the issue and ensure that the potential threat is appropriately managed.

Ceasing to grow bamboo locally

Due to the potential risks of growing bamboo in an area where it is not native, one solution to this dilemma is to remove the existing bamboo and outsourcing the material to a company in Asia that already produces bamboo for construction. This would certainly remove the threat of spreading the invasive species, however, there are several things which could cause a problem, such as the costs and the quality of the imported material. As an engineer on the team, I would participate in the decision making by conscientiously reporting the noticed bamboo to the project managers. In addition, I would assess the structural integrity of bamboo brought in from other countries. In this case, I would ensure that the bamboo purchased would be an effective replacement to the American-produced bamboo.

Because a large amount of bamboo would need to be brought in from across the ocean, the cost of using this material would grow exponentially. As a result, the need to charge more for the services of Future Growth would increase, limiting the people or organizations who could use their services. In addition, there is no standards for building with bamboo, as pointed out by a recent Santa Clara senior design team. These undergraduate students pointed out the there “is no US code regulating the use of bamboo in structural applications” [9]. Due to this lack of regulations, this design team is looking for ways to find adequate standards of this material.

However, due to the lack of regulations on quality of bamboo, the imported bamboo would need to be examined thoroughly, and there would be less certainty over the quality of this material. This is different from concrete or steel, which has very specific standards which, by law, must be maintained in order to use. By surrendering control over the production of this material, Future Growth would also be surrendering control over the quality. According to the first Canon of the National Society of Professional Engineer’s Code of Ethics, any engineer must “hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public” [10]. In essence, the actions of an engineer must keep the public’s health and safety in mind, and any anomalies observed must be rectified by the engineers working on the job. With regards

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to this situation, it would be unethical for Future Cities to begin using building materials with little to no standardization, as it could cripple the structural integrity of residential homes or buildings designed. Therefore, the engineers must keep the interests of the general public in mind, and the usage of bamboo which isn’t standardized could be potentially harmful.

Altering the method of growing bamboo

Due to the fact that the bamboo outbreak is in a concentrated area surrounding the bamboo farm, it would be feasible to assess the degree to which the enclosure effectively keeps this invasive grass out of the surrounding land. To do so, a team of experts would need to be called in, and members of organizations such as the Department of Environmental Protection may have concerns over the spreading of the invasive species. Therefore, it would be ethically sound for Future Growth to carefully assess the bamboo growth. As an engineer, it would be my responsibility to report this issue to my supervisors, and to urge the company to alter the method to which the bamboo is grown and harvested.

This approach to the issue would enable the production of Future Growth to continue, however, there would most likely be setbacks in the ability for the company to operate. It would be likely that the company would need to halt, or restrict, projects in order to properly re-evaluate the growth of their bamboo. However, this is a necessary precaution, for several reasons. First, it would allow Future Growth to continue to harvest and build with bamboo. Also, because this is a relatively new technology, Future Growth has the opportunity to pioneer the field of this material usage, and establish a standard system of bamboo usage.

There are several reasons this course of action would be an appropriate option. First, it is my responsibility as a Civil Engineer to point out areas of the company which could negatively impact the environment, as the American Society of Civil Engineers has dictated in their Code of Ethics. According to this set of standards, all engineers must “be committed to improving the environment” [2] through their actions and decisions. Therefore, as an educated engineer working for Future Growth, I have a duty to report this anomaly and persist on an improvement on the system, as it would maintain the environment’s current condition and prevent a negative impact from occurring. It would be irresponsible, and blatantly in opposition to the Code of Ethics.

In addition, this method of solving the problem will maintain Future Growth’s stance on bamboo usage, and will encourage responsible development of this material. At first, it would be a minor setback for the company, however, it would ensure that Future Growth is able to maintain a sustainable business model.

CONCLUSION

As an engineer working in a professional setting, I am chartered with making ethical decisions that impact society as a whole. Therefore, when presented with a the possible breakout of an invasive species of plant due to inadequate business practice, I have a duty to handle the situation in a mindset which would have the most beneficial impact on the environment, as told by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Code of Ethics [2]. Because of this, the best course of action is to report the incident and see that the issue is fixed, while ensuring a better practice of bamboo management is developed. This conscientious choice best illustrates the expectations established by the Code of Ethics, and maintains the safety and sustainability of construction industry in this situation. Therefore, reporting the incident and resolving the issue would be the most ethical decision for me to make in this situation.

REFERENCES

[1] K. Harries, B Sharma, M. Richard. (2012). “Structural Use of Full Culm Bamboo: The Path to Standardization.” International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction. (online article). DOI: 10.7492/IJAEC.2012.008. pp. 66-75[2] Anon. (2009). “Code of Ethics”. American Society of Civil Engineers. (website). http://www.asce.org/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/http://www.asce.org/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/[3] S. Labi. (2014). Introduction to Civil Engineering Systems: A Systems Perspective to the Development of Civil Engineering Facilities. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (print book). pp. 885-930[4] “Running Bamboo Raises Concern in Attleboro.” Attleboro Access Cable System, Inc. (2014). (video). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ppOZa9dsJY[5] G. Minke. (2012). Building with Bamboo : Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture. Basel: Birkhauser. (print book). pp. 15-78[6] Q. Liu, T. Lin. (2011). “Analysis on Architectural Bamboo Surface.” Applied Mechanics and Materials. (online article). DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.99-100.21. pp. 21-25[7] Anon. (2014). “Invasive Species.” National Wildlife Federation. (website). http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/threats-to-wildlife/invasive-species.aspx[8] Dr. Seuss. (1971). The Lorax. New York, NY: Random House. (print book). pp. 5-8[9] Anon. (2013). “Bamboo” Santa Clara Senior Design Projects. (online article). http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/environmental_ethics/Bamboo.pdf

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[10] Anon. (2014). “NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers.” National Society of Professional Engineers. (website). http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Anon. (2013). "Hurricane Katrina, Large Socio-Technical Systems, and Social Responsibility." Online Ethics Center for Engineering. (online article). www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/Katrina.aspx Anon. (2013). "The Green Revolution." Online Ethics Center for Engineering. (online article). www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/GreenRevolution.aspx D. Riley. (2013). "Climate Action." Online Ethics Center for Engineering. (online article) www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/ClimateAction.aspx

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following people for assisting me in my writing. First, Dr. Kent Harries for once again allowing me to use his work as a resource, which certainly enriched my topic. Also, thank you to Nicole Faina for helping me develop my writing. Lastly, thank you to my fellow engineers in my dorm who have helped revise and look over this paper.

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