ABE 573

ENGINEERS – IN – SOCIETY

Scheme of work

1. Philosophy of science and Engineering

2. History of Engineering and Technology
3. The engineering Profession
4. Engineering literacy, professional bodies and Engineering societies
5. Engineers code of conducts and ethics
6. Engineers and nation building, _____ politics and business
7. Safety in Engineering
8. Introduction to Risk analyses
9. Discussion papers and lectures.

1|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
THE ENGINEER IN SOCIETY

The aim of the series is to introduce the economic, industrial and social context
with in which engineers work.

Specific objectives are

1. Have knowledge of economic, industries and social context of engineering.

2. Be able to identify some of the non-technical decisions which engineer need
to take.
3. Have explored the similarities and differences between key industries sector
4. Know about the major environment considerations, which influence
engineering judgments.

PHILOSOPY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

The words engine and ingenious and derived from the same Latin root ingenerare
meaning “to create”, the early English verb engine meant “to contrive”. The person
performing fits is called engineer.

Engineering can be defined in so many ways.

Encyclopedia Britannica gave a good definition that “The professional art of

applying science to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to benefit
man”.

Encyclopedia Americana: “the science in which materials and energy are made
useful to mankind”.

Other definitions are

“The application of scientific knowledge to the solution of practical problems” or

“an art requiring the judgment necessary to adapt knowledge to practical purpose to
2|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
imagination to conceive original solutions to problems, and the ability to predict
performance and cost of new devices or processes.

The knowledge is used to develop and produce goods and services useful to
mankind.

Preparation for professional practice involve extensive training in the application of

that knowledge, standards are maintained by professional bodies and societies.

The function of the scientist is to know, while that of the engineer is to do.

The scientist adds to the store of verified systematized knowledge of the physical
world, the engineer brings the knowledge to bear on practical problems.

Unlike the scientists, the engineer is not free to select the problem that interest him,
he must solve problem as they arise and his solution must satisfy conflicting
requests usually efficiency, costs money, safety adds to complexity, improved
performance increases or decreases weight but the engineering solution is the
optimum solution.

It may be the cheapest for a specified level of performance, the most reliable within
a given weight limit, simplest that will satisfy certain safety reqts or the most
efficient for a given cost.

The results of engineering activity contribute to the welfare of man by famishing

food, shelter and comfort by making work, transportation, communication easier
and safer and by prolonging life and making it pleasant and satisfying

HISTORY OF THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION

3|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
Engineering began with mans first step towards civilization, the first “engineers”
were the prehistoric man who put fire to use, discovering how to make tools,
weapons etc.

The first Engineer known by the name and achievement is Imhotep-Winder of the
famous stepped pyramid at Saqqarah near Memlies around 2550BC. His successors
are Egyptians, Persian, Greek and Roman who used empirical methods aided by
geometry and physical science to build Pharos of Alexandria, Solomon’s temple,
the Coleseun in Rome, the road system in Rome

Medieval European engineers combined military and civil skills to build

fortification which require long bar and gun power to destroy.

Morden eng. Began with the industrial revolution in the 1700s; army engineers
built roads and bridges. The term civil engineer came into general use in the 18th
century when the army engineers retired and became civilian.

The first engineering school was founded in 1747 in France known as Ecole
Nationals des Ponts et Chaissees or National Schools of Bridges and Highways.

John Smeaton (1724 to 1792) is the 1st to all himself civil engineer after leaving the
army.

The first engineering society was founded in 1828 the Institution of civil Engineers
of Uk.

England and Scotland were the birth place of Mechanical Engineering arising from
the work of James Watt and the textile machinery of the industrial revolution.

Electrical Engineering started in 1800 from the works of Alexandra Vota’s Electric
Cell. Michael Faraday experiments and others like Samuel Fbmorse A Graham Bell

4|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
and Thomas A Edison. Electronics aspect came into being thru the research of
James Clerk Maxwell of Britain and Henrick Hertz of Germany in the 19th century.

Chemical engineering grew out of the proliferation of industrial process in the 19 th

c. involving use of chemicals to produce food, textile and others; the design and
operation of industrial machines became the will of the chemical engineers.

Aerospace Engineering came in the 19th C. as an off short of Mechanical

Engineering.

Agricultural Engineering began late 19th and early 20th C. as a result of agricultural
revolution and shortage of manpower after the 1st world war.

Other engineering field developed along too, out of circumstances and necessities.

ENGINEERING FUCTION

The major functions of all engineering branches are as follows

1. Research: the research engineer seeks new principles and processes using
mathematical and scientific concepts, experimental techniques and inductive
reasoning.
2. Design: the engr select methods, specifies material and determine shape to
satisfy technical reqts and to meet performance specifications.
3. Development: Dev engr applies the result of research engr to useful
purposes.
4. Construction: the construction engr is responsible for preparing the site,
determine the procedures that will economically and safely yield the desired

5|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
 results quality, directing placements of materials and organizing the
personnel and equipments.
5. Production: deals with plant and equipment selection with consideration of
human and economic factors; chosen processes tools, integrating flow of
material and components and provides testing and inspection.
6. Operation: operation engr controls machines, plants, providing power,
transportation, and communication. He determines procedures and
supervises, personnel to obtain reliable and economic operation of complex
equip.
7. Management and Other functions: engrs analyse customer’s reqts,
recommend units to satisfy needs economically and resolve related prove and
how assets are to be used.

EXPECTATIONS IN ENGINEERING

Can be grouped into six elements

1. What does the engineer expect of himself or herself

 A firm belief in what s/he is doing
 A firm commitment to the practice of the code of ethics
 An honest appraisal and acceptance of competer and restriction of
practice within limits.
 A commitment to responsibility for the body of eng knowledge in
developing input and importance.
2. What does the engr expect of the profession
 A collective respect for engr knowledge
 An instance in accessing growth in eng knowledge

6|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
 3. What does the profession expect of itself?
 Commitment to service the needs of the society.
 Commitment to the importance and development of engr knowledge.
4. What does the profession expect of each engineer
 Appropriate conduct
 Commitment to success of collective society
5. What does the profession expect of the society
 Recognition of the profession to use engineering knowledge for the
benefit of the society.
 Recognition that the society can trust the profession
6. What does the society expect of the profession
 A firm commitment to place the society interests above the interests of
its members or its own interests.
 Identify with the society the risks they bear in the execution of engr
projection undertaken to satisfy their demands.
 Influence positively the expectation of the society from the profession.

7|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
THE RESPONSIBILITIES

Problem solving:

May involve quantitative, qualitative, factors, physical, economic, may

require abstract maths or common sense. Success depends on ability to create new
ideas, a new device, process or new materials.

Decision Making:

To show that advances in engr enhance welfare of man by virtue of his

knowledge skill, and his unique role in the society. Successful eng must take
decision on complex problems in broad areas. Creative in developing of new
techniques; must be skilled in the use of sophisticated equip, conception of large
projects, analyse the man-machine-environment system, and the ability to predict
the technical performance and the impact on man.

8|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
MILITARY ENGINEERING

Military engineering is the oldest of the engineering skills. Military engineers were
the 1st scientific soldiers out of whose experience civil eng came to being.

The military engineering applies at all stages engr knowledge and recourses to
further their commanders plan.

Their role is divided into 3

1. Combat engineering or tactical engr support at the battle field.

2. Strategic support engr the execution of works, services reqd in
communication zones, construction of airfields, depots, ports, roads, storage,
distribution of fuel. Etc.
3. Auxiliary support such as provision of maps and disposal of unexpected
bombs and warhead

In peace time, they take part in civil works development and aid the community
during disasters like flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes etc.

The age of firearms produced by Leonardo da Vinci, who helped to analyse

military engr for site excavation, art of casting cannon, use of gun powder
(propellant and demolition) explosive, designed cranes, earth mining equipment,
assault boats, bridges etc. – a gifted hydraulic engr sebastien le Prestre de Valiban
of France (1633 – 1707) also did a lot in fortifications, fire trenches etc.

19th century military engr developed spearhead by USA army corps of engr explore
sewages, map the land, built roads, forts, railway, dams, waterways, coastal
defenses, Royal Engr, but communicates to look good with war commande and
civil war, submarines were built, airfields, airships_________ Badey bridge

9|Page
Typed by fas3a ‘15
development by Royal engrs in Britain for heavy tanks
_______________________ which produced atomic bomb used in Japan in 199_.

2.0 The Practice of Engineering

2.1 Introduction

God is the first practicing engineer who produced the human body from various
element and substances obtained from the soil by following certain principles
which are referred to as engineering principles today. For instance, the brain
transmits electrical current to different parts of the body.

The heart is a form of pumping machine circulating blood all over the body.

The arteries and veins are hydraulic system for fluid flow (blood and water).

The Stomach is for chemical processing of food.

The Bones — is a form of Structural elements (frame) standingion feet of legs that
is less than one foot (30cm) in length and 6 inches (l5cm) width.

Lung ~ is a form of carburetor or injection pumps etc all these He did in an orderly
fashion.

Rivers as open channel hydraulics.

Oceans & Sea as dams and reservoir.

10 | P a g e
Typed by fas3a ‘15
Trees — for environmental engineering; Sun for producing the energy (solar), wind
for wind energy etc.

(The cycle of wheat to bread as an example of engineering involvement in the

process.)

2.2 Engineering Definition

What is engineering? How is it done, who does what? And where can it be
practiced? These are pertinent questions that require due to explanation.

Engineering is defined in various ways:

i. The practical application of science and mathematics to solve problems; it is

everywhere around us.
ii. Application of science to the needs of humanity
iii. The process of envisioning, inventing, creating and building the world
around us.
iv. The harnessing of mathematical and scientific concepts to create practical
and useful things.
v. The development of cost effective solution to practical problems through the
application of scientific knowledge to solving the problems and improve
lives.
vi. Professional art of applying science to the optimum conversion of the
resources of nature to the uses of mankind. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

From all these definitions, it is obvious that Engineering process activities were
meant to improve the ways we communicate, work, travel, stay healthy, and
entertain ourselves. One that practices engineering is called an engineer; those with
11 | P a g e
Typed by fas3a ‘15
license are professional engineers or chartered engineers. Engineers use the natural
chemicals and materials found in the world as well as the artificial chemicals and
materials created in the laboratory to design and build things that are needed for
every day living. Engineers are often unsung and unheralded despite the fact that
the work they do is very important.

They are problem solvers; they analyze problems and create solutions to ensure that
people with proper training practice it to avoid dangers. Engineers are problem
solvers who want to make things work more efficiently and quickly at low cost.

Engineers understand how to use techniques of engineering analysis to design

working devices and processes even though they have an imperfect understanding
of important physical, chemical and biological sciences.

In essence, engineers work to design, make and improve things to solve problems
and benefit mankind. Engineers operate under constraints caused by the need to
produce a product or service that is timely, reliable, and consistent with the
philosophy and within the financial means. Engineers are result driven and the
detail of engineering solution for a needed product process or source and are
always determined by balancing competing effects to attain an answer that is
optimal subject to the imposed constraints.

These constraints may include: - Availability of resources, physical, imaginative,

technical limitation, flexibility for future modification and additions, cost
requirements, safety, marketability, productivity, serviceability. By understanding
these constraints, limits are then set for the operation of the system.

Engineering is divided into many fields and various specialties which include
aerospace, Agricultural, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Communication, Computer,

12 | P a g e
Typed by fas3a ‘15
Control, Electrical, Electronics, Environmental, Geotechnical, Mining, Nuclear,
Petroleum, Mechanical, Structural, and Transportation etc.

An engineer practices in one or more of the following ways: Design, Consultancy,

Construction, Production, Operation and Maintenance (O&M), Research and
Development (R&D), Manufacturing, Management, and Marketing of engineering
products.

An engineering education is based on strong foundation principally in mathematics,

physics, chemistry and other sciences. Engineer uses the knowledge to solve
problems, to create new things, improve old things and make life better, improving
the living standard throughout the world.

Basic differences between Engineers and Scientist.

Scientists

1. Create knowledge create and apply that knowledge

2. Study the world to understand & explain seek to change the world
3. Trained in science methods to trained in engineering
design to

Design experiment to test design devices to test their theories.

4. Are thinkers are doers

5. Use explicit knowledge use and rely on tacit knowledge
6. Problem driven. Problem driven.
7. Prepare abstract knowledge prefer contingent knowledge

13 | P a g e
Typed by fas3a ‘15
While the scientist will test nature and produce a number and its expected accuracy,
An engineer needs to get the number by any available means, its reliability and
accuracy and is expected to produce an opinion or judgment that will enable a
device or a process to be constructed or developed.

In the performance of their duties, engineers,

 Evaluate multiple option designs solution in their merit and

 Choose solution that best meet requirements
 Predict how well the design will function or perform to their specification i.e.
identify, understand, interpret the constraints on a design to produce
successful result.
 Produce prototype, scale models, simulation, destructive tests, non- tests,
and use factor of safety to reduce risk of unexpected failure.

Note: this text is 96% correct, but still susceptible to corrections, additions,
multiplications, divisions, factorizations, integrations, and differentiations.

The dashes “____” are words not legible enough, so pls check and put the right
words.

14 | P a g e
Typed by fas3a ‘15