fields of engineering

Engineering examples from history

By David McKinney 30 March, 2023 4 mins read

There have been many examples of engineering throughout history, ranging from ancient monuments all the way to modern technology. For example, the ancient Egyptians credit Imhotep for building the step pyramid at Saqqara. Imhotep built the step pyramid in Saqqara in the third millennium BC. The Egyptians deified him later. This Egyptian engineer is probably familiar to you. But did you know that he was also deified?

Ancient engineering monuments

Many ancient engineering monuments are testaments to human talent. Ancient Egyptian civil and military engineer are represented by the pyramids in Egypt, the ziggurats at Mesopotamia and Pharos from Alexandria. The Acropolis and cities of Indus Valley civilization are two other examples of ancient engineering monuments. The Colosseum, the Acropolis, and other monuments left behind by Roman and ancient Greek engineers are examples of Roman engineering. Mayan civil engineers built impressive structures such as the drainage systems and aqueducts at Teotihuacan in Mexico. Al-Jazari (a Turkish engineering monument) was built using five water pumping machines to serve the Artuqid monarchs. Others engineers like Mechanics developed the concepts for gears, escapement mechanism, and more.

Mechanical engineering in the early days

The 5th century BC in Mesopotamia is the beginning of mechanical engineering. The field has expanded greatly over the years, encompassing everything from automobiles to energy conversion to microelectromechanical systems. The history and evolution of mechanical engineering show that it was not always so simple. Mechanical engineering has had a profound impact on many aspects of human life, whether you're interested automobiles, manufacturing equipment or energy conversion.

Electric engineering was in its infancy

The relationship between electrical engineers and the government was particularly complicated after World War I. Radio was used during World War I to communicate with one another, but this new technology needed heavy government regulation. The United States government took control over all wireless stations in 1917. They claimed that radio spectrum was too valuable not to be controlled. This was the start of a new era in communication technology. Today, you can see the history of electricity in New York City and elsewhere.

Radio technology at the beginning

In the early 1900s, radios were used for simplex communications. Morse Code can be used to send messages. This code is very similar to what was used for writing. These communications were one-way and couldn't be overheard. Despite the limitations of early radios the idea of sending electricity over great distances was groundbreaking. The invention of long-distance telephone lines would not be possible until a new technology was created.

Electric generators in the early days

The first electric generator was a feat of engineering. It made it possible for small amounts of work to produce electricity. Hydroelectric power was first explored in the Sierra Nevada hydraulic mines during the 1880s. In 1893, Almarian Decker, a former engineer of the Brush arc light company who had moved to California because of tuberculosis, integrated generation and transmission in the first three-phase alternate-current power plant in Redlands.

Early electrical engineering in western Europe

The history of electrical engineering dates back to the 19th century. Alexander Graham Bell & Thomas Edison were among the pioneers of electrical engineering. Electricity spread rapidly and these two men became the first engineers to specialize in this field. The growth of the electrical industry began to change the world, and governments became large employers of electrical engineers. While the TVA was perhaps the most well-known government initiative in this area of the country, many local governments provided power and service.

Santa Clara was home to early electrical engineering

Santa Clara University's School of Engineering was established in 1912. It began offering bachelor's degrees. The school later added doctoral and master's degree programs to its offerings. The school now serves all of Silicon Valley. The school offers many programs in electrical engineering, including advanced degrees. Additionally, the organization offers opportunities for networking as well as continuing education. It is the only national professional association that is specifically focused on electrical engineering.

Early electrical engineering in England

Electrical engineering was born in England. Many of these pioneers, including George Stephenson as well as Isambard Kingdom Brunel (and Thomas Telford), were from the UK. In 1821 Michael Faraday showed the first conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy. This proved the foundation of the field. These pioneers were not the only ones who contributed to the field's growth.

Electrical engineering was developed in the United States early on.

While electricity isn't a new technology in itself, it was deemed necessary for many jurisdictions. It was the government that began to be responsible for providing electricity and communication to citizens. This area is best known for the TVA, but other examples exist. Government control over power and communications was the norm in the USA. With such technological advancement, electrical engineers began to realize the importance of advancing their field.

FAQ

What does a civil engineer do?

Civil engineering is the design and construction of structures such as roads, bridges, buildings, dams, tunnels, and other large-scale projects. It includes all aspects of structural engineering including foundations, geotechnics and hydraulics as well as soils, safety analysis, traffic management, environmental impact assessment, and safety analysis. Civil engineers ensure that the project meets its objectives while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly. They are responsible for ensuring that the structure is durable and safe.

They are also responsible for planning and implementing public works programs. They could oversee the planning and construction a road, bridge or tunnel.

Are there special qualifications required to study engineering in Canada?

No. All you need is good grades in your GCSEs (or equivalent). Some universities require that applicants achieve certain academic achievements before they can be accepted. Cambridge University for instance requires applicants to have A*-C in Maths, English Language, Science, and Maths.

If you don't meet these requirements, you will need to take extra courses to help you prepare for university entrance exams.

You might need to learn additional math/science subjects, as well as a course in a foreign language. You can learn more about these options by contacting your school guidance counselors.

What is a typical day like for an engineer?

Engineers spend a lot of time on projects. These projects can include developing new products and improving existing ones.

They might be involved in research projects that seek to improve the world.

Or they may be involved in creating new technologies such as computers, mobile phones, cars, planes, rockets, etc.

Engineers have to use imagination and creativity in order to achieve these tasks. Engineers need to be able to think out of the box and create innovative solutions to problems.

So they will often be required to sit down and brainstorm ideas and concepts. They will also be required to test their prototypes and ideas with tools such as laser cutters and CNC machines, 3D printers and laser cutters, computer-aided designs software and other equipment.

Engineers must also communicate effectively in order to present their ideas to others. They must write reports and presentations to share their findings with colleagues and clients.

They will need to use their time efficiently in order to do the maximum possible work in the least amount of time.

You will need to be imaginative, creative, organized, and analytical no matter what engineering field you choose.

Statistics

14% of Industrial engineers design systems that combine workers, machines, and more to create a product or service to eliminate wastefulness in production processes, according to BLS efficiently. (snhu.edu)
Typically required education: Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering Job growth outlook through 2030: 8% Aerospace engineers specialize in designing spacecraft, aircraft, satellites, and missiles. (snhu.edu)