What is engineering?

Engineering is present in everything

around you!!!!!

 

 

Not convinced? Just perform this little exercise and click on the highlighted word to see what field of engineering applies.

You're in bed. The alarm clock rings. You slam off the alarm and knock the clock into the wall. You want to continue sleeping, so you wrap your sheets around your head. Finally you get up. In dodging a bag of potato chips, you end up stepping on your best CD! You put on your glasses after having picked up your CD. You slip into some clothing, go into your office, flip on your computer and check your email: Oh! You got an email from Nathalie! You get your Walkman out of your backpack, you insert the CD, then you sit back in your chair to read your message from Nathalie while listening to your favourite music.

The day is only five minutes old and you have already dealt with 13 objects in which engineering has played a critical role. Imagine what 24 hours is like!
Engineering has always been there!

The Great Pyramids of Egypt could not have been built without applying the principles of engineering-even if the profession itself did not then exist in its current form.

The term "engineer" dates back from the 16th century. It is derived from the Old French word "engeigneur," which means, "someone who makes engines." Ever since, engineering has played a role in both big and small inventions that have contributed to the process of industrialization.
Engineering pertains to everything!

Engineers are a very special breed of scientist. They apply scientific principles to every kind of human activity in the aim of finding concrete solutions to problems. Such efforts are known as "applied science."

For example:
Engineers apply the principles of electricity in designing new microprocessors.
Engineers apply the principles involved in refining petroleum to the design and construction of refineries.
Engineering can take you anywhere!

Engineering offers a virtually infinite range of possibilities, which have no limit other than those of the imagination. At the present time, some 20 engineering disciplines can take you practically anywhere...
Into space
Aerospace engineers analyze, design, manufacture, install and monitor systems that are integral to the field of aerospace. This discipline is concerned with the characteristics of aircraft, the dynamics of flight, aviation and propulsion, with the structure of aircraft and materials and with space technologies (robotics, radar and lasers).
Under the earth
Mining engineers deal with such fields as mine operations and with the processing of ore. They conduct studies on cost effectiveness and oversee the management of human and of physical resources.
Geology engineers analyze the crust of the earth, supervise the exploration of regions that are rich in natural resources and contribute to large-scale projects, such as the construction of hydroelectric dams, bridges and tunnels.
On land
Rural engineers deal with all issues pertaining to agriculture, such as automation of sowing and of harvesting, draining subsoils, design of equipment and buildings, harnessing waterways, supervising the living conditions of cattle, the effectiveness of pesticides, preservation of produce, etc.
Food engineers work with food products prior to sale, in areas such as farm production, food production, the production chain, preservation, distribution and standards of hygiene. Such engineer set production standards, create manufacturing equipment and design new products, among other activities.
Environmental engineers deal with all issues pertaining to the environment. They provide responses and solutions to environmental questions and problems such as the management of renewable resources, the control of pollutants and work pertaining to conservation, the food chain, human health and ecology.
Civil engineers design, renovate and maintain roadways, bridge structures, airports, thoroughfares and buildings. The recommend the use of new materials and may also deal with hydrology (harnessing waterways and drinking water systems, the design of hydroelectric power plants, etc.).
Building engineers design, analyze and plan various aspects of construction, including drawings, frameworks, structures, air-conditioning, heating and lighting systems and materials. They work in close conjunction with architects, urban planners and developers.
In laboratories
Chemical engineers are involved in the manufacture of medications, cosmetics and soaps-and in virtually every other material found in bathrooms. They design and modernize technical processes, control pollution and make equipment run.
Physical engineers like problem solving. They design, test and develop state-of-the-art tools used in the analysis of objects and in the manufacture of precision instruments, such as telescopes.
Biomedical engineers contribute to the development of bodily tissues, organ transplants, cell implants and the release of medical instruments and drugs. They perform clinical studies on rehabilitation and design orthotic and prosthetic devices.
Electrical equipment and assembly lines
Electrical engineers have numerous choices open to them. In the field of electronics, they design and manufacture circuits and electronic equipment. They are also concerned with automated control systems, in telecommunications and in certain aspects of aviation and computer systems. In the field of electrical engineering, they deal with the production, transportation, distribution and use of electrical energy.
In computers
Computer engineers design and manufacture computers, computer-run equipment and custom-made programs. They are distinguished from programmers in that they deal with issues of both hard- and software, including processors, memories, readers, robots, assembly lines, and, in short, anything that requires some form of automation.
Automated production engineers specialize in the application of computerization to industrial production. The provide solutions to problems of automating manufacturing systems and they oversee production.
In all of these and in other locations
Mechanical engineers deal with the transformation of mechanical systems and energy. They design vehicles, turbines, equipment and engines used in industrial production. In the field of construction, they design heating, ventilation and cooling systems, as well as elevators.
Industrial engineers review all phases of production and, where necessary, upgrade them. They seek to boost plant production and to optimize technical processes. They must, accordingly, be reasonably familiar with equipment and manufacturing practices, as well as with requirements for labour and raw materials.
Materials and metallurgy engineers propose material alloys and manufacturing processes for such materials to manufacturing industries. They also develop instruments used to control the quality of the metals and materials used.

2007 Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec[ http://www.oiq.qc.ca/ ]

The BME team