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How exposed to AI is a Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technician?

Of the 26 tasks O*NET lists for environmental engineering technologists and technicians, 6 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 9 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Air Quality Instrument SpecialistEngineer TechnicianEnvironmental Engineering AssistantEnvironmental Engineering TechnicianEnvironmental Field TechnicianEnvironmental TechnicianHaz Tech (Hazardous Technician)
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
26
tasks rated for this occupation
73%
hold a degree, from a survey of 23
15k
people do this job in the US
31 of 56
least protected in architecture and engineering

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

6
  • Produce environmental assessment reports, tabulating data and preparing charts, graphs, or sketches
  • Prepare permit applications or review compliance with environmental permits
  • Review work plans to schedule activities
  • Work with customers to assess the environmental impact of proposed construction or to develop pollution prevention programs
  • Provide technical engineering support in the planning of projects, such as wastewater treatment plants, to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and policies
  • Obtain product information, identify vendors or suppliers, or order materials or equipment to maintain inventory

Only with software built on top

11
  • Maintain project logbook records or computer program files
  • Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations
  • Maintain process parameters and evaluate process anomalies
  • Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements
  • Develop work plans, including writing specifications or establishing material, manpower, or facilities needs
  • Perform statistical analysis and correction of air or water pollution data submitted by industry or other agencies
  • Evaluate and select technologies to clean up polluted sites, restore polluted air, water, or soil, or rehabilitate degraded ecosystems
  • Assess the ability of environments to naturally remove or reduce conventional or emerging contaminants from air, water, or soil
  • Model biological, chemical, or physical treatment processes to remove or degrade pollutants
  • Create models to demonstrate or predict the process by which pollutants move through or impact an environment
  • Improve chemical processes to reduce toxic emissions

Cannot be sped up

9
  • Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings
  • Collect and analyze pollution samples, such as air or ground water
  • Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water
  • Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing
  • Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment
  • Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills
  • Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater
  • Arrange for the disposal of lead, asbestos, or other hazardous materials
  • Oversee support staff
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.