Engineering involves solving practical problems, typically through
the use of math and science. The products of engineering are seen everywhere
throughout the world, from buildings to machines to the processes that keep so
many various systems moving along. Without the work of engineers, the modern
world and all its technology would not be possible. Communication, work,
health, travel and entertainment - all would be much different without
engineers doing what they do best.The work of engineers can be seen all around, including:
- Buildings
- Bridges
- Roads
- Vehicles
- boats, trains and planes
- Sanitation
systems - sewers and plumbing
- Computers
- Cell
phones
- The
internet
The list goes on and on. Engineering is responsible for much of
what humanity uses today.
Always striving to improve
Engineers work to improve the world as well as to maintain it.
Engineers are typically driven by a desire to make things work better - faster,
stronger, more efficient, less expensive. The desire for these improvements
motivates engineers to use their knowledge and understanding to always improve
on what currently exists.
Engineers are also known for their ability to take an idea and make it a reality. There are many different types of engineers, but it is this ability to take the abstract and make it practical and concrete that helps define the profession.
How engineering works
At its most basic, engineering is the discipline of using
mathematics and sciences to solve problems or to make improvements. Engineers
can use mathematics and physics to create models of their proposed design, and
can sometimes determine right away whether it is viable, before anything has
actually been built.
Engineering requires constant and stringent testing to produce a good result, and can sometimes be quite tedious. The end result, however, could be something that changes the world.
Alone or together
While it is popular to imagine great thinkers and inventors
slaving away alone in a laboratory, the reality is usually much different.
Great ideas often require the combined efforts of many different people to
become reality. It is no different in engineering. For example, if a group of
engineers wanted to build a new type of skyscraper, it would take the various
talents of multiple people to accomplish.
Just a few of the different engineering disciplines involved might be:
Just a few of the different engineering disciplines involved might be:
Structural engineers - to calculate how the building will bear its load and stay structurally sound
Mechanical engineers - to help design things like the ventilation system to provide clean air throughout the building
Electrical engineers - to design all the wiring to keep the building functioning with lights and electricity
Environmental engineers - to determine what environmental impact the building will have and to ensure it meets all environmental regulations
There would of course be many more people involved in such an undertaking.
However, it is important to realize just how many different disciplines fall
under engineering, and how many undertakings require a wide variety of skills
to properly execute.
Necessary to civilization
Engineering is
an incredibly important discipline to civilization. Many of the things humanity
takes for granted were created through engineering, and engineering will be the
answer to many more problems to come.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment