Introduction to Engineering
Week 1
Lecturer: Dr Akila Wijethunga
◦ E-mail: [Link]@[Link]
On completion of this module, students should be able
to:
Describe what engineering is, the roles of an engineer
and an engineering team
List the skills and attributes a graduate engineer needs
to possess
Explain the concepts of humanitarian engineering and
engineering projects
Describe the unit content and assessment components
and how they connect to the objectives above
Some definitions
◦ “The profession in which scientific knowledge,
gained by study, experience, and practice is
applied with judgement, to develop ways to
economically utilise the materials and forces of
nature for the benefit of mankind.”
1985 Annual Report, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, New York (1986)
profession - requires considerable training and specialised study
scientific knowledge – body of facts or truths showing the operation of
general laws,
e.g. mathematics, physics, economics, management, etc.
study, experience, and practice – implies life-long learning
applied with judgement - the ability to judge, make a decision, or form an
opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely
develop ways – implies creative thinking, development of new knowledge, and
application of existing and new knowledge
economically utilise – use resources optimally
materials and forces of nature – must understand and apply the natural
sciences
for the benefit of mankind – must be ethical, take into account social
implications.
◦ “The use of scientific knowledge to solve practical
problems.”
Wordnetweb @ Princeton
Terms “engineer” and engineering” frequently
misused
◦ Often to add importance / glamour
Examples of misuse
◦ “sanitation engineer” – plumber / garbage collector
◦ “domestic engineer” - housekeeper
NOT an
engineer!
Scientists
◦ investigate what exists
◦ systematically describe it
theories, models and natural laws
Engineers
◦ utilise the scientific knowledge to create solutions for
practical problems
◦ must have a very good understanding of available scientific
knowledge
Mathematics - language to describe scientific
knowledge, engineering systems and processes
◦ concise and unambiguous
◦ independent language – breaks linguistic barriers
◦ helps simplify models of complex real world
A mathematical description of a system is not the
system itself – merely a model
◦ basic scientific principles must be understood
◦ all assumptions must be clearly defined
Large variety of engineering disciplines
◦ Aeronautical
◦ Automotive
◦ Civil
◦ Chemical
◦ Electrical
◦ Electronics
◦ Environmental
◦ Mechanical
◦ Mining
◦ etc. etc…
All require fundamental scientific knowledge plus
some specialist knowledge
◦ Also many specialities within disciplines
Engineering careers - range from being specialised in
particular areas to multi-disciplinary
Modern engineers operate in a variety of roles:
◦ Design engineer
◦ Test and evaluation engineer
◦ Production engineer
◦ Maintenance engineer
◦ Project manager
◦ Consultant
From factory floor to laboratory, sales to management
Need a wide range of skills
Variety of professional engineering organisations
worldwide
◦ Engineers Australia
◦ IEEE
◦ The Society of Automotive Engineers
◦ etc..
Serve variety of roles
◦ Maintain professional standards
◦ Provide community for sharing ideas, interaction and
development
◦ ‘Voice’ of profession
University engineering programs are regularly
evaluated by Engineers Australia
Program is accredited only if comply with set
requirements
Accredited qualification - pre-requisite for registration
as a professional engineer
Pre-requisites for registration as a Chartered
Professional Engineer
1. An engineering degree from an accredited engineering
program
2. The attainment of practice competencies through
supervised formation in industry or other professional
settings.
Engineers Stage 1
Australia
definition Competencies
3:
2:
1: Professional
Engineering
Knowledge and
Application
Base Personal
Ability
Attributes
1. Comprehensive, theory based understanding
of the underpinning natural and physical
sciences and the engineering fundamentals
applicable to the engineering discipline
2. Conceptual understanding of mathematics,
numerical analysis, statistics, and computer
and information sciences which underpin the
engineering discipline
3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of
knowledge within the engineering discipline.
4. Discernment of knowledge development and
research directions within the engineering
discipline.
5. Knowledge of engineering design practice and
contextual factors impacting the engineering
discipline.
◦ Social, cultural, environmental, commercial, legal, political
6. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms,
accountabilities and bounds of contemporary
engineering practice in the specific discipline.
1. Application of established engineering
methods to complex engineering problem
solving.
2. Fluent application of engineering
techniques, tools and resources.
3. Application of systematic engineering
synthesis and design processes.
4. Application of systematic approaches
to the conduct and management of
engineering projects.
1. Ethical conduct and professional
accountability
2. Effective oral and written
communication in professional and lay
domains.
3. Creative, innovative and pro-active
demeanour.
4. Professional use and management of
information.
5. Orderly management of self, and
professional conduct.
6. Effective team membership and team
leadership.
Documents where and how various competencies
have been attained
◦ Necessary for practice competencies to be recognised
Students encouraged to start maintaining a
Professional Developmental Log during their studies
at University (Engineers Australia)
Current trend – e-portfolios
◦ E.g. PebblePad (used at ECU)
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
1. identify the roles and responsibilities of a practicing engineer
2. identify the stages in an design cycle and prepare a design strategy
that incorporates the components of the design cycle
3. describe the importance of sustainability, ethics and safety in
engineering design, and embed these issues into their design
processes
4. demonstrate the oral and written communication skills that are
critical in relationships between engineers and clients, where clients
may include the general public
5. work in a team to plan and carry out a project
6. demonstrate an awareness of Indigenous Australian perspectives
and how this impacts the interactions of engineers with Indigenous
Australian communities
Generic attributes of an
Systems Engineering engineer Communications
•description, analysis and design •preparing engineering
of complex systems, design documents: technical reports,
cycle, prototypes, problem manuals, procedures and
Design Projects
solving skills and tools proposals; project presentation
•teamwork and the engineering
design process
Responsibilities of an Engineering Management
Engineer •fundamentals of project
•ethics, safety in design, management, engineering
sustainable design economics, risk management
Design Project 55%
◦ Design Project first report 5%
◦ Design Project second report 5%
◦ Design Project mini presentation 3%
◦ Design Project final report 30%
◦ Design Project final presentation 12%
Communication Lab 10%
Tutorial Exercises 5%
Online Quizzes 10%
Portfolio 20%
◦ Mid-semester submission 8%
◦ End-of-semester submission 12%
Prescribed Text:
◦ Dowling, D., Hadgraft, R., et al (2019).
Engineering your future: an Australasian
guide. (4th Ed). John Wiley.
◦ Note: 3rd or 2nd edition also acceptable
◦ 2nd edition available under
◦ Moodle > Information > Essential Readings & Resources
Policy of ECC
Each student expected to have their own laptop or
tablet to use in class
For this course – require Microsoft Office
◦ In particular Word and Excel
Tutorial exercises using this, especially from Week 4
Repository of all information pertaining to unit
◦ Contains tutorial information, recommended reading,
project info and other resources
Quizzes
Electronic submissions through site
◦ “The use of scientific knowledge to solve practical
problems.”
Project:
◦ “A collaborative enterprise, frequently involving
research or design, that is carefully planned to
achieve a particular aim.”
(Wikipedia, 2010)
Engineering Project:
◦ “A task identified in response to a recognised
engineering problem.”
(Dowling et al, 2010)
Means by which you will “learn by doing”
PROJECT
Cost
Schedule
Functionality
Ethics
Creativity & Engineering
Innovation Design
Problem
Solving Safety
Function
Engineering
Economics &
Sustainability Project Project
Management
Cost Schedule
Communication & Documentation
Engineering is about solving practical problems
Engineers work in teams on projects to design solutions
and implement them
Science and maths are key tools used along with
specialised bodies of knowledge
There are a number of other skills required
◦ E.g. communication, project management, etc.
◦ The EA Stage 1 competencies give these in detail
◦ You will need to document and provide evidence of these skills
The assessments for this unit are based around the key
elements of a project