Engineering Professional Practice

(CVL 440)
Chapter 1, (6 hours)
Chapter 1 Objective: Analyze role of engineers in a society

Prof. Dr. Hari Krishna Shrestha

Nepal Engineering College
(Affiliated to Pokhara University)

August 2017
http://nec.edu.np/faculty/hariks/Chap%201%20Lecture%20Notes%20Apr%202015.pdf

Updated: August 12, 2017

 Why EPP?
• To pass BE
• To land job
• To implement your decision: LED bulb incidence
• To avoid embarrassing situations
• To prevent yourself from
unnecessary legal hassle
• To get respect from your peers
and competitors
• To get respect from society
 Chapter 1: Society and Technology (6 hr)
1.1 Definition, types and essential elements of a society

1.2 Factors and classical theories of social change (cyclical,

evolution, functional and conflict)

1.3 Impacts and consequences of technology on socio-economic

parameters (agriculture, communication, construction
methods, information storage, generation and dissemination,
dispute resolution, family structure, culture and livelihood)

1.4 Effects of major technological developments (2D and 3D

printing, dynamite, automation, mechanization, organic
chemistry, transportation, internet, communication, and
satellites) on practice of engineering profession.

1.5 Role of engineers in society

 1.1 Society: Definition, Types and Essential Elements
• Classical Definitions of Society: Abstract and Concrete
Many definitions of society; the definitions keeps changing, since
society is dynamic.

• Schaefer and Lamm: the largest form of human group, which

consists of people who share common heritage and culture.
• Ian Robertson: society gives content, direction and meaning
to our lives, and we, in turn, in countless ways, reshape the
society that we leave to the next generation. Society is a
population that occupies the same territory, is subject to the
same political authority and participates in a common culture.
• John F. Cuber: a group of people who have lived long enough
to become organized and to consider themselves and
considered as a unit more or less distinct from other human
units.
 1.1 Society: Definition, Types and Essential Elements

• Ginsberg: a collection of individuals unified by certain

relation or modes of behavior, which mark them off from
others who do not enter into these relations or who differ
from them in behavior
• P. Gisbert: a complicated network of social relationships
by which every human being is interconnected with his
fellowmen.
• MacIver and Page: a system of usages and procedures,
authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and
divisions, of controls of human behavior and of liberties.
• A.W. Green: the largest group to which any individual
belongs
Out of these definitions of society, which one do you
consider to be the best? Why?
Propose your own definition of society, and defend.
 1.1 Types and Elements of a Society
Types of Society: from evolutionary aspect (technology use)
• Tribal: hunting and gathering society: hunts for meat, gathers natural
products, do not produce food, bow and arrow
• Pastoral: domesticate animals, mostly sheep/goat for meat, nomadic
animal husbandry, move for better pasture land
• Horticultural: domesticate plants, awareness of plant from seed, slash
and burn, hand tools to raise crops
• Agricultural: cultivation of crops, animal energy, irrigation, saving of
seed, feudal, social disparity, wheel, writing, numbers, beginning of town
and cities, life relatively simple, choice of occupation limited
• Industrial: mechanized production, mass production, large cities and
slums, emphasis on quantity, GDP, per capita income, livelihood
diversified, specialization, lifestyle complex, relatively less sensitive to
environmental justice, human rights, climate change, sustainable
development, reduce/reuse/recycle, health impacts, industrial pollution
• Post-industrial: information based, knowledge based and service based
industries, more use of ICT, generation and analysis of info & knowledge,
more sensitive to environmental justice, human rights, climate change,
sustainable development, reduce/reuse/recycle, health impacts, low
pollution, renewable energy, high energy efficiency
 1.1 Types and Elements of a Society
Basic Elements: Normally societies have following elements:

• People and plurality: society consists of people, of both

sexes, of all ages, of different ideas, race, color.
• Likeness and differences: Members of a society are alike in
many aspects. This “alikeness” bonds them, and they seek
understanding and cooperation from each other. The
members of a society are different in many ways too, like
culture, profession, interest, opinion, views etc.
• Cooperation and conflict: Members of a society cooperate
with each other, and they depend on each other. Yet, due
to differences, conflict exists in a society.
• Stable and dynamic: Society is relatively stable; the norms,
values, and culture are normally stable. Yet, society is
dynamic. Some elements of a society change slowly, and
some change rapidly, depending on external and internal
factors.
 1.2 Factors and Classical Theories of Social Change
Factors/Driver/Causes of Social Change
• Physical environment/Contact with other societies:
Physically easily accessible society changes rapidly than
those located in remote (difficult to access) areas
• Information, knowledge and skills: Rate of social change
depends on access to information, ability to put together
the information into knowledge, ability to convert the
knowledge into skills
• Natural causes: Earthquake, landslide, flood, fire,
desertification, and tsunami disintegrate social fabric and
changes society.
• Anthropogenic (Human) activities: International War, Civil
War, displacement for “developmental” activities, industrial
accidents, mass migration
 1.2 Classical Theories of Social Change
• Cyclical: ups and downs, birth/death, Oswald Spengler: approximate 1000 year
cycle. Critics of this theory cite examples that do not follow the 1000 year cycle.
• Evolution: changing with time, getting complex with time, society continuously
develops through time and change.
• Functionalist: changes as required to keep the whole society functioning, when
particular part of a society changes. August Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile
Durkheim, and Talcott Parsons propagate this theory. This theory emphasizes on
changing role of different parts of a society to maintain stability of a society.
• Conflict: Karl Marx (1818-1883) class conflict between haves (bourgeoisie) and
have-nots (proletariat). Expanded version of conflict theory finds social conflict
between any groups in which the potential for inequity exists: racial, gender,
religions, political, economic, and so on. Unequal groups usually have conflicting
values and agendas, causing them to compete against one another. This constant
competition between groups forms the basis for the ever-changing nature of
society.
 1.3 Impacts and Consequences of Technology on Socio-
economic parameters (positive): a) Agriculture
Impact on Impact
Food Mechanized, increasing, Green Revolution, GMF,
Production vertical hydroponic
Food Food processing getting complex, requiring industrial
Processing management
Food Food security increasing, for most, better food
Preservation preservation
Commercializat From subsistence to cash crop, patented seeds and
ion food processing techniques
Food Variety Increasing, year round availability, no more seasonal
Fertilizer/Pesticide From organic to chemical, pesticide use increasing
Water use Increasing due to cash crops & agricultural
intensification; reduced by micro-irrigation
Hydroponic agriculture

From traditional to
modern food processing
 1.3 b Impact on Communication
Impact on Impact
Information generation Increasing access to information
and dissemination
Mass communication: Enhanced public awareness, timely
Newspaper, Magazines, information to people
FM Radio, HAM radio, TV,
instant/breaking news
Internet and Social Media Increased access to information, social
media influencing design of
communication techniques
Telephone, mobile phone Increased and easier access to telephone
Virtual Meeting, virtual Less need of physical presence in
reality, tele-medicine meeting, distance medicine services and
remote controller operation possible
 1.3 c Impact on Construction Methods
Impact on
Construction Technology
Construction materials
Size of infrastructure
Mechanization, Automation,
and Robotics use
Construction Project
Management
ICT use for construction site
control
Impact
Labor based technology gradually replaced
by capital based technology
Better materials, light weight, fire proof,
glass as structural elements, increased use
of aluminum, pre-fabricated, pre-stressed
Increasing
More mechanization, automation and
robotics use
From ad hoc and haphazard decisions to
scientific and systematic management tools,
like CPM, PERT, and software like MS
Project, Primavera, Project Management
Better access control, better safety, better
material management
1.3 d Impact on Information Generation, Storage and Dissemination
Impact on Impact
Information Increasing access to information through multiple mediums
access
Storage, virtual Tape, Floppy disk, CD, DVD, External hard disk, Dropbox,
storage Cloud storage, mailbox
Generation Information generation growing exponentially, automatic
data logging, GIS, GPS, Satellite Images, Remote sensing
Dissemination e-paper, interactive TV, internet, social media

1.3 e Impact on Dispute/Conflict Resolution

Impact on Impact
Warfare Increased use of gun power, rockets, missiles, drones, improvised
explosive devices, chemical-biological
WMD A-bomb, H-bomb, nuclear bomb made but not yet used (except
two in WW II), Star War, MAD policy
Evidence Evidence types recorded in electronic media
 1.3 f Impacts on Family Structure, Culture and Livelihood
Impact on Impact
Family Family relation more complex, IV-fertilization, test-tube baby,
cloning, surrogacy, same sex marriage, family size reducing, micro-
family getting possible, life span increasing, change in status of
female and disabled
Tradition/ Traditions-values challenged and altered or replaced, heritage
Culture preservation better
Traditional dances/music/drama/games giving ways to movies, video
Recreation games, theme parks, pay per view
Social Norms Social norms and values increasingly challenged and altered or
and Values replaced, social class structure disintegrating, new economic class
emerging
Language International language use increasing, language getting standardized,
brail script & sign language use increasing
Livelihood Livelihood diversification & specialization increasing, Living standard
and living & HDI increasing, poverty decreasing, employment opportunity
standard increasing, price decreasing
 1.4 Effects of Major Technological Developments
a) 2D and 3D Printing:
• written and mass produced record of agreements, laws, rules,
regulations, guidelines, procedure, manuals, books, newspapers,
magazines, journals, easily available

Effects:
• need to memorize diminished, information
available when needed
• Judgment based on written laws rather than
wisdom of justices,
• 3D printing: can change production mode;
from micro-components to 3D maps to house and bridges and food.

b) Dynamite:
• Explosives, Dynamite, Warfare, Colonization, Endangered species, Crime,
Terrorism
Effects: road construction in steep rocky areas, tunnel construction,
implosion of buildings, warfare getting increasingly violent and costly, species
getting extinct, increasing use of gunpowder in crimes and terrorist activities
 1.4 Effects of Major Technological Developments
c) Automation/Mechanization:
• Industrial production, agricultural mechanization, transportation,
robotics, automation,
Effects:
• Lower cost of goods and food
• Easier movement over long distances
• Standardization and interchangeability of design, size, shape
• Safer working environment for dangerous jobs
• Higher living standard, material comfort
d) Organic Chemistry
• Plastic, Polymer, plastic, Construction glues, fossil fuel, construction
materials
Effects: New materials: including construction materials, PPR pipes,
PVC pipes, synthetic glues, synthetic clothes, bio-degradable plastic,
light weight and stronger materials, water proofing, paint
• Fossil fuel: transportation, bitumen, asphalt, geo-textile, nylon
 1.4 e) Impact on Transportation
Impact on Impact
Land transportation Road, multi level roads, railways
Underground Metro/Underground railways
Water Naval transportation, river navigation
Air Air cargo, air travel, air ambulance
Transportation safety Increasing
1.4 f) Effects of developments in Internet, Communication Satellite
Communication Satellites
• Mass Communication: Radio, TV, Newspaper, Internet, WWW,
social media, virtual meetings, Satellite maps, GIS, GPS, Map
making, Open Source Mapping, Google Maps, Global Circulation
Modeling, Surveying, Wild Fire detection, Early Warning
Effects: ICT development, TV, GPS, Satellite Maps, Weather
forecasting, Climate Modeling, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR),
GIS based planning (urban, land use etc.), Remote Sensing
 Computer and Computer Crimes
Computer:
• Modeling, simulation (visualization of potential impacts and solution
before the event occurs and solutions implemented), design, solution
techniques (FDM, FEM), Management Information System, Spatial
planning using GIS, computer crimes, intrusion on personal privacy, data
mining, data theft,
Effects: information generating, storing and dissemination
• Design of materials using simulation
• Electronic equipment

Electronic Transaction Act 2004 has listed the following acts under the
Computer Crime
• Theft, damage or alteration of computer source code
• Unauthorized access to materials on computer
• Destruction of computer and information system
• Publication of illegal materials on electronic form
• Violation of confidentiality
• Posting of false information
• Submitting or showing forged license or certificate
• Non-submission of the document or other materials
• Computer fraud
अऩयाध सॊहिता य पौजदायी कामयविधध सॊहिता विधेमक फुधफाय (25/04/2074 BS) सियसम्भतरे
ऩारयत:

साभाजजक सञ्जारभा एक व्मविको केिी अॊश अको व्मविको शयीयसॉग जोडे य विकृ त फनाउनेराई
ऩधन कायफािी िुने बएको छ । ‘कुनै एक व्मविको तजबफयको केिी बाग अको व्मविको अको
बागसॉग याखेय िा अन्म कुनै हकधसभरे विकृ त रूऩको तजबफय फनाउन िा प्रकाशन गनुि य ुॉ दैन ।
त्मबतो कामय गनेराई दई
ु िर्यसम्भ कैद िा २० िजायसम्भ जरयिाना िुने व्मिबथा िुनेछ',
विधेमकको दपा २५१ भा उल्रेख छ ।
 1.5 Role of Engineers in Society
The practice of engineering is directly related to societal issues, and
hence has an impact on society. Engineering is the application of
science to solve societal problems.
Some of the basic roles of an engineer in society are:
• Interact with society to fully understand the societal issues (needs
and problems) and propose a range of short-medium-long term
options/solutions with financial, technical, safety, and
environmental pros and cons of each option
• Contribute in decision making process to choose the best option
• Prepare optimum design, including detailed specification to
implement the designed product
• Execute the solution by creating the product to solve the issue or
supervising the constructing the solution
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the performance of the
solution, and upgrade the solution based on evaluation
• Train people to operate and maintain the solution system for its
reliability and sustainability
 Changes brought by engineers in societies

• Mass production of goods through mechanization: lower

price of goods
• Automation of production system: standardization of parts
and design, more safety in work place
• Faster means of transportation: easier access to remote
places and faster pace of life, better integration of different
communities
• Mass communication: Awareness enhancement, easier
access to information
• Inventing labor saving devices: faster construction
• Creating faster pace of life: More productivity
• Commercializing recreation: Recreation when wanted
• Emphasizing on high degree of specialization: More reliable
and accurate results
Chapter 1 Completed.
 Self Evaluation
Society:
• Define society and discuss the essential elements of a society.
• What is social change? What are the factors of social change?
• Discuss the types of societies.
• What are the theories of social and cultural change?

Impact of Technology on Society

• Define technology. What are the effects and impacts of technology on society?
• Describe the impact of technology in the rural society.
• What are the impacts of technology in social and cultural changes?
• What is the role of transportation facility to improve the economic condition of the rural
people of Nepal? Explain with the help of suitable example.
• Throw light on how technological development is reflected in Human Development.
• What is the impact of technology on society for bringing social as well as cultural change?
Briefly discuss.
• 'Technology is the indicator of development.' Relate it with societies of the world. Write
technological achievement of the 21st century that has greatest impact on human.
• Explain the impact of computer in society.
• Explain the impact of 2D and 3D printers in society, with suitable examples.