ENGINEERS IN SOCIETY

ROLE OF ENGINEERS IN NATION

BUILDING
 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 for
innovations
tools technological
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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
• Inlate century,
th the advancement
20
electronic
in and communication technologies has
shaped physical world and human beings
lifestyle with internet and cellular telephone
3
 INTRODUCTION (CONT.)

• Today, come out with more

engineers
sophisticated technologies to create
products that save people time newand money
as well as sustaining the environment – fibre-
technology,
optic nano-technology, intelligent
imaging and biomass
• Engineering improves and enhances the quality
of life. Engineers continuously
contribute
human 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

make use of scientistfindings
engineersuseful
develop to 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
pressure at high 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 of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)

Institute
defines “engineering” as being a group that :
Shares common heritage of knowledge, skill
and art in the engineering discipline
Renders a specializedservice in the
design and construction of structures and
devices
Involves a confidential relationship
between the practitioner and client and/or
employer
 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 concerned with
engineering barracks,
catapults, etc. of
construction cannons,
forts,
• 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
Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1847
the
• 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)
• InMalaysia, Institution of Engineers
the
Malaysia
represent all(IEM) was disciplines
engineering formed in 1959 to 17
 THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING
(CONT.)
• Today, there are 5 main branches of engineering
evolved from the original “civil”
namely
engineering civil engineering, mechanical
engineering, electrical and
chemical engineering
electronic
engineering, engineering and
environmental
• Civil is concerned with the
Engineering
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
production/manufacture,
design, operation and
maintenance of systems such as
engines
mechanical 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
applying
of 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.
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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
 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 24
 FACILITATING THE MODERN WAY OF
LIVING (CONT.)
• Electrical and electronic engineers contribute to
all aspects of designing, producing
transmitting electricity, and designing
manufacturing electronic and components,
equipment – electricity supply, computers, etc
• Chemical engineers design, operate
maintain chemical plants to and convert
materials into useful products making rawsure
the processes are safely operated, sustainability
economically – oil & gas product, etc.
and 25
 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 operated in a
and
sustainable manner without destroying the
natural environment – plant,
sewerage
waste plant, etc. toxic

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