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How exposed to AI is a Environmental Engineer?

Of the 28 tasks O*NET lists for environmental engineers, 7 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 7 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 Pollution Control EngineerEngineerEngineering ConsultantEnvironmental AnalystEnvironmental ConsultantEnvironmental EngineerEnvironmental Remediation SpecialistHazardous Substances EngineerSanitary Engineer
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
28
tasks rated for this occupation
95%
hold a degree, from a survey of 21
43k
people do this job in the US
12 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

7
  • Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects
  • Provide environmental engineering assistance in network analysis, regulatory analysis, or planning or reviewing database development
  • Assist in budget implementation, forecasts, or administration
  • Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them
  • Prepare hazardous waste manifests or land disposal restriction notifications
  • Develop or present environmental compliance training or orientation sessions
  • Write reports or articles for Web sites or newsletters related to environmental engineering issues

Only with software built on top

14
  • Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability
  • Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems
  • Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land
  • Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment
  • Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality
  • Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports
  • Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste
  • Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures
  • Coordinate or manage environmental protection programs or projects, assigning or evaluating work
  • Request bids from suppliers or consultants
  • Develop, implement, or manage plans or programs related to conservation or management of natural resources
  • Inform company employees or other interested parties of environmental issues
  • Advise industries or government agencies about environmental policies and standards
  • Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures

Cannot be sped up

7
  • Inspect industrial or municipal facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations
  • Direct installation or operation of environmental monitoring devices or supervise related data collection programs
  • Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties
  • Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs
  • Serve as liaison with federal, state, or local agencies or officials on issues pertaining to solid or hazardous waste program requirements
  • Provide assistance with planning, quality assurance, safety inspection protocols, or sampling as part of a team conducting multimedia inspections at complex facilities
  • Assess, sort, characterize, or pack known or unknown materials
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.