KABALE UNIVERSITY

P. O. Box 317 Tel: +256-392-84355/04864-26463

Kabale-Uganda Mob: +256-782-860259
Email: [email protected] Fax: +256-4964-22903
[email protected] Website: www.kab.ac.ug
Email: [email protected]

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, APPLIED DESIGN, AND FINE ART

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

BCE 1102-THE CONSTRUCTION PROFESSION AND SOCIETY

UNIT II-ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BYT. M. AGWE

 2. ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
2.1. E
NGINEERING
2.1.1. ENGINEERING DEFINITIONS
Engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences,
gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize,
economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind--Engineers Council
for Professional Development (1961/1979).
Engineering is the art of organizing and directing men and controlling the forces and materials of
nature for the benefit of the human race--Henry G. Stott (1907).
Engineering is the professional art of applying science to the optimum conversion of natural
resources to the benefit of man— Ralph J. Smith (1962).
Engineering is the art or science of making practical— Samuel C. Florman (1976).
Engineering generally turns scientific explanations and understandings into new or
improved machines, technologies, and processes–to bring reality to ideas and to provide
solutions to societal needs.
There are many other ways of defining the term engineering, but all revolve around the above
definitions.

2.1.2. ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS

At the heart of engineering is the engineering design process. The engineering design process is
a step-by-step method to produce a device, structure, or system that satisfies a need.
Sometimes this need comes from an external source. For example, the U.S. Air Force might need
a missile system to launch a 1,000-poundcommunications satellite into synchronous orbit around
the earth. Other times, the need arises from ideas generated within a company. For example, due
to lack of land space and yet there is need for more office space, a need of going vertical with the
expansion may arise.
Whatever the source, the need is generally translated into a set of specifications (“specs”). These
include performance specifications(e.g., weight, size, speed, safety, reliability), economic
specifications (e.g., cost), and scheduling specifications (e.g., production and delivery dates).
A complete eight-step engineering design process can be illustrated by the schematic below.

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BYT. M. AGWE

 Customer need or business opportunity

Problem definitions/specifications and constraints

Data and information collection

Development of alternative designs

Evaluation of design/selection of optimal design

Implementation of optimal design

Testing and evaluation of design

Redesigning and retesting, if necessary

Figure 1: Schematic of an Engineering Design Process

From this schematic you can see that each step of the design process reflects a very logical,
thorough problem-solving process. The customer need or business opportunity (Step 1) leads to a
problem definition, including a description of the design specifications (Step 2).
Early in the design process, a number of constraints may be identified. Whatever these
constraints may be – e.g., availability of parts and materials, personnel, and/or facilities – the
final design must not only meet all design specifications but also satisfy any constraints. The
problem definition, specifications, and constraints will need to be supplemented by additional
data and information (Step 3) before the development of possible solutions can begin. This step
might, for example, involve learning about new technologies and where information is lacking,
research may need to be done.
The process of developing and evaluating possible designs (Steps 4 and 5) involves not only
creativity but also the use of computer-aided drafting (CAD), stress analysis, computer
modeling, material science, and manufacturing processes. Engineers also bring common sense
and experience to the design process. At the conclusion of Step 5, based on a comparative
evaluation, the optimal design will be selected.
Step 6 involves implementing the optimal design, which in many cases involves fabrication of a
device. Fabrication of several designs may be required in order to test how well each meets the
performance specifications. In Step 7, the final design is tested and evaluated, and if necessary,
redesigned and retested (Step 8).

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BYT. M. AGWE

Many iterations through the engineering design process may be required before a design is found
that meets the need or opportunity and all specifications and satisfies all constraints.
It should be noted that the engineering design process is part of the broader product development
cycle that begins with the perception of a market opportunity and ends with the production, sale,
and delivery of a product.
The motto of Lamar University’s College of Engineering (Texas, USA) “Imagine it. Design it.
Build it. Improve it.” Effectively summaries the Engineering Design Process.

PROJECT: IN A GROUP OF NOT MORE THAN 10 MEMBERS, IMAGINE OF ANY

NEEDS/OPPORTUNITIES THAT REQUIRES AN ENGINEERING SOLUTION AND
DEVELOP ITS PROTOTYPE WHILE FOLLOWING ALL THE ABOVE 8
ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESSES. YOU MAY NOT NEED TO PRODUCE A
DETAIL DESIGN, BUT SHOULD HAVE A ROUGH IDEA AS TO WHY YOU HAVE
CHOSEN THAT PARTICULAR DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTED IT THE WAY YOU
HAVE DONE IT. A DATE IS GOING TO BE FIXED FOR SHOWCASING THE
PROTOTYPES.

2.1.3. SOME OF THE ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENTS IN RECENT

TIMES
 High Performance Materials
 Nuclear Technologies
 Laser and Fiber Optics
 Petroleum and Gas Technologies
 Health Technologies
 Household Appliances
 Imaging Technologies
 Internet
 Space Exploration
 Interstate Highways
 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
 Telephones
 Computers
 Agricultural Mechanization

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BYT. M. AGWE

  Radio and Television
 Electronics
 Safe and Abundant Water
 Airplanes
 Automobiles
 Electrification
Reflect on how important each of the above achievements are to the quality of our livesand the
roles of engineers in each of their achievements.

2.1.4. ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES

Until recently, engineering has consisted of five major disciplines, which graduate the largest
number of students. These disciplines are:
 Mechanical engineering
 Electrical engineering
 Civil engineering
 Chemical engineering
 Industrial engineering
In addition to the largest traditional disciplines, there are many other more specialized, non-
traditional fields of engineering. Among these non-traditional disciplines of engineering are:
Information and Telecommunication engineering, Biomedical engineering, Aerospace
engineering, Materials engineering, ocean engineering, petroleum engineering, mining
engineering, nuclear engineering, and manufacturing engineering.

2.1.4.1. CI
VIL ENGINEERING
Civil engineering is the oldest branch of engineering, with major civil engineering projects
dating back more than 5,000 years.
Today, civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction of facilities essential to
modern life. Projects range from high-rise buildings to mass transit systems, from airports to
water/waste water treatment plants, from space telescopes to off-shore drilling platforms.
Within civil engineering study, these 10 technical areas are generally organized into seven
academic specialties:
2.1.4.1.1. Structural engineering

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BYT. M. AGWE

Structural engineering deals with design of all types of structures: bridges, buildings, dams,
tunnels, tanks, power plants, transmission line towers, offshore drilling platforms, and space
satellites. Their primary responsibility is to analyze the forces that a structure would encounter
and develop a design to withstand those forces. A critical part of this design process involves the
selection of structural components, systems, and materials that would provide adequate strength,
stability, and durability. Structural dynamics is a specialty within structural engineering that
accounts for dynamic forces on structures, such as those resulting from earthquakes.
2.1.4.1.2. Transportation engineering
Transportation engineers are concerned with the safe and efficient movement of both people and
goods. They thus play key roles in the design of highways and streets, harbors and ports, mass
transit systems, airports, and railroads. They are also involved in the design of systems to
transport goods such as gas, oil, and other commodities.

2.1.4.1.3. Environmental engineering

Environmental Engineers are responsible for monitoring, controlling, preventing, and eliminating
air, water, and land pollution.
To these ends, they are typically involved in the design and operation of water distribution
systems, waste water treatment facilities, sewage treatment plants, garbage disposal systems, air
quality control programs, recycling and reclamation projects, toxic waste cleanup projects, and
pesticide control programs.
2.1.4.1.4. Water resources engineering
This is, by its very title, an engineering specialty focused on water-related problems and issues.
The work of engineers in this area includes the operation of water availability and delivery
systems, the evaluation of potential new water sources, harbor and river development, flood
control, irrigation and drainage projects, coastal protection, and the construction and
maintenance of hydroelectric power facilities.
2.1.4.1.5. Geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineers analyze the properties of soil and rocks over which structures and
facilities are built. From the information their analyses yield, geotechnical engineers are able to
predict how the ground material would support or otherwise affect the structural integrity of a
planned facility. Their work is thus vital to the design and construction of earth structures (dams
and levees), foundations of buildings, offshore platforms, tunnels, and dams. Geotechnical
engineers also evaluate the settlement of buildings, stability of slopes and fills, seepage of
groundwater, and effects of earthquakes.

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BYT. M. AGWE

 2.1.4.1.6. Surveying
Engineers involved in Surveying are responsible for “mapping out” construction sites and their
surrounding areas before construction can begin. They locate property lines and determine right-
of-ways, whilealso establishing the alignment and proper placement of the buildings tobe
constructed. Current surveying practice makes use of modern technology, including satellites,
aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry, and computer processing of photographic data.
2.1.4.1.7. Construction engineering
Construction managers use both technical and management skills to plan and build facilities –
such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, and dams– that other engineers and architects designed. They
are generally responsible for such projects from start to finish: estimating construction costs,
determining equipment and personnel needs, supervising the construction, and, once completed,
operating the facility until the client assumes responsibility. Given the breadth of such projects,
construction engineers must be knowledgeable about construction methods and equipment, as
well as principles of planning, organizing, financing, managing, and operating construction
enterprises.

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BYT. M. AGWE