I have spent a semester learning about engineering in ME-37100: Computer-Aided Design course. As part of a class assignment, I read three articles discussing the role of independent judgment in engineering. The articles I referred to are: “A Question of Credibility,” by Jack Thornton, “The Mathematical of Structural Engineers,” by Julie Gainsburg and “How Engineers Lose Touch” by Eugene Ferguson. The purpose of this paper is to relate the descriptions in these articles with my experiences in the course as well as my expectations in a career as engineer.
The articles mentioned earlier were very pleasant to read because the stories were really familiar. I am going to refer to Thornton’s article which deals with Finite-Element Analysis. Thornton explained how Finite-Element analysis (FEA) became ubiquitous in engineering analysis because it “helps ensure against risky under-design and costly over-design”.(Thornton 2010). I had to do a few finite-element analysis in this course and I probably will have to do some more during my career as an engineer. One of the biggest issues that I hav...
I think what Annas means by the ‘computer manual’ model is that we are responsible for our own decisions. Something that I am confident about is that we are
For most people who have ridden the roller coaster of primary education, subtracting twenty-three from seventy is a piece of cake. In fact, we probably work it out so quickly in our heads that we don’t consciously recognize the procedures that we are using to solve the problem. For us, subtraction seems like something that has been ingrained in our thinking since the first day of elementary school. Not surprisingly, numbers and subtraction and “carry over” were new to us at some point, just like everything else that we know today. For Gretchen, a first-grader trying to solve 70-23, subtraction doesn’t seem like a piece of cake as she verbalizes her confusion, getting different answers using different methods. After watching Gretchen pry for a final solution and coming up uncertain, we can gain a much deeper understanding for how the concept of subtraction first develops and the discrepancies that can arise as a child searches for what is correct way and what is not.
The contemporary world is full of marvels. Technological advances have enabled mankind to fly in the heavens, instantaneously communicate with distant relatives thousands of miles away, construct buildings that are able to withstand many natural disasters, cure deadly diseases, and even travel to and study areas beyond the confines of planet Earth. While there are many factors that contributed to man’s ability to overcome what many once thought were impossible feats, it is the study of engineering that has enabled one to study the elements and leverage all that they have to offer. Mathematics lies at the heart of all science, including engineering. Without progressions in mathematical concepts, engineering principles and applications would not have advanced as quickly as they have throughout history.
In the Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida claims that the society is shifting from social to creative capital and the creative class is flourishing. By creative class, Florida (2002) means groups which include professionals such as writers, innovators, scientists, engineers, consultants, media people, authors, architects, designers, musicians and artists. Those are persons who use their creative mind and skills to attract money. They are people who find challenging and flexible jobs attractive to them. When they work, they look for chances of personal development. In the United State of America, according to Florida, the creative class composites more than 30 per cent of the workforce.
The Unwritten Laws of Engineering was first published in 1944 in three separate articles in the periodical Mechanical Engineering by W. J. King. The current edition was edited by James G. Skakoon in 2001. The three original articles are combined as three chapters in the book. James G. Skakoon notes in the preface that the laws still hold true after all this time. The book focuses on different phases in the career of many engineers in the first two chapters. The final chapter deals with personal issues and advice that pertains to both engineers and engineering managers
Wicked Problems in Design Thinking Author(s): Richard Buchanan Source: Design Issues, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Spring, 1992), pp. 5-21 Published by: The MIT Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/
I investigated a career in Civil Engineering and chose to research a Hendricks County Highway Engineer. According to the O*NET website, the Inventory letters for this career are Realistic, Investigative and Conditional. Based on what I know about this career from the interview, these codes fit the job description well. The Realistic part of the description makes perfect sense because Civil Engineers need to be great when working with hands on problems to create solutions. According to Mr. Ayers, the person I interviewed, one of the most important qualities is to be able to work in practical and hands on situations, even if that does not mean construction models or prototypes. There are some days where Civil Engineers, such as Mr. Ayers will
There are 25 major specialties in engineering that are recognized by professional societies. In any one of those 25 specialties, the goal of the engineer is the same. The goal is to be able to come up with a cost effective design that aids people in the tasks they face each day. Whether it be the coffee machine in the morning or the roads and highways we travel, or even the cars we travel in, it was all an idea that started with an engineer. Someone engineered each idea to make it the best solution to a problem. Even though engineer’s goals are similar, there are many different things that engineers do within their selected field of engineering. This paper will focus on the architectural field of engineering.
4. “Without application in the real world, the value of knowledge is greatly diminished.” Consider this claim with respect to two areas of knowledge.
In conclusion, civil engineers have a responsibility to deal with current issues in a professional and ethical manner for the benefit of society. The topics discusses included: high energy consumption of buildings, the need for efficient water resources, transportation planning, poor infrastructures doomed to failure, the need to have higher standards to become a licensed professional engineer, how globalization has affected all engineers, and the need to have more professional use advance engineering informatics. All these subjects were pondered about how these challenges can be overcome are there effective methods that engineers can apply today. Unfortunately, not all problems are easy to handle.
Obstacles had never been obstructing my effort to succeed in life. As an engineer to be, it is important to me to be prepared for the hurdles in the real world. The world nowadays needs a person who could compete and has great abilities to stand on the same level as others. Multiple skills and critical opinion of an issue are essential for an engineer to jump into this challenging career. For me, a strategic planning and full preparation need to achieve the aim of being an expert engineer.
9. Martin, M. W., & Schinzinger, R. (2010). Introduction to engineering ethics (2nd ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Engineering has evolved since the beginning of time. Most engineers have been successful due to trial and error. Thomas Jefferson, for instance, failed many times before creating the light bulb, which he is now famous for. Another popular trial and error procedure is the scientific method. Most researchers use the scientific method in order to get a successful result, or a not so successful outcome.
Decision-making has historical roots in philosophy, which generated two primary dimensions: one of logic and reason and one of ethics and moral judgment. Philosophers have primarily viewed these dimensions from a normative standpoint, providing arguments for each one to demonstrate how individuals think and decide. Since the evolution of normative theories of logic, which are mostly based on probability or utility, much work has been dedicated towards their expansion into descriptive models of actual reasoning processes. The ethics and moral judgment dimension remains largely normative, despite the fact that moral thinking is regarded as an important element in the decision-making process as a whole (Strong & Meyer, 1992).
In addition, Russell also points out how components like experience, national exam, licensure, and specialty certification play a significant role in the civil engineering profession. These four components are the core thing that makes educators and practitioners has a chance for practicing civil engineering at the professional level, and become a professional engineer. By reading his paper (Russell 2013), it gives an idea to readers that to become a professional engineer it’s not an easy task. It requires a lot of work from educators to achieve