An introduction to engineering adapted from the course

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What is Engineering?
An introduction to engineering adapted from the
course What is Engineering? offered to freshman
at Johns Hopkins University
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What is Engineering? How does it differ from
science?
iPod
Science DESCRIBE EXPLAIN Parameters ?, ?,
?, s2,?,?, ?, g, ?, H2C5OH, . . . Starting
salary 38K (chemist)
Engineering INVENT DESIGN BUILD Parameters
Starting salary 54K (chemical engineer)
spandex
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Engineering What are its fields?
Thirty years ago. . .
If it moves, it's mechanical engineering If it
doesn't move, it's civil engineering If you
can't see it, it's electrical engineering If it
smells, it's chemical engineering.
Today, its a blur. . .
Biomolecular-, nano-, computer-, materials-,
robotic-, biomedical-, environmental-, . . .
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What is Engineering?
According to Websters II New Riverside
Dictionary Engineering is the application of
mathematical and scientific principles to
practical ends, as the design, construction, and
operation of economical and efficient structures,
equipment, and systems. But is there more. . .?
Engineering. . .to define rudely but not inaptly
is the art of doing that well with one dollar,
which any bungler can do with two after a
fashion--Arthur Mellen Wellington, The Economic
Theory of Railway Location (1911)
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Engineering is art. Aesthetics as well as
function counts
The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain Frank Gehry,
architect
The Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, England 1779
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More art . . .
Pont du Gard, France, 100AD
Sagrada familia, Barcelona
Boring - see Civil Engineers --UK Yellow Pages
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More engineering art. . .by women
Hearst Castle (Julia Morgan)
Musee dOrsay (Gae Aulenti)
London eye (Julia Barfield)
Vietnam Memorial (Mia Lin)
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Engineering is problem-solving
One solution
Two solutions
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Engineering is approximation. The mathematics of
engineering systems are often too complicated to
solve analytically.
Engineering problems are under-defined, there
are many solutions, good, bad and indifferent.
The art is to arrive at a good solution. This is
a creative activity involving imagination,
intuition, and deliberate choice.--Ove Arup
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Engineering is measurement and estimation. River
flow, noise in a communication system, scatter in
a laser beam, earthquake characteristics--all
require measurement
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Engineering is modeling and simulation. Often
the only efficient means to confirm that an idea
or design will work is to experiment with a
scale model or computer simulation.
Model of the X-33 being tested in the NASA
Langley Mach 20 helium wind tunnel
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Engineering is communication. Making
presentations, producing technical manuals,
coordinating teams for large scale projects are
all fundamental to engineering practice.
Richard Feynman during the Challenger disaster
hearings.
125M communication error
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Engineering is politics. The best functional
solution is not necessarily the best practical
solution.
Three-mile island
NIMBY
Alaskan pipeline
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Engineering is finance. Design, construction,
operation, and maintenance costs determine the
viability of projects.
The Big Dig, Boston 14.2B (22B as of
7/2008) The Channel tunnel 21B (1B 666
Eiffel towers)
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Engineering is invention/design/innovation. New
devices, materials, and processes are developed
by engineers to meet needs that existing
technologies do not address.
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Engineering is an outstanding salary.
Most Lucrative College Degrees by Julianne
PepitoneFriday, July 24, 2009provided by
. . .engineering diplomas account for 12 of the
15 the top-paying majors. NACE collects its
data by surveying 200 college career centers.
. . .salaries for graduates who studied fields
like social work command tiny paychecks,
somewhere in the vicinity of 29,000. English,
foreign language and communications majors make
about 35,000.
. . .few grads offer math skills, and those who
can are rewarded."
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Engineering is ethics. Engineering is
safety. Engineering is public service. . . .
Architects and engineers are among the most
fortunate of men since they build their own
monuments with public consent, public approval
and often public money--John Prebble
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Engineering is new materials. . . and the space
elevator
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Engineering is new designs for old problems
Millau viaduct-France (2005)
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A 21st century Eiffel Tower? (Chosen for London
2012 Olympics)
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Engineering isnt only about big things. Its
also about nano-bio, bottom-up, tailored
structures
quantum dot biological markers
SWCN switches
nano-robots
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Engineering is haptics and robotic surgery
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Engineering is acoustic control
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Expose yourself to engineering!