How do we create an integrative effect?

Ten years ago the ideas of climate adaptation were unknown to the engineering communities.  Times are rapidly changing and adaptation could be the most important word in the engineering vocabulary (the United Nations has estimated the current annual adaptation engineering and construction market at $130 billion).

The word "adaptation" - the catchall for attempts to fortify our national and build environments against the epochal temperature spike - also reinforces another key issue engineering faces.  Adaptation will require engineering to understand the power of integrating disciplines.  Historically engineering was structured as silos - singular disciplines solving stand alone problems.  We became really good at developing directional ideas.  Problems like climate change adaptation are far different - more complex. more systemic, more interconnected, more "wicked", more interdisciplinary - and will require future engineers to be very good with combining concepts between multiple fields and disciplines.  Our future will require us to focus more on intersectional ideas versus directional solutions.

As systems increase in complexity (and nothing is more complex and difficult than climate change adaptation) they require a greater understanding of the connectivity of the disciplines.  How do we create an integrative effect?  Can we better understand and breakdown associative barriers?  No longer will pure disciplines singularly yield disruptive technologies.  Maybe you can deal with the impacts of climate change in the margins, but as the cycle of superstorms, floods, and drought deepens and tightens, the ability to create and develop truly disruptive technology and processes will be critical.

Look for the immediate need to protect and bend (a great visualization of adaptation) to displace efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions (mitigation).  Adaptation is a diverse problem that will require a diversity of thought.  From relocating species and habitats, fortifying that which can be saved, abandoning that which can't, the general remapping of viable human settlement in the United States and worldwide - these activities will require engineers to think bigger and holistically. 

We have already started to think about how we can protect the core of our societies and civilizations.  Local adaptation planning often involves making a case for our communities' vulnerabilities.  Engineers will be key in developing these local and regional blueprints.  Engineering is also key to the private sector - any company with a supply chain is thinking about how to avoid climate disruption.

Consider the following two articles in the context of the central question - "How do we create an integrative effect?":

From the New York Times editorial page (The Sandy Imperative) on June 22, 2013:

"Mayor Michael Bloomberg has done his successor a huge favor in laying our an ambitious plan to help the city cope with a changing climate.  In an era of rising seawater, temperature extremes and superstorms, the next mayor has a duty to manage the growing risk of natural disaster.

Mr.. Bloomberg's plan calls for new fortifications to keep homes and businesses dry, to keep the trains running and the lights on.  It envisions spending almost $20 billion over 10 years, a price tag that will have to push through long-term investments in infrastructure, despite constrained budgets and short-term emergencies."

From the June 17, 2013 issue of Engineering News-Record (Water Sector Takes the Brunt of Changing Weather) - the top 10 low-risk, low-cost strategies that utilities and cities can implement now to avoid water scarcity and other climate-related problems:

1. Reduce carbon pollution to minimize future climate impacts, thereby protecting public health and safety.
2. Use green infrastructure to manage and collect stormwater and dry-weather runoff.
3. Improve urban water conservation and efficiency.
4. Improve water conservation and efficiency among commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) users.
5. Increase agricultural water efficiency and manage water-quality impact.
6. Increase the use of reclaimed wastewater.
7. Increase water efficiency in energy production to save water and fish.
8. Preserve and restore wildlife habitat for source-water and flood production.
9. Improve land-use planning to reduce building in vulnerable areas
10. Ensure effective emergency response and hazard-mitigation planning.