WHAT ISENGINEERING

AND SURVEYING?

ENGINEERINGA. M. Wellington (1887) It would be well if engineering were less generally thought of as the art of constructing. In a certain important sense it is rather the art of not constructing, of doing that well with one dollar which any bungler can do with two after a fashion.

S. E. Lindsay (1920) Engineering is the practice of safe and economic application of the scientific laws governing the forces and materials of nature by means of organization, design, and construction, for the general benefit of mankind.

J. A. L. Waddell, Frank W. Skinner, Wessman (1933) Engineering is the science and art of efficient dealing with materials and forces, it involves the most economic design and execution, assuring, when properly performed, the most advantageous combination of accuracy, safety, durability, speed, simplicity, efficiency, and economy possible for the conditions of design and service.

Vanevar Bush (1939) Engineering, in a broad sense, is applying science in an economic manner to the needs of mankind. T. J. Hoover and J. C. L. Fish (1941)Engineering is the professional and systematic application of science to the efficient utilization of natural resources to produce wealth.L. M. K. Boelter (1957) Engineers participate in the activities which make the resources of nature available in a form beneficial to man and provide systems which will perform optimally and economically. John C. Calhoun, Jr. (1963) It is the engineer's responsibility to be aware of social needs and to decide how the laws of science can be best adapted through engineering works to fulfill those needs. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (1982)Engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.

A Typical Legal Definition of Engineering "Professional engineer", within the meaning and intent of this act, refers to a person engaged in professional practice of rendering service or creative work requiring education, training and experience in engineering sciences and the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences in such professional or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning or design of public or private utilities, structures, machines, processes, circuits, buildings, equipment or projects, and supervision of construction for the purpose of securing compliance with specifications and design for any such work.The Profession's Definition of an Engineer A professional engineer is competent by virtue of his fundamental education and training to apply the scientific method and outlook to the solution of problems and to assume personal responsibility for the development and application of engineering science and techniques especially in research, designing, manufacturing, superintending, and managing. An engineer is a person qualified by aptitude, education, and experience to perform engineering functions.

CIVIL ENGINEERING

As a construction engineer, you will be a builder of our future. The construction phase of a project represents the first tangible result of a design. Using your technical and management skills, you will help turn designs into reality -- on time and within budget. You will apply your knowledge of construction methods and equipment, along with principles of financing, planning, and managing, to turn the designs of other engineers into successful facilities.

Construction Engineering

Math- Moderate abilityPhysics- Strong in mechanics, moderate in all other areasChemistry- Not essentialAbility to come to quick reasoned decisions in the field. Knowledge of construction law.

Environmental Engineering

The skills of environmental engineers are becoming increasingly important as we attempt to protect the fragile resources of our planet. Environmental engineers translate physical, chemical, and biological processes into systems to destroy toxic substances, remove pollutants from water, reduce non-hazardous solid waste volumes, eliminate contaminants from the air, and develop groundwater supplies. In this field, you might be called upon to resolve problems of providing safe drinking water, cleaning up sites contaminated with hazardous materials, cleaning up and preventing air pollution, treating wastewater, and managing solid wastes.

Math- Moderate to strongPhysics- moderateChemistry- StrongAbility to think in abstracts

Geotechnical Engineering

Almost all of the facilities that make up our infrastructure are in, on, or with earth materials, and geotechnical engineering is the discipline that deals with applications of technology to solve these problems. Examples of facilities in the earth are tunnels, deep foundations, and pipelines. Highway pavements and many buildings are supported on the earth. And earth dams, levees, embankments, and slopes are constructed with the earth. In addition, many soil-like waste materials are deposited in containment areas. To design these facilities, geotechnical engineers must conduct analyses based on the principles of mechanics and mathematics. These analyses require input data to quantify the properties of the earth materials, and this information is usually obtained from laboratory or field tests.

Math- Moderate to strongPhysics- Moderate to strongChemistry- Moderate to strongAbility to work in both the office and field

Structural Engineering

As a structural engineer, you will face the challenge of analyzing and designing structures to ensure that they safely perform their purpose. They must support their own weight and resist dynamic environmental loads such as hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, and floods. Stadiums, arenas, skyscrapers, offshore oil structures, space platforms, amusement park rides, bridges, office buildings, and homes are a few of the many types of projects in which structural engineers are involved. You will develop and utilize knowledge of the properties and behaviors of steel, concrete, aluminum, timber, and plastic as well as new and exotic materials. To make certain that the plans are being followed, you will often be on the construction site inspecting and verifying the work.

Math- Strong to moderatePhysics- strong to moderate (especially mechanics)Chemistry- Not essentialAbility to in abstracts as well as understand the behavior of various materials

Transportation Engineering

Because the quality of a community is directly related to the quality of its transportation system, your function as a transportation engineer will be to move people, goods, and materials safely and efficiently. Your challenge will be to find ways to meet the increasing travel needs on land, air and sea. You will design, construct, and maintain all types of facilities, including highways, railroads, airfields, and ports. An important part of transportation engineering is to upgrade our transportation capability by improving traffic control and mass transit systems, and by introducing high-speed trains, people movers, and other new transportation methods.

Math- Moderate to strongPhysics- Not essential. Electrical circuits most essentialChemistry- Not essentialAbility to work in abstracts such as human behavior

As a professional in this area, you will be concerned with the full development of a community. Analyzing a variety of information will help you coordinate projects, such as projecting street patterns, identifying park and recreation areas, and determining areas for industrial and residential growth. To ensure ready access to your community, coordination with other authorities may be required to integrate freeways, airports, and other related facilities. Successful coordination of a project will require you to be people-oriented as well as

technically knowledgeable.

Urban Planning

Math- Moderate to strong.Physics- Not essentialChemistry- Not essentialAbility to work in abstracts such as human behavior

Water Resources

Water is essential to our lives, and as a water resources engineer, you will deal with issues concerning the quality and quantity of water. You will work to prevent floods, to supply water for cities, industry and irrigation, to treat wastewater, to protect beaches, or to manage and redirect rivers. You might be involved in the design, construction, or maintenance of hydroelectric power facilities, canals, dams, pipelines, pumping stations, locks, or seaport facilities.

Math- Strong to moderatePhysics- Moderate to strongChemistry- moderateAbility to work in abstracts such as fluid flow and behavior

CIVIL ENGINEERING IS A “PROTECTED” TITLE

To be able to be called a Civil Engineer, you must pass the State exam for Civil Engineers. In order to take the exam, you must have a combination of qualifying experience and education.It is illegal for anybody who is not licensed to use the title “Civil Engineer”

WHAT IS LAND SURVEYING?

ELEMENTARY DEFINITION OF SURVEYINGThe art, science, and technology of detecting the relative position of points at, above, or below the surface of the earth; or establishing such points.

BROADER DEFINITION

Surveying Measurement: The art, science, and technology of gathering and analyzing measurement data related to the land and other land-related surfaces and spaces, to include designing and devising the measurement specifications and standards to accomplish these measurements with the desired precision and accuracy and error control and adjustment, including the use of all instrumentation applicable to such measurements, said measurements typically being, but not limited to distances, heights, angles, directions, positions, areas, volumes, and other measurements associated with these quantities.

Professional Surveying: The application of knowledge of the science of surveying measurement, the legal principles of boundary location, the laws related to boundaries and land use, the applicable mathematical and computational theories and principles, the natural and other forces which affect positional accuracy, the land planning and development concepts pertinent to subdivision of land and property surveys, land record and land tenure concepts, geodetic and other earth-related sciences to the analysis, design, and execution of surveying and mapping projects and the design of land mapping and information systems.

PRIMARY CATEGORIES WITHIN SURVEYING

Cadastral: Related to finding property boundariesBoundary Control: Determining where property boundaries are locatedTopographic Surveying: Determining the location of fixed objects and defining the shape of the earth

Photogrammetry: Mapping the earth and defining it’s features by photographic meansLand Division: Preparing maps and legal description for the purposes of dividing parcels of landPublic Lands: Knowledge and practice of surveying practices relating to public (sectionalized) landsLegal Principals: Knowledge and practice of preparing and interpreting legal descriptionsGeodesy: Practice and science of defining the earth’s surface

WHAT KIND OF APTITUDE DO I NEED FOR LAND SURVEYING?

Math- Moderate: primarily geometry, trigonometry and statisticsPhysics- Moderate: primarily electromagnetismChemistry- Not essentialAbility to work outside; think on your feet; be able to understand legal/intangibles as well as mathematical concepts.

LAND SURVEYING IS A “PROTECTED” TITLE

To be able to be called a Land Surveyor, you must pass the State exam for Land Surveyors. In order to take the exam, you must have a combination of qualifying experience and education.It is illegal for anybody who is not licensed to use the title “Land Surveyor”