As Engineers, we always hope that our products and projects will have a positive lasting benefit on the earth and reduce our impact on it. However if not planned and undertaken properly, they can have a major effect on the earth and its environment.
I agree with Mark – you generally hope and usually expect that what you do will have a lasting impact. Especially when it comes to buildings and infrastructure (things like road and railways) which can last for a very long time, sometimes hundreds of years.
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