Pictures of the Future      Spring 2005

Elements of Life  •  Solutions for a Thirsty Planet

Trends: Solutions for a Thirsty Planet
As population rises, demand for clean water continues to grow. Advanced water treatment systems have an important role to play. Membrane filtering plants and ulraviolet water disinfection already offer particularly efficient solutions. Furthermore, exciting new technologies are just around the corner
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Simulated Water Networks: Fluid Information
Planning water and sewage networks is no easy task. If pipes and pumps don’t have the right dimensions, major problems can occur. But newly developed software is making it possible for engineers to precisely calculate and simulate these labyrinths before excavators even start their work
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Start-ups: Purification with Nano Pores
If a user makes an error, the software simulates the consequences—for example, when pressure on a system rises and causes a leak
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Facts and Forecasts: Water: The Elixir of Life
The world is thirsty. More than 4,000 km³ are drawn from rivers, lakes and underwater aquifers every year. Of that amount, 70 % is used in agriculture, 20 % in industry. The amount of water needed is increasing by 2.5 % annually—faster than global population growth
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Interview with Catherine Day: Achieving the UN’s Development Goals
Catherine Day (50) has been Director General for Environment at the European Commission since 2002. In her previous position, her area of responsibility included relations with the Balkan states and the countries along the Medi­terranean. A native of Ireland, Day studied International Trade and Economic Integration
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Wastewater Purification: Cannibals, Porous Fibers and Purity
Although pollutants in wastewater are becoming increasingly complex, higher quality is also being demanded of purified water. Specialists at Water Techno­lo­gies, a Siemens business unit, and at Siemens Corporate Technology have come up with new methods for purifying water more effectively while cutting costs
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Conserving Resources: A New Lease on Life
Siemens takes a life-cycle approach to its equipment. During product planning, engineers take into account how equipment can be repaired and resold later in its service life. Equipment from Siemens Medical Solutions is a case in point
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Pharmaceuticals: Medications with Built-in Quality
In the past, stringent regulations left little room for innovation in the pharma­ceuticals industry. As a result, processes often remained unchanged from licensing onward. Soon, however, advances in process technology will ensure quality to such an extent that final testing will be obviated
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Minimizing Dangerous Substances: Fighting Soot
New diesel engine technologies save fuel and deliver good performance while reducing nitrogen oxides. They also filter out those soot particulates that are most dangerous to health
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In Brief
Developments, contacts, links, literature
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