Role of Engineer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This paper highlights how engineers can face the nations fast pace development of technologies. Besides that, how engineer can make greater contribution with awareness in safety, health and environment and how engineer can keep abreast with the development of technology. Firstly, the introduction is given in order to give roughly understanding about this essay. For the introduction, it include with the definition of engineering and engineers. The next two chapters is the main part of this essay discussion. Next, the development of technologies will be discussed and how engineer keep abreast with the development of technologies. The next chapter will discuss about the how engineers can give contribution with awareness in safety, health and environment. This chapter also include some example of previous cases. Finally, a conclusion was made to conclude the finding of this essay writing.

1. Introduction
The range of activities covered by engineers is greater than for most other professions. Engineers have over many years formed themselves into associations, the number of which has grown enormously from the founding of the Institution of Civil Engineers (IEM) in 1818 to the present day through a process of initiation, division and amalgamation based sometimes on technical disciplines such as civil, mechanical, electrical and other engineering disciplines. [1]

Engineers held 1.5 million jobs in 2002. Over 190,000 engineers worked in the government sectors. About 55,000 were self-employed. Electrical engineers hold more jobs than any other engineer disciplines. Mining engineers hold fever jobs than any other type. The number of jobs for engineers is expected to increase more slowly but rather steadily. However, job opportunities in engineering are expected to be good in future simply because the number of people in engineering education is expected to grow due to forecasted rise of technological development in the country. [1]

In addition, the technology nowadays are keep rapidly develop. There are many field of engineering nowadays.20th century have witnessed a great achievement in engineering technology in the field of design, information technology (IT), construction, manufacturing, robotic, advanced materials or even the engineering management techniques for problem solving. Some of the newly and enhanced technologies can be described. [1]

1.1 Definition of Engineering
Firstly, we must know what the engineering definition is. There are various definitions on engineering. Some of those can be expressed as follows;
From William A.Wulf, the President of the National Academy of Engineering, the engineering can be define as below,

“Engineering is all around us, so people often take it for granted, like air and water. Ask yourself, what do I touch that is not engineered? Engineering develops and delivers consumer goods, builds the networks of highways, air and rail travel, and the internet, mass produced antibiotics, creates artificial heart valves, builds lasers, and offers such wonders an imaging technology and conveniences like microwave ovens and compact discs. In short, engineers make over quality of life possible” [1]

There are some definitions of engineering such as from Count Rumford. He define the terms of engineering is,

“Engineering is the application of science to the common purpose of life” [1]

Besides that, from Theodore Von Karman, his definition is about scientist can engineers

“Scientists study the world as it is, engineers creat the world that never has been” [1]

1.1.1 Detail of engineering definition

From all these definitions, engineering contents can be further broken down into numerous details. Some of the following are relevant in one way or the other. Firstly, we can say engineering is an art. Aesthetics as well as function found in the Great Wall of China, Pyramid and other wonder of the world is truly an engineering genius in the form of art.
Secondly, engineering is an approximation. The mathematics of engineering system are often used to solve. Ove Arup has said something about the engineering.

“Engineering problems are under-defined; there are many solutions, good, bad and indifferent. The art is to arrive at a good solution. This is creative activity involving imagination institution and deliberate choice” [1]

Thirdly, engineering is about measurement, estimation, forecast and projection. We can see them when we see some problem or need to create new things to solve any problem. For example, the problem can be river flow, noise and vibration from transport system, earthquake, traffic volume, pollution and others. Fourthly, we can see engineering is about modelling and simulation. In create something new, we must know about design. Even we have designer, the engineer should know something about design modelling and simulation because engineers is the best solver that most understand any problem that occurred. Validation and verification of an analysis can be tested through modelling and computer simulation. Fifth, engineering is a communication, technical report writing and presentation. Making presentations, producing technical manuals, co-ordinating team of large scale project are all fundamental to engineering practice. [1]

Then, engineering is finance. Design, construction, operations, repair and maintenance costs, hiring, chartering and others determine the viability of the intended projects. Lastly, engineering is an invention and design processes. New devices, material selection and viable processes are developed by engineers to meet the requirement that existing technology do not address. Engineers identify and apply the most suitable system to solve engineering related problems using appropriate decision making tools which were acquired through a number of circumstances. In general, engineering is the art of applying scientific and mathematical principles, experience, judgement, and common sense. Engineering technologists use their knowledge to help design and make bridges, buildings, computers, electrical appliances, power plants, transport infrastructures, etc that we utilise at present. Engineering is also deal with the process of producing a technical product or system to meet a specific need to benefit mankind. [1]

1.2 Definition of Engineers

After we understand about the engineering terms, we can proceed about who is engineer. Not everybody can become the engineer. It needs some requirements and skill. As the engineering, we can see some of engineer terms of definition. The following are some of the definitions on who is an engineer.

From Ab Saman Abd Kader, in his thesis Professional Engineer’s Roles and Responsibility, he classified many definition of engineer. Firstly, engineer is a person who were trained in the design, construction, and use of engines or machines, or in any of various branches of engineering such as a mechanical engineer, civil engineer, electrical engineer, chemical engineer, etc. [1]

Secondly, engineers are a person who operates or is in charge of a power plant system in term of operation, repair and maintenance. Thirdly, a consultant in their respective is also can be define as an engineer’s area of expertise. Then, a skilful manager who manages the implementation of the engineering related decision making processes also can be consider as an engineers.[1]

2.0 Engineer keeps abreast with development of technologies

Engineer should have abreast the development technologies in their field or can be an advantage to know about other field. There are many field of engineering nowadays.20th century have witnessed a great achievement in engineering technology in the field of design, information technology (IT), construction, manufacturing, robotic, advanced materials or even the engineering management techniques for problem solving. Some of the newly and enhanced technologies can be described. [1]

2.1 Field of engineering and technology

Firstly we can look at nuclear technologies. Nuclear technologies provide a new source of electric power and new capabilities in medical research and imaging as well as for unwarranted military use. Secondly, technologies of lasers and fiber optics. It is important in many industries. For example, pulses of light from lasers are used in industrial tools, surgical devices, satellites, and other products. Furthermore, in communications for instance, a single fibre-optic cable can transmit tens of millions of phone calls, data files, and video images. [1]

Thirdly, petroleum and gas technologies. Petroleum has been used to providing fuel for cars, home, and industries. Petrochemicals are used in products ranging from aspirin to zippers. Engineering in oil exploration and processing, petroleum products have an enormous impact on world economies, people, environment and politics. There are also health technologies. Medical professionals have an arsenal of diagnostic and treatment equipment at their disposal. Artifical organs, replacement joints, imaging technologies, and bio-materials are but a few of the engineered products that improve the quality of life for millions. Imaging technologies have expanded the reach of our vision. Probing the human body, mapping ocean floors, tracking weather patterns are all the result of engineering advances in imaging technologies. [1]

Then we can see the space exploration. We can develop or expended our basic knowledge and improve our capabilities through of the development of aircraft. From the space program such as medical device and wireless communication, we can get thousands of useful product, information and services have resulted. [1]

Besides that, we also can look in agricultural mechanization field. They are many engineering in this field such as the machinery of farms like tractor, cultivators and hundreds of others. Hey can dramatically increase farm efficiency and productivity. In other field of engineering, electronics is famous field of engineering nowadays. Electronics provide the basic for countless innovation, CD player, TV’s and computer. All these are so famous and become a need in life nowadays. Other example for electronic field is integrated circuit. Engineers have made the electronics become smaller, more powerful and more efficient. [1]

The field of aeronautics is about the modern air travel transport goods and people quickly around the globe, facilitating personal, cultural and commercial interaction. Now, is the automobiles field. Automobile has become major industries and many people use car or other transport. The automobile may be the world’s major transporter of people and goods, and a strong source of economic growth and stability. The automobile is a showcase of 20th century engineering ingenuity, with innovations made in design production & safety. [1]

The electrification field is the electrification powers has literally lighted the world and impacted countless areas of daily life, including food production and processing, air conditioning and heating, refrigeration, entertainment, transportation, communication, health care, and computers. Moreover, we very need the training and advancement programmes. [1]

A strong technical knowledge is essential for engineering managers, who must understand and guide the work of their subordinates, and explain the work in nontechnical terms to senior management and potential customers. These management positions usually require work experience and formal education. In most cases, to fill management positions, employers seek engineers who possess administrative and communications skills in addition to their technical knowhow. [1]

Engineers who prefer to manage in technical areas should get a Master degree in engineering management, while those interested in non-technical management should get an MBA. Engineering managers may progressively advance to higher leadership positions within their discipline. Some may become managers in nontechnical areas such as marketing, human resources, or sales. In high technology firms, managers in non-technical areas often must possess the same specialized knowledge as do managers in technical areas. Employers in an engineering firm may prefer to hire experienced engineers as sale workers because the complex services can only be marketed by someone with specialized engineering knowledge. [1]

In this rapidly changing environment, a successful engineering program must produce good engineers that are adaptable and highly competitive to succeed in meeting the expectations of modern industry. Many disciplines of engineering are undergoing rapid and pervasive changes, and many aspects of modern life are becoming increasingly dependent on emerging technologies and the scientific framework in which they evolve. The explosion of the computing and communications industry, access to tremendous amounts of information and computing resources in research, rapid advances in the fields of nano-technology and bio-technology, expanded economic competition, urgent public health needs, and a growing global awareness of environmental deterioration bring new opportunities for varied careers in engineering.[5]

Engineer is a job or fields that required keeping abreast with the development of technology. It is because the technology become life becomes more complex every day. Besides that, many new problems occur in many industries nowadays. For example, in energy industries, we have use hydro power as well as electrical energy. Now, energy can be transfer from nuclear energy to electrical energy. So, there are new technology to be used in fulfil the requirement of people nowadays. There are so many ways to keeping abreast with the development of technology.

2.2 How Engineer keeps abreast with development of technologies?

The dynamics world of technology can be daunting to high tech newcomers – things are changing all the time. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep up with new technology without much effort or expense. [7]
Firstly, we can do it by informal ways. That means by talk to friends about any technologies concerns that we may have. If we did not know well about the technology, at least we should know someone that knows it. Secondly, we can also always keep an eye out of television news reports and special about new advancement in various technological fields. There is such programs usually present information on a fairly basic level. For example, when we watch automotive programme such as Top Gear, we know about new car, the automobile problem can the latest engine design.
Thirdly, we also can visit a local newsstand or book store and browse through various technology magazines and books. There are many publications available that deal with a variety of subjects on much different level. Consider subscribing to any magazines that strike us as particularly useful or helpful. After that, we can look through the science and technology section of our local newspaper regularly. Many newspapers have regular technology features now. [7]

Then, maybe we can look through electronics and computer catalogues to see what kind of new features and products are being developed and offered. We can Visit local electronics stores and ask customer service or sales representatives any questions we have. By visiting any local trade expo’s to see if there is any latest technological advancement in a particular market. If we can attend an expo, it 's best to take someone with us already who knows something about the field that 's being represented. [7] Then, we can ask questions of the booth representatives and they love to talk. We can gain some knowledge of the technology.

2.3 Technology awareness strategy
Besides all that, we also must have strategy in order to keep abreast in development technology. We can call it the technology awareness strategy. There are four steps in this strategy. There are determine the needs, assess the resources available to us, rank the resource in order of usefulness to us and make or allow the time to use the resources. Now, let’s take a closer look at each step. For first step, we must determine the needs from the type of technology we live and work with by our existing knowledge base and the learning skill or style. We all need a better handle on the fundamental such as electricity, magnetism, light, sound, fluid behaviour, and other fundamental as we need them. For example, there are the building blocks. By knowing these basic, we will know about any mechanism such as how an electric motor works and why air conditioning cools. Next, we’ll need to learn more about the specific devices we can use. It may seem simplistic at first, but knowing how your cell phone works really can help us.
For the second step, we must assess the available resources. The resources can be getting in many sources. We can get from book, magazines, and internet and also from formal training sessions. From these entire sources, we can get or find many technology related information in a variety of source. [6] After this step, we proceeded to the next step.

The third step is about we rank the resources in order of usefulness to us. The good news is that there are a lot of resources. The bad news is that there are a lot of resources. Now we just have to weed them out. Choose those resources that have even a small chance of working for you, and then rank them in terms of the subject matter and some will be more important than others, the learning style, and our lifestyle. [6] The last step which is fourth step, we decide to make the time to use all the resource. This is where the rubber meets the road. Although, it won’t be a big burden, but we still must do it. Some resources that we’ll read only once and then we’ll move on. Other resources that we’ll want to keep for future reference. Maybe, it can be useful information and become good resource to us in the future. Most importantly, if we truly integrate the technology education into our daily routine, it will only take a few minutes a day. [6]

3.0 Engineers contributions with awareness in safety, health and environment
3.1 Safety
We demand safe product and services because we do not wish to be threatened by potential harm, but we must also realize that we may have to pay more attention for this safety. To complicated matter, what may be safe enough for one person may not be for someone else? It is because of different perceptions about what is safe or because of different predispositions to harm. We can see man example of safety. For example, a power saw in the hands of a child will never be as safe as it can be in the hands of adult. Besides that, a sick adult is more prone to suffer ill effects from air pollution than is a healthy adult. [2]

So the safety is so important in many areas or any industrial. We must understand first the concepts of safety. One approach in defining safety would be to render the notion thoroughly subjective by defining it in terms of whatever risks a person judges to be acceptable. We can look at such a definition was given by William W. Lowrance. He states that ‘A things is safe if its risks are judges to be acceptable’.[2] This approach helps underscore the notion that judgement about safety is tacitly value judgement about what are acceptable risks to a given person or group. Differences in appraisals of safety are thus correctly seen as reflecting differences in values. Lowrance’s definition however needs to be modified, for it departs too far from our common understanding of safety [2]

3.1.1 Case of toaster at garage sale

. This can be shown if we consider three types of situation. First, we have a case where we seriously underestimate the risks of something. Let’s say by using a toaster we see at the garage sale. On the basic of that mistaken view, we judge it to be very safe and buy it. By taking it home and trying to make toast with it, however, it sends us to hospital with a severe electric shock or burn. Using the ordinary notion of safety, we conclude we were wrong at our earlier judgement. The toaster was not safe at all. Given our value and our needs, its risks should not have been judged acceptable earlier. Yet, by Lowrance’s definition, we would force to say that prior to the accident the toaster was entirely safe since; after all, at that time we had judged the risks to be acceptable. [2]

3.1.2 Case of overestimate of the risk

The second case is where we grossly overestimate the risks of something. For example, we irrationally think fluoride in drinking water will kill a fifth of the populace. According to Lowrance’s definition, the fluoridate water is unsafe, since we judge its risks to be unacceptable. It would, moreover, be impossible for someone t reason with us to prove that the water is actually safe. For gain, according to his definition, the water became unsafe the moment we judged the risks of using it to be unacceptable for us. [2]

3.1.3 Cases of risks are acceptable or not?

For the last case, there is the situation in which a group makes no judgement at all about whether the risks of thing are acceptable or not. They simply do not think about it. By Lowrence’s definition, this means the things is neither safe nor unsafe with respect to that group. Yet, this goes against our ordinary ways of thinking about safety. For example, we normally say that some cars are safe and others unsafe even though many people may never ever think about the safety of the car the drive. [2]

Safety is often thought of in terms of degrees and comparisons. We speak of something as fairly safe or relatively safe. Using our definition, this translates as the degree to which a person or group, judging on the basic of their settled values, would decide that the risks of something are more or less acceptable in comparison with the risks of some other things. For example, when we say that airplane travel is safer than automobile travel, we mean that’s for each miles travelled it leads to a fewer death and injuries. The risky element that our settled values lead us to avoid. Finally, we can interpret things to include products as well as services, institutional processes, and disaster protection. [2]

3.2 Environment

Now we look at the relationship between engineer and environment. Rachel Carson state that” we are accustomed to look for the gross and immediate effect and to ignore all else.[2] Unless this appears promptly and in such obvious form that it cannot be ignored, we deny the existence of the hazard”. There are many cases between human and nature.

3.2.1 Case of Napa Valley

There are example for a battleground between human and nature.at Napa Valley in California, a series of earthen levees were used to redirect and constraint the natural flow of water, and low concrete bridges spanned the river, but these makeshift control failed to prevent periodic floods. 1986 floods alone caused about USD 100 million in property damage, killed three people and forced the evacuation of 5000 others.

In July 2000, ground-breaking ceremonies took place on a project to restore the waterway into the living river with natural floodplain, wetlands and other natural habitat. The restoration project was innovative in the way it combine ecological and economics goals. Instead of imposing further constraints on the river, the project was to restore to river to something closer to its natural state. Furthermore, although initial cost would be much higher, even after the saving from conforming to regulations about preserving wetlands and endangered species, there were counterbalancing long term economic benefits. They included increased tourism because of more scenic country-side, elevated property values and lower home insurance cost due to lessened flood risks. [2]

This solution was also innovative in the role played by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Initially, the Corps proposed a deeper concrete channel with higher concrete walls and concrete steps. This proposal reflected traditional Corps thinking. The Corps is comprised of talented and conscientious engineers, with some 30 000 employees directed by about 200 Army officers who have enormous power, reporting directly to Congress. The local community rejected the Corps’ initial plans the community activists rallied support from citizens and various state agencies for an alternative plan involving multiple compromises. Eventually the plan also gained the support for the Corps, which was essential because its federal money funded most of the project. Indeed, the new plan helped boost the Corps’ reputation. [2]

According to the compromise plan, the Corps will destroy current levees and nine bridges, rebuilding five bridges at higher levels after rerouting the water closer to its original state. The local community will accept a half one half cents increase in sales taxes, and major sacrifices will be required of some homes and business that required relocation. But the long term economics benefits promise to outweigh the sacrifice. Of course, no one can foresee the exact cost and benefits, and critics argue that global climate changes might lead to greater flood problem than anyone can predict. The project is truly a social and environmental experiment. [2]

This Napa Valley case is but one in many instances where engineers are increasingly responsive to concern about the environment. Indeed, many engineers and their corporation are now showing leadership in advancing ecological awareness. What is important is that all engineers should reflect seriously on environmental values and how all the engineers can best integrate into understanding and problem solving. Engineers should also be able to work in an organizational context in which an eco- friendly approach is valued and supported with the tools of information and incentive necessary to succeed. In my respect, engineers are singularly well placed to make environmental contributions. The engineers can encourage and nudge corporations in the direction of greater environmental concern. Besides that, they can find ways to make that concern economically feasible. At the very least, they also can help by ensure the corporation obey the environmental applicable laws. In the U.S, a first important step occurred in1977 when The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) introduced into its code the statement “Engineers should be committed to improving the environment to enhance the quality of life”. [2]

3.3 Health

As an engineer, we also must take seriously on health. It can include of the worker’s health. Besides that, it also about the people’s health surrounding near to any project’s site. So, we must have Occupational health service at the workplace. Provision of occupational health services means carrying out activities in the workplace with the aim of protecting and promoting workers’ safety, health and well-being, as well as improving their working conditions and the working environment. These services are provided by occupational health professionals function as individually or as part of special service units of the enterprise or of external services. Occupational health practice is wider and consists not only of the activities performed by the occupational health service.[4]

It is multidisciplinary and multispectral activity involving in addition to occupational health professionals other specialists both in the enterprises and outside, as well as the competent authorities, the employers, workers and their representatives. Such involvement requires a well-developed and well-coordinated system at the workplace. The necessary infrastructure should include all the administrative, organizational and operative systems that are needed to conduct occupational health practice successfully and ensure its systematic development and continuous improvement.[4]

4.0 Conclusion

As the conclusion, engineering exist everywhere in a number of ways and circumstances. It is part of our lives and everything we touch and do, relate significantly to engineering matters in one way or the other. Engineering is about everything around us that are being utilised in a manner that is able to provide answers and solution to various problems that we are facing. Engineering and technology change hand in hand and closely integrated to complement each engineers are playing a significant role in the nation fast pace development. Engineer also must have given greater contribution with awareness in safety, health and environment and also must keep abreast with the development of technology.

5.0 References

1) Ab Saman Abd Kader, Professional Engineer’s Roles And Responsibility 2) Mike W.Martin And Roland Schinzinger, Ehics In Engineering, Fourth Edition 3) A.M. Foley And P.G. Leahy,The Role Of The Professional Engineer In The 21st Century 4) Gertrud Auf Der Mauer, Astrid Hollander, Joann Hu Huifen, Karen Dawn Hunter, Stella Isenbügel, Melissa Kohonick, Natalia Matveeva, Jordan Wolfe, Occupational Health And Safety ;An Annotated Bibliography Of Research And Related Literature, (1998 . 2003) 5) Mohamed M. Elmadany And Abdulhakim A. Almajid, Improving Engineering Education At Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University Using Swot Analysis And Strategic Planning 6) Keeping Up With Technology Four Steps and Some Resources, http://entrepreneurs.about.com/cs/beyondstartup/a/keepinguptech.html 7) How to keep abreast of new technology, www.ehow.com

References: 1) Ab Saman Abd Kader, Professional Engineer’s Roles And Responsibility 2) Mike W.Martin And Roland Schinzinger, Ehics In Engineering, Fourth Edition 3) A.M. Foley And P.G. Leahy,The Role Of The Professional Engineer In The 21st Century 4) Gertrud Auf Der Mauer, Astrid Hollander, Joann Hu Huifen, Karen Dawn Hunter, Stella Isenbügel, Melissa Kohonick, Natalia Matveeva, Jordan Wolfe, Occupational Health And Safety ;An Annotated Bibliography Of Research And Related Literature, (1998 . 2003) 5) Mohamed M. Elmadany And Abdulhakim A. Almajid, Improving Engineering Education At Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University Using Swot Analysis And Strategic Planning 6) Keeping Up With Technology Four Steps and Some Resources, http://entrepreneurs.about.com/cs/beyondstartup/a/keepinguptech.html 7) How to keep abreast of new technology, www.ehow.com