ENY360S

Engineer in Society
2024
Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment
Department of Civil Engineering & Geomatics
Lecturers R. Ander & P. Overmeyer

Introduction to Engineer in Society

Relevant reading: Chapters 1, 2 and 14 of the Prescribed textbook, www.ecsa.co.za,
readings as listed in the course outline.

What is Engineering?
Engineering can be defined in many ways. The Engineering Council of South Africa defines
Engineering as: “Engineering is the practice of science, engineering science and technology
concerned with the solution of problems of economic importance and those essential to the
progress of society.” www.ecsa.co.za
The Oxford Dictionary defines Engineering as “The branch of science and technology
concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures”

From the above we can see that it:

a) Uses Science and Technology
b) solves problems
c) designs and builds

In addition, we not only use Science and Technology but also Mathematics and Graphics
(drawings) so need a good foundation in these.
We not only solve problems but help identify and analyse problems to understand the
context in which solutions must work. There are sometimes multiple solutions but only one
which works best in all aspects.
Not only do we design and build but we also need to manage (operate) and maintain.
Engineers need to be creative and think of new approaches to problems, they drive growth
and innovation by thinking of new ways to apply rules without creating new problems.
So, in short Engineering is an art and a science which uses Mathematical and scientific
principles to identify and solve problems for societal and economic benefit.
Superheroes without capes?
Studying the Past Yields Valuable Lessons
‘‘ . . . any lessons learned from the behaviour and especially the failure of even ancient
designs are no less relevant today, and the good design practice of engineers in centuries
past can serve as models for the most sophisticated designs of the modern age. Indeed,
ignoring wholesale the lessons and practices of the past threatens the continuity of
engineering and design judgment that appears to be among the surest safeguards against
recurrent failures.’’
—Henry Petroski, Design Paradigms: Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering, p.143

The word engineer, however, dates back to 1325 when the term was first used to describe
someone who operates an engine in reference to Military Engines.
According to the book “An Introduction to Civil Engineering” by Valdengrave Okumu, the
term “civil engineering” was originally coined in the 18th century to mean the opposite of
military engineering, which was the dominant form of engineering at the time.

Engineering through time:

Ancient Engineering
Engineering can be traced back to ancient times when people first started using tools to
improve their lives – as long as 6000+ years ago irrigation systems and other water system
were used, Romans used Mathematics and Science to design roads and bridges.
Unfortunately, during this period the bulk of new inventions were used to wage war:

Figure 1: Mangonel used to launch projectiles – forefather of the catapult

Further reading: https://www2.open.ac.uk/openlearn/mangonel/catapult_download.pdf

There were also inventions which helped advance Civil Engineering

Figure 2: Tread Wheel Crane - forefather of modern cranes

(Wikipedia Commons)

Ancient Construction

Figure 3: Seven wonders of the ancient world

From left to right, top to bottom: Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Artemis, Statue of Zeus at
Olympia, Mausoleum of Maussollos, Colossus of Rhodes, and the Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria.
(Wikipedia Commons)
Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World the Egyptian Pyramids are the only ones that
can be recognised in close to their original form and have survived the onslaught of time.

Medieval Engineering
500 AD – 1500 AD was known as the Middle Ages. With the collapse of the Roman empire in
476 without a unified government to spend on infrastructure and the construction of symbols
of power, very little advances in Engineering took place. Fighting broke out between feudal
states. A change in material used also took place moving away from stone construction to
the use of timber, clay and plaster. Feudal war required the construction of fortifications
which lead to walled towns and Castles.
Medieval times also saw advances in the use of water wheels for more than just raising
water and milling grain. Water wheels began being used to power sawmills and to powers
bellows in smelters as well as to grind and polish metal.

Industrial Revolution (1750 – 1850)

At the end of the 18th Century the Industrial Revolution began in England with a shift from
handcraft home based industry to mechanical factory-based manufacturing. The creation of
the Steam Engine accelerated this change. In addition, the development of new materials
such as wrought iron enabled the construction of large factories to house growing industries
and the laying of railway tracks with the first public railroad opened in 1825. The railway
shrunk distances and sped up time. Mass produced products could be transported both
further and quicker by using steam powered rail transport. Iron became the building material
of choice and replaced other building materials such as brick and timber.

Modern Era (1850 – Present)

The modern era has seen huge leaps in engineering advancement. Bigger, better, faster
seems to be the order of the day.
Coupled with advances in computer science, material science and geotechnical engineering
engineers continue to push the boundaries of what seemed impossible a few decades ago.
Figure 4: The world’s tallest buildings
(Wikipedia Commons)

Figure 5: Millau Bridge France - tallest cable stayed vehicular bridge in the world - also known as the bridge in the
clouds was completed in 2004 (Wikipedia Commons)

Main Types of Engineering

Engineering is a vast and diverse field that encompasses many different disciplines. The four
main types of engineering are:
Civil Engineering;
Mechanical Engineering;
Electrical Engineering;
Chemical Engineering

What is Civil Engineering

The word Civil literally means people – Civil Engineering therefore means Engineering for
the people.
It is the planning, design, construction, management and maintenance of public and private
structures. e.g. roadways, dams, buildings etc
Main types of Civil Engineering: Structural, Water, Transport, Urban, Coastal, Geotechnical
By its nature Civil Engineering is constructive yet needs to be destructive to achieve its
goals.
The America Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as sited in Civil Engineer’s Handbook of
Professional Practice (prescribed for this course) has Developed a Global Vision of the
Profession:
Entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and enhance the global quality of life, Civil
Engineers serve, competently, collaboratively, and ethically as master:
- Planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society’s economic and social engine,
the built environment
- Stewards of the natural environment and its resources
- Innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public, private, and
academic sectors
- Managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents, and other threats
- Leaders in discussions and decisions shaping public environmental and infrastructure
policy

Engineering Education
In 1747 the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (“National School of Bridges and
Highways”) was established in France. Its teachers wrote books on the mechanics of
materials, machines, and hydraulics. The Ecole Polytechnique was founded in Paris in 1794,
and the Bauakademie was started in Berlin in 1799. Design and calculation replaced rule of
thumb and empirical formulas. The first Civil Engineering graduates were former craftsmen,
stonemasons, millwrights, toolmakers, and instrument makers who learnt their trade by long
apprenticeships under the guidance of other tradesmen.
An Englishman named John Smeaton is credited with being the first person to call himself a
civil engineer. In 1771, he founded the British based Society of Civil Engineers (now known
as the Smeatonian Society).

The need for Accreditation

CPUT Engineering Faculty undergoes Accreditation by ECSA on a four year cycle.
This accreditation assures the validity of qualification and assesses the depth and breath of
the content of the qualification to ensure that candidates have received the relevant training
and have achieved the educational outcomes (GAs) required for professional registration.
This allows graduates to apply for registration as a professional in the appropriate category.
Registration
The South African Institution of Civil Engineers (SAICE) was founded in 1903.
On 14 February 1969, the date on which the Professional Engineers' Act, 1968 (Act 81 of
1968) came into operation the South African Council for Professional Engineers (SACPE)
held its first meeting. The first meeting of the Board of Control for Engineering
Technicians was held on 14 November 1983. The first meeting of the Board of Control
for Professional Technologists (Engineering) was held on 1 March 1985. These were
replaced by The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) in 1991.

The repeal of the Engineering Profession of South Africa Act, 1990 (Act No. 114 of 1990)
made way for a new Act called the Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 46 of 2000)
was promulgated on 26 November 2000. The Act became fully effective on 28 August 2001
The new Act provide for the reservation of work of an engineering nature for the exclusive
performance by registered persons (e.g., dam safety, lifts, escalators). It also became
mandatory for those who wished to practice Engineering to register in the appropriate
category at the appropriate level in line with their education and experience.

Registration categories
(a) Professional, which is divided into:
Professional Engineer;
Professional Engineering Technologist;
Professional Certificated Engineer; or
Professional Engineering Technician.

(b) Candidate, which is divided into:

Candidate Engineer;
Candidate Engineering Technologist;
Candidate Certificated Engineer; or
Candidate Engineering Technician.
Professional Engineering Project Team

The Engineering project consists of multiple role players as above, The Civil Engineering
Technician or Technologist can work at any one of the roles above but within the scope of
their qualification and experience. Some positions require that the person performing those
duties hold a certain qualification and registration with ECSA or other relevant body. Refer to
the Council for the Built Environment’s (CBE) website for more information. www.cbe.org.za

Engineering Professional’s role in Society

Engineering professionals:
Have a duty of care (safe design and construction methods)
Must act honestly and with integrity (credit others for their work, do not shirk responsibility)
Must protect the environment and natural resources where possible (sustainable
Engineering, green Engineering initiatives)
Must drive progress and continue to develop themselves and others (CPD, innovation)
Shape the world we live in

The greater public trusts that the people entrusted with designing and constructing facilities
for public use are appropriated educated with the relevant experience, are ethical and
trustworthy and will do their best in everything. It is therefore your responsibility to live up to
that trust regardless of the role you play in this multifaceted discipline.