What is Engineering?
An introduction to engineering adapted from the course “What is
Engineering?” offered to freshman at Johns Hopkins University
What is Engineering?
How does it differ from science?
Science:
iPod
DESCRIBE
EXPLAIN
Parameters: θ, Ψ, ρ, σ2,☺,λ, Ǻ, g, ћ, H2C5OH, . . .
Starting salary: $38K (chemist)
Engineering:
INVENT
DESIGN
BUILD
spandex
Parameters: $
Starting salary: $54K (chemical engineer)
Engineering: What are its fields?
Thirty years ago. . .
If it moves, it's mechanical engineering;
If it doesn't move, it's civil engineering;
If you can't see it, it's electrical engineering;
If it smells, it's chemical engineering.
Today, it’s a blur. . .
Biomolecular-, nano-, computer-, materials-, robotic-,
biomedical-, environmental-, . . .
What is Engineering?
According to Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary:
Engineering is “the application of mathematical and
scientific principles to practical ends, as the design,
construction, and operation of economical and efficient
structures, equipment, and systems.”
But is there more. . .?
“Engineering. . .to define rudely but not inaptly is the art of doing that
well with one dollar, which any bungler can do with two after a
fashion”--Arthur Mellen Wellington, The Economic Theory of Railway
Location (1911)
Engineering is art. Aesthetics as well as function counts
The Guggenheim Museum,
Bilbao, Spain
Frank Gehry, architect
The Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale,
England 1779
More art . . .
Pont du Gard, France, 100AD
Sagrada familia, Barcelona
Boring - see Civil Engineers --UK Yellow Pages
More engineering art. . .by women
Hearst Castle (Julia Morgan)
London eye (Julia Barfield)
Musee d’Orsay (Gae Aulenti)
Vietnam Memorial (Mia Lin)
Engineering is problem-solving
One solution
Two solutions
Engineering is approximation. The mathematics of engineering
systems are often too complicated to solve analytically.
“Engineering problems are under-defined, there are many solutions,
good, bad and indifferent. The art is to arrive at a good solution.
This is a creative activity involving imagination, intuition, and
deliberate choice.”--Ove Arup
Engineering is measurement and estimation. River flow,
noise in a communication system, scatter in a laser beam,
earthquake characteristics--all require measurement
Engineering is modeling and simulation.
Often the only efficient means to confirm
that an idea or design will work is to
experiment with a scale model or
computer simulation.
Model of the X-33 being tested
in the NASA Langley Mach 20
helium wind tunnel
Engineering is communication. Making presentations,
producing technical manuals, coordinating teams for large
scale projects are all fundamental to engineering practice.
$125M communication error
Richard Feynman
during the Challenger
disaster hearings.
Engineering is politics. The best functional solution
is not necessarily the best practical solution.
Three-mile island
NIMBY
Alaskan pipeline
Engineering is finance. Design, construction, operation,
and maintenance costs determine the viability of
projects.
The Big Dig, Boston: $14.2B ($22B as of 7/2008)
The Channel tunnel: $21B
($1B = 666 Eiffel towers)
Engineering is invention/design/innovation.
New devices, materials, and processes are
developed by engineers to meet needs that
existing technologies do not address.
Engineering is an outstanding salary.
Most Lucrative College Degrees
by Julianne Pepitone
Friday, July 24, 2009
provided by
. . .engineering diplomas account for 12 of
the 15 the top-paying majors. NACE
collects its data by surveying 200 college
career centers.
. . .salaries for graduates who studied fields
like social work command tiny paychecks,
somewhere in the vicinity of $29,000.
English, foreign language and
communications majors make about
$35,000.
“. . .few grads offer math skills, and those who
can are rewarded."
Engineering is ethics.
Engineering is safety.
Engineering is public service.
...
“Architects and engineers are among the most fortunate of men since
they build their own monuments with public consent, public approval
and often public money”--John Prebble
Engineering is new materials. . . and the space elevator
Engineering is new designs for old problems
Millau viaduct-France (2005)
A 21st century Eiffel Tower? (Chosen for London 2012 Olympics)
Engineering isn’t only about big things.
It’s also about nano-bio, bottom-up, tailored structures
quantum dot
biological markers
SWCN switches
nano-robots
Engineering is haptics and robotic surgery
Engineering is acoustic control
Expose yourself to engineering!