EGR2212 Engineering Perspective

Introduction

Course structure 1
Course: EGR2212
Professional Perspective
Pre-requisite: None
Synopsis:
This course deals with the engineering profession in
general, and the various fields of specializations therein,
with emphasis on communication skills, design process,
health, safety, environmental and legal concerns and
commitment to professional ethics.
 Course structure 2
Course Learning Outcomes: 1.
2.
Communication skills
Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics
Successful students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate communication skills by writing effective reports, design
documentation and by making effective presentations.
2. Apply an appropriate design process in solving engineering-related
problems with appropriate consideration for public health and safety
and the environment.
3. Apply reasoning and knowledge to societal issues to address health,
safety, environmental and legal concerns and the consequent
responsibilities relevant to professional engineering practice.
4. Describe the engineering profession in general and the various fields of
specializations therein, with the application of ethical principles,
commitment to professional ethics, responsibilities and norms of
engineering practice.

Class syllabus / Lecture topics

Sessions Topics
1-3 Outline of skills required for giving a professional level oral presentation to
an informed audience including introduction, clear structure, visual aids,
conclusion and timing.
Effective report writing; structure and format of a formal report.
Recruitment and selection; job description, post specification, interviewing to
a post specification, resume writing, interview questions.
4-7 Definition of engineering design process; steps in engineering design
process; Selection of material, selection of manufacturing process.
Concurrent engineering
Design for manufacture and assembly, Design for sustainability, the
Hannover principles. Problem solving techniques; fish bone diagrams; plan
do check act cycle, 6 sigma concept
8-10 Definition of occupational safety and health (OSH); identifying safety and
health hazards, the concept of safety and risk, assessing and reducing risk.
Site Visit: to visit a company and study OSH hazard controls.
Rule of law and good governance, sustainable development, role of
environmental impact assessment.
11-14 The role of the professional engineer; definition of professionalism, quality
and characteristics of a professional, professional boundaries, desirable
characteristics of a professional engineer, responsibility of the engineer in
society.
Types of ethics; engineering ethics in general, aims in studying ethics.
Student overall assessment

Quiz: 5%
Site Visit: 5%
Assignments: 50%
Final Examination: 40%

Final Examination format

Duration:
2 hours
Choice of questions:
Students are required to answer FOUR questions only out of
FIVE.
Section A: 3 compulsory questions
Section B: Choice of 1 from 2 questions
Textbook & references

Basic text
1. M.M. Farag, Materials and Process Selection for Engineering Design, 4th ed. CRC
Press, 2020
2. S. Moaveni, Engineering Fundamentals-An Introduction to Engineering, 6th ed.
Cengage Learning, 2019.

References
1. M.A. Friend and J.P. Kohn, Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health, 7th
Ed. Bernan Press, 2018.
2. R. House, R. Layton, J. Livingston, S. Moseley, The Engineering Communication
Manual, Oxford University Press, 2016

When Did Engineering Begin? The Origin

When did man first create fire?

Today, almost all our method of modern energy
conversion is based on fire
The origins of a lever?
The origins of the wheel?
The origins of devices today we have taken for granted
The Great Pyramid of Cheops
481 feet high (48 story building)
Ratio of its height to the perimeter of its base is almost
exactly the same as the ratio of the radius of a circle to
the circumference.
Accident or intentional?
It still stands after 6000 years

Aqueducts
Dated before 3000 B.C.
Without it, civilization would not be possible
This is the basic element of civil engineering
Today, this is the basis of water supply and drainage that
provide habitats for human and wildlife.
Horse Collars
Human used oxen to haul loads early in invention
Horses are faster and more efficient than oxen
The horse collar imported from China improved its
efficiency and prevented strangulation
This results in major change in development which then
replaced by mechanical power

Other Inventions

What are the significance of the three inventions today?

1. Crank
2. Gunpowder
3. Paper
Other Inventions
The significance of these design today?
1. The Roman Arches
2. The Great Wall of China (3900 miles long and 400 years
to finish)

Which come first? Science or Engineering

Science comes from Latin word scientia (knowledge)
Engineer comes from Latin word ingeniare (design or devise)
There were more engineering than science in the ancient
world, but today there is a greater base in scientific knowledge
for the things we do.
However, do not underestimate the capabilities of engineers
who worked entirely on empirical (experience), not scientific.
The first practical fuel-burning engine, known as the atmospheric engine, was
invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712. Although innovative for its time, it
was slow and inefficient, highlighting the need for the development of a new
technology.
In 1765, James Watt significantly improved upon Newcomen's engine by
introducing a separate condenser for the steam cylinder, a breakthrough that

constructed in 1769, and it played a pivotal role in driving the technological

and economic transformations of the Industrial Revolution.

Thomas Newcomen James Watt

Engineering Profession Today

There is nothing we use in our daily lives that has not been
influenced by engineers

1-16
Learning Objectives
1. Engineering Work is All Around You
Give examples of products and services that engineers design that make our lives
better
2. Engineering as a Profession
Describe what engineering profession and give examples of common careers for
engineers
3. Common Traits of Good Engineers
Describe the important traits of successful engineers
4. Engineering Disciplines
Give examples of common engineering disciplines and how they contribute to the
comfort and betterment of our everyday lives

1-17

Engineering Work Is All Around Us

Engineering make products and provide
services that make our lives better

1-18
 Engineering Deal with an Increasing
World Population and Sustainability
Concerns

The latest projection of

world population
growth

The latest estimate of

U.S. elderly population
growth

1-19

Engineering Deal with an Increasing World

Population and Sustainability Concerns

Why is the population growth relevant to us?

-the
world population already uses approximately 20% more of the

(United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report, 2005.)

1-20
 Engineering as a Profession
What is engineering and what do engineering
technicians do?
What are some of the areas of specialization in
engineering?
Do I really want to study engineering?
How will I know that I have picked the best field for
me?
Will the demand for my area of specialization be
high when I graduate, and beyond that?

1-21

What Is Engineering And What

Engineers Do?

Engineering apply physical and chemical laws and principles

and mathematics to design millions of products and services
that we use in our everyday lives

1-22
 What Is Engineering And What
Engineers Do?
1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Consider important factors such as cost, efficiency, reliability,

sustainability, and safety when designing these products

Perform tests to make certain that the products they design withstand
various loads and conditions

Continuously search for ways to improve already existing products as

well

Design and supervise the construction of buildings, dams, highways, and

mass transit systems and the construction of power plants that supply
power to manufacturing companies, homes, and offices

1-23

What Is Engineering And What

Engineers Do?
1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics
(Cont.)

infrastructure, including communication systems, public utilities, and

transportation

Continuously develop new, advanced materials to make products

lighter and stronger for different applications

Be responsible for finding suitable ways to extract petroleum, natural

gas, and raw materials from the earth

Be involved in producing ways of increasing crop, fruit, and vegetable

yields along with improving the safety of our food products

1-24
 Common Traits of Good Engineers

Engineers are problem solvers.

Good engineers have a firm grasp of the fundamental
principles of engineering.
Good engineers are analytical, detail oriented, and creative.
Good engineers have a desire to be lifelong learners.
Good engineers have a core knowledge that can be applied to
many areas.
Well-trained engineers can work outside their area of
specialization in other related fields.

1-25

Common Traits of Good Engineers

(Cont.)

Good written and oral communication skills.

Good time-management skills.

Actively participate in local and national discipline-specific

organizations.

1-26
 Common Traits of Good Engineers

Engineers generally work in a team

environment where they consult each other to
solve complex problems

Productive engineers must be good team players

Good interpersonal and communication skills are increasingly

important now because of the global market

1-27

Engineering Disciplines

What Are Some Areas of Engineering Specialization?

Over 20 major disciplines or specialties that are recognized by

professional engineering societies

Examples
Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Chemical Engineering

1-28
 1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Civil Engineering
Civil engineers design and supervise the
construction of
buildings
roads and highways
bridges
dams
tunnels
mass transit systems
airports
municipal water supplies
sewage systems

1-29

1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers are involved in the
design, development, testing, and
manufacturing of
machines
robots
tools
power generating equipment
heating, cooling, and refrigerating
equipment
internal combustion

1-30
 1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineers design, develop, test,
and supervise the manufacturing of
electrical equipment including lighting
and wiring for buildings, cars, buses,
trains, ships, and aircrafts
power generation and transmission
equipment for utility companies
electric motors found in various
products
control devices
radar equipment

1-31

1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the
manufacturing of
commercial and military aircraft
helicopters
spacecraft
missiles

They may work on projects dealing with the research and

development of guidance, navigation, and control systems.

1-32
 1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is a new discipline that combines
biology, chemistry, medicine, and engineering to solve a wide
range of medical and health-related problems.

There are several specializations within biomedical engineering,

including:
Biomechanics
Biomaterials
tissue engineering
medical imaging
rehabilitation
1-33

1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineers apply the laws and the principles of

chemistry, biology, and engineering to address issues related
to
water and air pollution control
hazardous waste
waste disposal
recycling

1-34
 1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing engineers develop, coordinate, and supervise the
process of manufacturing all types of products.

They are concerned with making products efficiently and at

minimum cost.

Manufacturing engineers are involved in all aspects of production,

including scheduling and materials handling and the design,
development, supervision, and control of assembly lines.

Manufacturing engineers create prototypes of products before

proceeding to manufacture actual products.

1-35

1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum engineers specialize in the discovery and production of oil
and natural gas.

Petroleum engineers and geologists work together to determine the

best drilling methods to use.

Petroleum engineers are also involved in monitoring and supervising

drilling and oil extraction operations.

In collaboration with other specialized engineers, petroleum engineers

design equipment and processes to achieve the maximum profitable
recovery of oil and gas.

1-36
 1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear engineers design, develop, monitor, and operate
nuclear power equipment that derives its power from
nuclear energy.
Nuclear engineers are involved in
the design, development, and operation of nuclear power
plants to generate electricity or to power Navy ships and
submarines
the production and handling of nuclear fuel
the safe disposal of its waste products
the design and development of industrial and diagnostic
medical equipment

1-37

1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Mining Engineering
Mining engineers, in collaboration with geologists and
metallurgical engineers, find, extract, and prepare coal for use by
utility companies.

They also look for metals and minerals to extract from the earth
for use by various manufacturing industries.

Mining engineers design and supervise the construction of

aboveground and underground mines.

Mining engineers could also be involved in the development of

new mining equipment for extraction and separation of minerals
from other materials mixed in with the desired minerals.
1-38
 1. Communication skills
2. Design process
3. Health, safety, environment, legal
4. Professional ethics

Materials Engineering
Materials engineers research, develop, and test new materials for
various products and engineering applications.

Materials engineers study the nature, atomic structure, and

thermo-physical properties of materials.

They manipulate the atomic and molecular structure of materials

to create materials that are lighter, stronger, and more durable.

They create materials with specific mechanical, electrical, magnetic,

chemical, and heat-transfer properties for use in specific
applications.

1-39

Thomas Jefferson (1743 1826)

END OF COURSE INTRODUCTORY LECTURE