ENGINEERS IN SOCIETY

ROLE OF ENGINEERS IN NATION

BUILDING

VAB4042/VBB4043
 INTRODUCTION

• Human being has built the world on its past

knowledge and experience
• Initially, innovations and products were based
on little scientific principles knowledge
• Gradually, “indigenous engineering” with better
scientific understanding and mathematical
analysis became tools for technological
innovations
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 INTRODUCTION (CONT.)

• Then, the success stories continued with steam

engine developed, telephone invented, electric
bulbs lighted and motorcar built
• All these resulted from research & development
(R&D) and industrialization activities
• In late 20th century, the advancement in
electronic and communication technologies has
shaped physical world and human beings
lifestyle with internet and cellular telephone
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 INTRODUCTION (CONT.)

• Today, engineers come out with more

sophisticated technologies to create new
products that save people time and money as
well as sustaining the environment – fibre-optic
technology, nano-technology, intelligent
imaging and biomass
• Engineering improves and enhances the quality
of human life. Engineers continuously
contribute to national development and
economic well-being of society 4
 WHAT IS AN ENGINEER?

• Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2006)

defines an engineer as :
“A person whose job is designing and
building engines, machines, roads,
bridges, etc.”
• Engineer is a person whose principal duty is to
apply knowledge to create practical devices,
structures and processes to serve mankind
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 WHAT IS AN ENGINEER? (CONT.)

• To be an engineer one need to meet certain

requirements and to perform duties in
accordance with certain codes of conduct set by
the relevant authorities
• Engineer’s function and responsibility include
design, planning, construction, operation,
production, maintenance, management,
procurement, research, sales or academician

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 ENGINEERS VERSUS SCIENTISTS

• Common ground between engineers and

scientists is that both require understanding of
the principles of sciences
• Scientists aim to seek knowledge to explain the
natural phenomena. They deal with discovering
new knowledge by conducting research by
scientific methods
• They start with hypothesis that suggest
explanation of a natural phenomena
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ENGINEERS VERSUS SCIENTISTS (CONT.)

• Upon formulation of a hypothesis, scientist

design and execute experiments to test the
hypothesis
• They need to analyze the test results and
determine if the hypothesis is true, false or
partially correct
• Engineer takes scientist work one step ahead by
applying the acquired knowledge to design and
build new products to improve life
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ENGINEERS VERSUS SCIENTISTS (CONT.)

• Scientists study how nature behaves and

engineers make use of scientist findings to
develop useful device
• Example, scientists study about the nature and
behaviour of flames which :

Resulted from chemical reaction between fuel
and air

Expansion of combustion gases occurs at high
pressure 9
ENGINEERS VERSUS SCIENTISTS (CONT.)

• Engineers apply this knowledge in automotive

engine building by exploiting the fact that
combustion pressure is powerful enough to
move engine pistons

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 WHAT IS ENGINEERING?

• The word engineering probably originated in

the middle ages around 1000 – 1200 AD
• Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2006)
defines an engineering as :
“An activity of applying scientific
knowledge to the design, building and
control of machines, roads, bridges,
electrical equipment, etc.”
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 WHAT IS ENGINEERING? (CONT.)

• A more formal definition of “engineering” as

given by the American Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology (ABET, 2009) is :
“The profession in which the knowledge of
the mathematical and natural sciences
gained by study, experience and practice is
applied with judgement to develop ways to
utilize, economically, the materials and
forces of nature for the benefit of
mankind” 12
 WHAT IS ENGINEERING? (CONT.)

• The Institute of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)

defines “engineering” as being a group that :

Shares common heritage of knowledge, skill
and art in the engineering discipline

Renders a specialized service in the design
and construction of structures and devices

Involves a confidential relationship between
the practitioner and client and/or employer
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 WHAT IS ENGINEERING? (CONT.)

• The Institute of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)

defines “engineering” as being a group that :
(cont.)

Is charged with a substantial degree of public
obligation in ensuring quality and public
safety

Is bound by a distinctive ethical code, to
maintain high standards of professionalism
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 THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING

• Until the Industrial Revolution in Europe in 18th

century, only 2 branches of engineering existed
namely military and civil engineering
• Military engineering concerned with
construction of forts, barracks, cannons,
catapults, etc.
• Civil engineering devoted to building
infrastucture for civilian such as roads, bridges,
buildings, drainage and water supply system
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 THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING
(CONT.)
• In Britain, “civil” engineers in 1818 banded
together to form the world first professional
body called the Institution of Civil Engineers
(ICE)
• When more machineries invented,
“mechanical” engineers form their own the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1847
• Since then, other engineering branches form
their respective engineering organization
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 THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING
(CONT.)
• In USA, similar trend evolved in formation of
professional body : The American Society of
Civil Engineers (1852), American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (1880), American
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers -
predecessor of IEEE (1884) and Institute of
Chemical Engineers (1908)
• In Malaysia, the Institution of Engineers
Malaysia (IEM) was formed in 1959 to
represent all engineering disciplines 17
 THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING
(CONT.)
• Today, there are 5 main branches of engineering
evolved from the original “civil” engineering
namely civil engineering, mechanical
engineering, electrical and electronic
engineering, chemical engineering and
environmental engineering
• Civil Engineering is concerned with the
planning, design, construction and maintenance
of public works such as buildings, roads,
highways, railways, ports, airports, etc. 18
 THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING
(CONT.)
• Mechanical Engineering deals with the design,
production/manufacture, operation and
maintenance of mechanical systems such as
engines and machines for transportation
refrigeration and air conditioning, turbines and
rockets, etc.
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
encompass all aspects of designing, producing
and transmitting electricity, designing and
manufacturing electronic components, etc. 19
 THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING
(CONT.)
• Chemical Engineering related to the application
of chemistry to convert raw materials and
chemical into useful commercial and
pharmaceutical products
• Environmental Engineering is the art of
applying scientific and engineering principles to
preserve the environment (air, water and land)
and reduce pollution so that it fit human and
animal habitation. Multi-disciplinary field
encompassing civil, chemical and mechanical 20
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS
• Engineers play a crucial role in country
development because they design and build the
infrastructure, facilities and equipment for the
public
• “Developed” nation is one that has transformed
its society into a highly productive and a high
income society.
• “Developing” nation is one that is still in
process of this transformation like Malaysia
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NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS (CONT.)
• Nation “development progress” is measured by
many indicator where the most important one is
the standard of living of the people
• This is assessed by economic and social factors
as gross domestic product (GDP - defined as the
value of goods and services produced by a
country divided by the average population per
year), purchasing power of its currency,
manufacturing productivity, employment rate,
literacy rate, life expectancy, etc. 22
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS (CONT.)
• Standard of living also indicates the country
“global competitiveness” that is the degree of
which a nation is able to produce goods and
services under international market conditions
while expanding or maintaining their standard
of living
• Hence, engineers directly or indirectly involved
in producing goods or provide services in
various sectors development play a crucial role
in achieving development requirement 23
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS (CONT.)
• A country should formulate policies, short- term
and long-term plans so that development can
progress efficiently and in control manner
• In Malaysia, development program has been
formulated and documented since 1996 with 3
major national development policies to steer
and guide its development
• The first was New Economic Policy (NEP)
implemented in 1971 aimed at eradicating
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poverty and restructuring the society
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS (CONT.)
• The second policy was New Development
Policy (NDP) launched in 1991 basically an
extension and enhancement to NEP to correct
social and economic imbalances
• The third is the present National Vision Policy
(NVP) set forth in 2001 aim to establish a
united, progressive and prosperous “Bangsa
Malaysia” where it spells out the detail
strategies for executing “Vision 2020” plan to
transform Malaysia into developed nation 25
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS (CONT.)
• The thrusts of the policy are building a resilient
nation, sustaining a high economic growth,
enhancing competitiveness, developing a
knowledge-based economy and creating an
environmentally sustainable future
• Vision 2020 policy also upheld and pursue by
“1 Malaysia” policy launched in 2009 aimed at
building one united Malaysian nation, with
emphasis on equal rights and opportunities for
all citizens regardless of race and religion 26
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS (CONT.)
• National development policies are
operationalized through a number of long-term
“Outline Perspective Plans” lasting for 10 to 20
years
• The First Outline Perspective Plan (1971-1990)
was formulated based on NEP, the Second
Outline Perspective Plan (1991-2000) operated
the NDP and the Third Outline Perspective Plan
(2001-2020) addresses the objectives of NVP
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NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS (CONT.)
• Within each perspective plan, there are five-
year plans called Malaysia Plan specifically
designed to achieve the objectives of each
perspective plan
• Development require more engineers and
according to IEM in 2009 there are just over
15,000 engineers registered with them
• Statistics by BEM showed that the total number
of engineers was 58,127 in 2009
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NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS (CONT.)
• According to Third Outline Perspective Plan,
the country will need about 201,615 engineers
to implement the various development program
by the year 2010
• For R&D, the target is 50 research engineers
and scientists per 10,000 work force or 60,000
by the year 2010
• By 2020, the country need about 500,000
population of engineers and scientists
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 FACILITATING THE MODERN WAY OF
LIVING
• Civil and structural engineers contribute to our
modern way of living by planning, designing,
constructing and maintaining public
infrastructure works of all kinds – buildings,
roads, highways, railways, sewerage system, etc
• Mechanical engineers are responsible for
design, production, operation and maintenance
of mechanical system – engines and machines
for transportation, refrigeration and air
conditioning, etc 30
 FACILITATING THE MODERN WAY OF
LIVING (CONT.)
• Electrical and electronic engineers contribute to
all aspects of designing, producing and
transmitting electricity, designing and
manufacturing electronic components,
equipment – electricity supply, computers, etc
• Chemical engineers design, operate and
maintain chemical plants to convert raw
materials into useful products making sure the
processes are safely operated, sustainability and
economically – oil & gas product, etc. 31
 FACILITATING THE MODERN WAY OF
LIVING (CONT.)
• Environmental engineers design treatment
process to ensure that the environment we live
in (air, water and land) is fit human and animal
habitation. They also ensure all development
projects are constructed and operated in a
sustainable manner without destroying the
natural environment – sewerage plant, toxic
waste plant, etc.

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