What is engineering?

Question

Seriously, I just don't get it.

This is what I know so far. They can make blue prints to create factories, buildings, probably plumbing too.

Aside from creating factories, I don't see why making buildings wouldn't be archetecture, and plumbing wouldn't be a plumber.

I probably missed the point far off, please help me understand. I know there are many types of engineers too, but what do they all have in common that makes each of them an engineer?

Answer 1

Engineering is simply applied science. A plumber connects pipes, but an engineer tells him what sized pipes and pump to connect to those pipes based on conservation of energy, conservation of mass, and experimentally derived efficiency factors to make sure the pipe system functions as intended.

An architect decides how to give a structure "flow" and a "sense of space"; mostly artistic considerations. A civil engineer decides how to make the same structure so that it resists the vibrations, wind, rain loads, loads in the building and so on. (Sometimes the architect is educated enough to fill both roles, but there is a subtle difference).

An engineer is basically an applied physicist, though our friends in physics may disagree.

Answer 2

The plumber knows how to connect pipes together; how to connect fixtures; how to weld pipes, etc. but he doesn't (necessarily) know how big a pipe to put in certain locations, based on flow rates, volumetric demand, pressure, etc. The engineer (possibly the architect) has made those calculations to make sure that the correct size of pipes are used in the first place.

Engineering is the art of taking pure science and making it practical. That's a definition from my 'head', although some form of it may be quoted from some book I read years ago -- I can't remember.

I am an electrical engineer, more specificallly an electronic designer. I invent circuits to perform specific tasks.

If an electronic assembler were to be given a pile of electronic parts and told to make this work, they wouldn't know where to begin. Do they solder part A to part B, or partC? etc? They need plans and instructions to assemble the final product (they are like the plumber in the factory construction). The engineer provides the plans for the final product. He has made lots of calculations (based on scientific laws) to determine the proper electronic components and their connections -- to make a working electronic device (like the computer keyboard you are typing on, or your mouse, or your computer, or your monitor, etc. etc.)

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Answer 3

Actually, most professionals who draw up "blueprints" would be drafters.

Don't forget that not all engineers design. I made this assumption coming out of college, but in fact, more than 75% of engineers in industry are not design engineers, rather process, quality, safety, operations, etc.

The answers before mine are great for defining the term engineer. Think of it this way...if you see something man made, an engineer was involved in making it, keeping it running, and making it better. Engineers are the link between scientific researchers and the consumers.

Answer 4

Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. The Engineers' Council for Professional Development, also known as ECPD,[1] defines Engineering as: "The creative application of scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property."[2][3][4] One who practices engineering is called an engineer, and those licensed to do so have formal designations such as Professional Engineer , Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer. The broad discipline of engineering encompasses a range of specialized subdisciplines that focus on the issues associated with developing a specific kind of product, or using a specific type of technology.

Answer 5

"Engineering" is a very broad topic that can have a wide variety of possible occupations. Generally, it involves using previous knowledge of math, physics, and other hard sciences to design something. Engineers don't necessary do the actual creation, but they design what is to be created.

There are many kinds of engineers - technical engineers, electrical engineers, even "Disney Imagineers" (who create theme park attractions). It is a fun and diverse occupation.

Answer 6

Engineering is about understanding how things work and (usually) applying that knowledge to create new things. I say "usually" because sometimes the object is simply understanding something, such as in forensic failure analysis.

Answer 7

I can't speak for all chemical engineers but I have been called a glorified plumber many times over.