This chapter explores the role of ethics in both philosophical theory and professional engineering practice. It begins by introducing deontological ethics, a duty-based approach to moral reasoning that emphasizes adherence to universal principles when determining right and wrong. The discussion highlights key ideas developed by Immanuel Kant, including the concept of moral obligation and the categorical imperative, while also acknowledging modern scientific perspectives on moral decision-making.

The chapter then shifts to engineering ethics, outlining the standards and responsibilities that guide professional conduct in the field. It examines established codes of ethics, such as those proposed by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and explains how these principles influence decision-making, design processes and professional behavior. Finally, the chapter discusses the importance of ethics in engineering, focusing on its role in promoting safety, ensuring quality, building public trust, supporting sustainability and protecting both organizations and professionals.

Deontological ethics, often referred to as duty-based ethics, is a branch of moral philosophy that emphasizes adherence to established moral rules in determining right and wrong. Derived from the Greek words “deon” (duty) and “logos” (reasoning or study), deontology asserts that the morality of an action is grounded in its alignment with these duties rather than in its consequences. Central to this perspective is the belief that certain actions—such as harming innocent individuals—are inherently wrong, regardless of any potential positive outcome [1].

This framework was most notably developed by the 18th-century philosopher Immanuel Kant, who articulated its core principles through the concept of the categorical imperative, emphasizing universal moral obligations. While deontology has traditionally been explored within philosophical discourse, recent scientific research has begun to offer empirical insights into the psychological and neurological processes underlying moral decision-making [2].

Engineering ethics define the standards to which all engineers are held accountable, guiding them to act in a morally and socially responsible manner. Adhering to these principles is essential to ensure public safety, maintain the integrity of the profession, and deliver high-quality projects that meet established standards.

These ethical guidelines require engineers to consider not only the interests of their company, but also those of clients and the public when making decisions. They also influence how systems are designed and implemented, ensuring that they are safe, reliable, and aligned with professional standards, thereby fostering trust and respect for the engineering profession within society [3].

The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) has a code of ethics that is a great example of the type of standards professionals are held to. Their code says all engineering professionals shall.

1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public
2. Perform services only in areas of their competence
3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner
4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees
5. Avoid deceptive acts
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession

NSPE outlines additional professional obligations and details in their code. These further reinforce the importance of ethical behavior, ensuring that engineers uphold not only technical standards but also the public’s trust. Clearly, ethics in engineering aren’t just guidelines, they are essential to the integrity of the profession [4].

1. Promotes Safety – One of the most critical roles of engineering ethics is to promote public safety. According to the NSPE Code of Ethics, engineers must prioritize the safety, health, and welfare of the public in all aspects of their work. This includes reporting unsafe conditions, ensuring compliance with standards, and taking corrective action when necessary. Ethical responsibility also extends to the workplace. Prioritizing safety helps prevent accidents and injuries, which not only protects individuals but also reduces costs and improves productivity. For example, workplace injuries can result in significant financial losses for organizations, demonstrating that safety is both an ethical and economic priority.
2. Enhances Quality – Engineering ethics play a vital role in ensuring high-quality work. Engineers are expected to perform tasks that align with their knowledge and expertise, which helps maintain professional standards and reduces the likelihood of errors. In leadership roles, ethical responsibility includes supporting team members and enabling them to perform effectively. Leaders must adopt a broader perspective, focusing on coordination, motivation, and overall organizational success. By fostering an environment where specialists can excel, organizations can achieve higher-quality outcomes.
3. Improves Public Opinion – Ethical behavior helps improve public perception of the engineering profession. Engineers are required to communicate honestly and objectively, avoiding misleading or biased information. Transparent communication builds trust and strengthens the relationship between engineers and society. As engineering decisions often affect public safety, ethical conduct is essential for maintaining credibility. Acting responsibly in public interactions demonstrates professionalism and reinforces confidence in the industry.
4. Safeguards the Company’s Interests – Adhering to ethical standards helps protect the interests of organizations. Engineers must maintain confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and act with integrity in professional situations. Unethical behavior, such as sharing sensitive information or damaging colleagues’ reputations, can harm both individuals and companies. By following ethical guidelines, engineers contribute to a fair and trustworthy work environment, supporting long-term organizational success.
5. Fosters Sustainability – Engineering ethics encourage professionals to consider the long-term impact of their work on society and the environment. Sustainable practices not only benefit the planet but also enhance an organization’s reputation and financial performance. The concept of the “triple bottom line”—focusing on people, planet, and profit—highlights the importance of balancing economic success with social and environmental responsibility. Ethical engineers integrate these considerations into their decision-making processes.
6. Protects Other Engineers – Engineering ethics promote fairness and respect among professionals. Guidelines discourage unethical behavior such as false criticism or actions that damage another engineer’s reputation. These principles help create a supportive and collaborative work environment. Maintaining ethical relationships within teams improves productivity and prevents conflicts, contributing to a healthier workplace culture.
7. Secures Company Assets – Ethics also play a key role in protecting intellectual property and organizational assets. Engineers must respect ownership rights related to designs, inventions, and confidential information. Failure to do so can result in legal and financial consequences. By acknowledging and protecting these assets, engineers help prevent misuse and safeguard the organization’s investments [5].

Safety is a primary concern in engineering design. The system combines electronics, water, and plant care, which introduces potential risks such as water leakage, electrical malfunction, or damage to surrounding objects. To minimize these risks, the design must ensure proper water containment and reliable system components. Ensuring safe operation protects both the user and the environment in which the system is placed. Such systems rely on sensors and automated control technologies to monitor environmental conditions, such as soil moisture, in real time [6],[7]. While these technologies improve efficiency and convenience, they also introduce safety challenges due to the interaction between water and electronic components.

The system uses sensors, microcontrollers, and water supply devices to automatically regulate irrigation based on real-time data [8]. Although this automation enhances efficiency, research highlights several important risk factors. Sensor accuracy and system reliability are critical, as measurement errors or malfunctions can lead to incorrect irrigation control. This may result in overwatering or underwatering, which not only reduces system reliability but also negatively affects plant growth and health[9]. In addition, the system is sensitive to environmental conditions. Moisture or water ingress can degrade electronic performance and cause system failure, further reducing overall reliability [10]. According to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), protection against water and solid ingress is defined using the IP (Ingress Protection) rating system, which provides an important guideline for designing systems exposed to water [11].

To address these risks, several safety design strategies should be implemented. First, proper separation and protection are essential. Water and electronic components should be physically separated, and waterproof enclosures or sealed structures should be used to prevent moisture damage. Applying appropriate IP-rated protection further enhances system safety [12]. Second, reliable sensing and control are necessary for stable operation. Accurate soil moisture sensors and continuous monitoring systems allow precise irrigation control and early detection of abnormal conditions, improving both performance and safety [13]. Finally, fail-safe mechanisms should be incorporated. The system should automatically shut down under abnormal conditions to prevent damage. Threshold-based control can help avoid overwatering, and the system should be designed to maintain a safe state even in the event of failure.

Responsible behaviour design involves creating systems that influence user actions while respecting ethical principles such as autonomy and well-being. As digital technologies increasingly shape user behavior, it is essential to ensure that such systems promote positive change without undermining users’ ability to make voluntary decisions.

Ethical Persuasion and User Well-being

Since the system is intended to influence user behavior, it must avoid manipulative or harmful persuasive techniques. Research on persuasive technology highlights ethical concerns related to manipulation, coercion, and the potential undermining of user autonomy. The purpose is to encourage healthier digital habits rather than create pressure or negative emotional responses. For example, the system should not induce excessive guilt or stress if users exceed their screen-time limits, as creating pressure or exploiting vulnerabilities may undermine user autonomy and raise ethical concerns in persuasive technologies [14].

Motivation and Behaviour Change

Research in motivation theory further supports non-controlling approaches to behavior change. Self-Determination Theory states that autonomy is a fundamental psychological need, and that environments which support autonomy enhance motivation and well-being [15]. Self-Determination Theory explains that external pressure can reduce the quality of motivation, whereas self-endorsed behavior leads to more sustained engagement. This suggests that systems should support users’ autonomy rather than rely on controlling strategies.

System Design Considerations

Additionally, the system must ensure that any behavioral consequences affecting the plant remain within safe biological limits. The plant should not be harmed as part of the behavioral mechanism, and the design must prioritize plant health even when attempting to motivate behavioral change. While persuasive technology research primarily focuses on human users, designers are responsible for ensuring that system outcomes do not result in harm. Therefore, any interaction affecting the plant must remain within conditions that allow it to survive and function properly, ensuring that no harm is introduced through system operation.

The system collects information related to screen-time usage through an associated application. Ethical data management requires that users are informed about what data is collected, how it is stored, and how it is used. Users should provide informed consent before data collection begins, and the system should minimize data storage whenever possible. Sensitive personal information should not be collected unless strictly necessary for the system's functionality. Despite these principles, security and privacy challenges can arise when such systems are implemented in home-based smart farming environments. These systems rely on low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which often have limited computational power and weak security features, making them vulnerable to cyber threats.

Threats

These vulnerabilities can be grouped into several key threat categories. Screen-time data is particularly sensitive because it reflects users’ daily routines. If accessed without authorization, it can reveal personal habits and schedules. In addition, home smart farming systems continuously collect environmental data such as soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and light levels to support plant growth. Although this data appears non-sensitive, it can indirectly reveal user presence and lifestyle patterns when analyzed over time. These systems are especially vulnerable to attacks such as unauthorized access, data interception, and manipulation of sensor data. For example, altering soil moisture readings can lead to incorrect irrigation, which may negatively affect plant health. Such risks are increased by the lack of strong encryption, secure authentication, and regular updates in many IoT devices [16],[17]. However, applying strong encryption to all data transmissions is not always practical. In resource-constrained IoT devices, full encryption can significantly increase energy consumption and reduce system efficiency. This highlights the trade-off between security and energy efficiency, requiring a balanced approach [18].

Strategies

To address these challenges, several strategies can be implemented.

1. Lightweight cryptographic methods should be used to provide adequate security while minimizing energy usage.
2. Data prioritization should be applied: sensitive data such as screen-time information should receive stronger protection, while less sensitive environmental data can use lighter security mechanisms.
3. Edge computing should be utilized to process data locally, reducing the need for constant data transmission and lowering both security risks and energy consumption. Additionally, batch data transmission can reduce the frequency of communication and further conserve energy.
4. Transparency is essential. Users should be able to clearly understand how their data is collected and used. This can be achieved through user dashboards, real-time notifications, and simplified privacy policies, which support informed consent and user control.
5. Regular software updates, strong authentication mechanisms, and anomaly detection systems should be implemented to maintain system security. Detecting unusual patterns in sensor data, such as abnormal soil moisture levels, can help identify potential attacks or system failures.

Professional competence refers to the ability of engineers to carry out their work responsibly and effectively while adhering to established standards and ethical principles. Engineers are expected to follow professional standards and codes of ethics. This includes designing systems that prioritize user safety, privacy, and reliability. Following recognized engineering principles ensures that the system is developed in a responsible and systematic manner, and that potential risks are identified and mitigated during the design process.

In addition, professional competence involves understanding the limits of one’s expertise and seeking appropriate support or collaboration when necessary. Engineers must engage in continuous learning to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies and ensure that their knowledge remains up to date. Furthermore, thorough testing and validation are required to confirm that the system operates correctly under various conditions.

By maintaining professional competence, engineers can enhance the quality and performance of their systems while fulfilling their ethical responsibility to protect users and maintain public trust.

Ethical considerations are also important when presenting and promoting the product to potential users.

The product should be marketed with clear and honest communication about its functionality and purpose. Marketing materials should accurately describe what the device does, how it influences user behavior, and what benefits users can realistically expect. Clear communication is especially important in digital well-being products, as users need to understand both the purpose and the limits of the system in order to trust it and use it properly [19].

Since the product focuses on digital well-being and screen-time awareness, it is important to avoid marketing strategies that create anxiety, guilt, or fear about technology use. The aim of Screen2Green is to support healthier habits in a positive way, not to pressure users or make them feel bad about their behavior. Research on persuasive technologies shows that overly controlling designs can reduce user autonomy and may even cause stress [20].

Users should clearly understand how the system works before using it. This includes how screen time is monitored, how the plant responds to user behavior, and what type of data is collected. Providing this information clearly helps users make informed decisions and increases trust in the product [21].

If the product is used by children or teenagers, additional ethical considerations are needed. Younger users are generally more vulnerable to persuasive technologies and may be more easily influenced by digital feedback systems. For this reason, the system should avoid strong behavioral pressure and include suitable safeguards if designed for younger users [22].

Modern digital technologies consume significant amounts of energy. Smartphones, applications and online services all depend on servers and data centers that operate continuously and contribute to carbon emissions because they require constant electricity. Moreover, increased screen time raises the overall energy demand once again [23].

According to the International Energy Agency, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is a rapidly increasing contributor to global energy use [24].

This creates an ethical challenge: as technology becomes more integrated into daily life, both users and developers must consider its environmental impact.

From an ethical perspective, Screen2Green aligns with:

• Utilitarianism: reduced energy use benefits society and the planet
• Deontology: individuals and developers have a duty to minimize environmental harm
• Deep ecology: nature has intrinsic value and deserves respect

By encouraging more mindful screen use, Screen2Green may help reduce unnecessary energy use while also promoting environmental awareness. In addition, the system is designed with low-power electronic components such as an ESP32 microcontroller and simple environmental sensors, which helps keep the device’s own energy consumption relatively low.

Screen2Green shows how innovative design can support more responsible habits while considering environmental impact.

Ethical product design also includes thinking about the materials used in the device, how long they last, and whether they can be repaired or recycled. A modular design with replaceable parts can make the product last longer and reduce environmental impact.

For the prototype, the main structure was planned using PLA, which is lightweight and commonly used in 3D printing because it is easy to manufacture. A cork base was also considered to improve stability and provide some insulation. The internal system includes common electronic parts such as an ESP32 microcontroller, relay module, sensors, and a solenoid valve for the watering system.

This combination of simple materials and modular parts makes maintenance easier and allows damaged parts to be replaced without throwing away the whole product. Previous studies also suggest that modular design can help products last longer and make repair easier, which can reduce waste over time [25].

The material choice was also considered in the life cycle analysis in order to reduce waste and improve long-term durability.

Since the plant plays a role in the behavior feedback system, ethical considerations must also include plant welfare. The plant should not be exposed to harmful conditions as part of the system. Any changes to watering or light levels must stay within safe biological limits to make sure the plant remains healthy.

To support this, the system uses soil moisture and temperature sensors to check the plant’s condition and give more accurate feedback. The watering system was designed with safe limits so that overwatering or underwatering can be avoided as much as possible. This is important because incorrect watering can damage roots, slow growth, and affect the plant’s overall health.

Previous studies on smart irrigation systems also suggest that sensor-based monitoring can help improve watering accuracy and support healthier plant growth [26]. For this reason, the system should also include clear safety limits and allow users to water the plant manually when needed, so that the plant’s health is always more important than the feedback system.

Liability is an important issue in the Screen2Green project because the system combines electronics, water, and digital monitoring. Since these parts work together, problems such as sensor errors, water leakage, software malfunction, or wrong irrigation decisions could affect the user, nearby objects, or the plant itself.

Studies on smart irrigation systems show that faults in sensors or control systems can lead to overwatering or underwatering, which may damage plant health and reduce system reliability [27]. For this reason, possible risks should be considered from the early design stage. The team should use reliable components, test the system properly, and include safety measures such as waterproof protection, safe watering limits, and alerts for abnormal conditions.

Liability also includes user data. Because the system may collect screen-time information through the app, users should clearly understand what data is collected, why it is needed, and how it is stored. Research on smart home IoT systems shows that users are often not fully aware of privacy risks, so clear information and transparency are important [28].

In addition, because the plant is part of the feedback system, responsibility also includes protecting plant welfare. The system should not use behaviour feedback in a way that harms the plant. Features such as manual override and safe watering limits should be included so that plant health is always more important than the feedback mechanism.

Overall, liability in this project means reducing risks as much as possible through safe design, clear communication, and responsible system use.

This chapter looked at the main ethical and deontological issues related to Screen2Green, such as safety, user privacy, behaviour design, environmental impact, plant welfare, and liability. Through this analysis, the team understood that the system should not only work properly, but also be safe, clear to users, and responsible in the way it affects both people and plants.

Based on this ethical and deontological analysis, the team chose a modular design with simple monitoring components, a soil moisture sensor, an ESP32 microcontroller, a controlled watering system, waterproof protection, and low-cost recyclable materials. These choices were made to reduce possible risks, protect plant health, support responsible data use, and make the product easier to maintain.

Consequently, the team decided to include features such as safe watering limits, basic fail-safe protection, clear user information, modular parts, and behaviour feedback that supports users without creating pressure. These features help make the system safer, easier to use, and more suitable for daily use.

This chapter also helped guide the team’s technical decisions and gives a clear basis for the next chapter, which explains how these ideas were applied in the system design and development process.