1.

1 Man and Society

Man
• Man is one of the most intelligent creature among the countless
creatures in the world
• Man uses mind to solve the problem, makes the environment friendly
and achieves benefit that’s why different from other animals
• Usually lives in group, i.e, family- is a crucial instrument for the
development of personality
• A child in a society, absorbs its values and behaviour, way of thought,
language after certain values and orientation in the family
Society
• A society is a stable institution, a formal association of people having similar
interest
• Sharing common territory, common rules and regulation, common belief and
culture
Elements of society
• Plurality (gender, age, religion, belief, income, wealth, caste)
• Interdependence
• Cooperation
• Mutual understanding
• Dynamic
• Stability
Characteristics of society
• Consists of people
• Mutual interaction and understanding
• Coordination, cooperation and division of labors
• Interdependence
• Differences
• Dynamics
• Social control (tradition/law)
• Uniqueness on culture
Theories of origin of society

1. Devine origin theory

• Society is creation of god
• Structure and activity of society is will of god
• God is guiding and human being is doing acting only
2. Social contact theory
• Society is planned by human being
• It is ends of mutual agreement of individuals
• Assumes all human beings are born free, equal in dignity and right
3. Evolutionary theory
• It is result of gradual evolution
• By continuous development
1.2 Technology and society

Technology
• Systematic knowledge which facilitates to the use of machines and
tools
• Transfers knowledge into skills
• Practical application of knowledge that brings changes in society
• Facilitates societies to easier/comfortable lives
• Changes life style with its application (internet, mobile phone,
computers)
Role of Engineers

Engineers are those persons who use the technology practically, key roles of engineers for
development are as follows-
• Creating vision
Thinking of beneficial and useful product/object for people by utilizing the properties of
different matter and sources of power.

• Preparing mission
Make plan, prepare economically for use of large number of people for their safety and
protection.

• Execution
Assigned the job or activities that requires engineering knowledge and skills for
implementation of vision and mission.
• Monitoring and evaluation
To make accurate, timely, maintain the quality and economy, do monitor, supervise and
evaluate

• Train
Train new engineers to make professionals, practically, technically and professionally.

• Upgrade Profession
Innovate, systematize and make facilities for the society/people by keeping up the
dignity and ethical values of engineers.
Social change
The change in social processes, interactions, mutual activities and
relationship on society due to dynamic behaviour of people, over a particular
period of time. These are of basically of two types:
1. Exogenous change
• Caused by external agencies eg. Colonization, war or settlement
• Highly unpredictable
• May cause social unequalibrium
2. Endogenous change
• Caused by internal agencies eg. Invention, mutual concern
• Predictable
Factors causing social change
• Social movement
• Cultural factors
• Technological factors
• Demographic factors
• Environmental factors
• Education factors
• Political change
Theories of social change
[Link]-cultural evolution theory
• Society develops gradually from simple to complex
• Simple society- lager society – industrial society- modern world
2. Functionalist theory
• Emphasized on social orders
• Focus to maintain social equilibrium for stability
3. Conflict theory
• Inequality between people on power, wealth and prestige
• One group can get ahead at the expense of another group
4. Cyclical theory
Assumes each civilization is like a biological organism, birth-mature-old-death-birth
 The changes brought by the engineers‘
activities in the human societies are as
below-
1. mass production of goods through machines,
2. automation,
3. faster means of transportation,
4. mass communication,
5. inventing labor saving devices,
6. creating faster pace of life,
7. commercializing recreation, 8. emphasizing on high degree of
specialization .
 At family of society-
Some positive changes:
• Nuclear family emerged,
• Women started involving in male dominant working areas,
• Changed living standard of life,
• Children started new ways in specializations,
• Started bringing changes in orthodox values.

Some demerits:
• Life became mechanical,
• Relationship among keen relatives became formal,
• Existing social customs changed,
• Family ties among family member became less.
In religious societies-
•Started analyzing religion doctrines and tradition,
•Relaxation occurred in the rigidity of caste system,
•People became free from religion rituals,
•Religion became secondary thing.

In rural societies-
•Population started migrating towards urban areas,
•Populations became increasingly consciousness of their societies,
• People started changed farming techniques
• People have more comfortable lives than before,
• Their life-patterns changed.
In Urban societies-
•Rapid increase in population,
•Shortage of land,
•Traffic congestion,
•Crimes
•Mechanic life,
•Money, money, money
•Life became expensive
Values of Western society
• Work and activity
• Achievement and success,
• Moral orientation,
• Efficiency and practicability,
• Progress,
• Materials comforts,
• Equality,
• Freedom,
• Use of technology,
• Individualistic,
• High value of time
Values of Eastern society
• Power of truth
• Achievement in religious activities,
• Societal concern,
• Belief on the values by their forefathers,
• ………………………..?
• ………………………?
• ……………………….?
• …………………….?
1.3 Engineering practice in Eastern
societies
[Link] 5000 BC, civilization developed near Yanshao, where people roamed
seeking new soil for agriculture. People used earthen pottery and stone tools.
2. During 4000 BC, early Chinese communities planned cities according to Grid
pattern with intersecting streets at right angles to each other.
3. During 3300 – 3200 BC, Egyptians first developed a system of Division of Labor
in closed societies in Sumar and Egypt, particularly among merchants and
metalworkers.
4. During 3500 –3000 BC, in Sumeria, the appearance of towns and cities coincide
with the production and distribution of goods through trades.
5. In 132 AD, Chinese philosopher Chang Heng invented a Seismoscope.
6. In 510 AD, China‘s Grand Canal (Shan –Yang) in southern China was built
connecting Yangtze (Chang-Jiang) and Huang –He (yellow river), which played a
lifeline for north China providing a transportation route for grains and
commodities.
Engineering practice in Eastern
societies
7. During 704 AD, the Buddhist Text “Dharani Sutra” was printed in Korea
during 704 – 751 AD, using block printing technique. It is the oldest existing
printed book,
8. In 805 AD, the forerunners of Gun were invented, which is called “fire
lance”,
9. In 1040 AD, Chinese writer Tseng Kung – Liang published the first known
Gun-powder formulae for use in three weapons- a. bomb held by a kind of
catapult, b. bomb with hooks and c. a poison – smoke ball.
10. In 1045 – 1048 AD, Pi – Sang invented movable type for printing. Printing
with movable type was developed in Europe in mid 15th century.
11. In 1250 AD, true guns with a gunpowder chamber and strengthening
explosion chamber to prevent splitting appeared in china. In less than a
century, guns reached in Europe and changed the characters of medieval
warfare.
Engineering practice in Eastern
societies
12. In 1805 AD, the first Surgery equipment was performed in Japan.
13. The Iranians built many bridges, however of which some survive
from the time of Shapur –I (300AD).
14. In 400 AD, the Sassaid kings built a great palace at Ctesiphon, which
was a capital on Tigris, north east of deserted Babylon and down stream
from the village of Baghdad. Part of this palace still stands, including
most of the vaulted dining hall “the widest single span vault of un-
reinforced brick work in the world.” The vault is 77 feet wide at the base
and 112 feet high.
15. In 515 BC, Persian building method with stone instead of wood was
introduced into India.
1.4 Engineering practice in Western
societies
1. In 3000 – 1000 BC, Stonehenge – a monument consisting of
concentric circles of stone oriented towards the Sun position on the
summer solstice in England.
2. In 300BC – 100 AD, agriculture and power appeared in ancient
Mesoamerica.
3. In 250 – 900 AD, Maya created and maintained a sophisticated pair of
interlocking Calendar to help them plan ceremonies.
4. In 1268 AD, English scientist and philosopher Roger bacon records a
statement about using lenses to improve vision with eyeglasses. At the
end of 13th century, many wealthy and elite people in Europe, Asia, and
Africa wear glasses.
Engineering practice in Western
societies
5. In 1487 AD, Aztee ruler Ahuitzotl dedicated the new Tempo Mayor
(great temple), an enormous double pyramid in Tenochtitlan to the
warrior God of the Sun.
6. In 1673 AD, English mathematician, John Hadlley and American
inventor Thomas Godfery independently invented the Sextant, an optical
instrument to measure angular distance between any two objects.
7. In 1747 –1752 AD, American scientist Benjamin Franklin theorized that
lightning is a form of electricity.
8. In 1780 AD, Scottish inventor James Watt and English manufacturer
Matthew Boulton began manufacturing a steam engine for industrial
use.
9. In 1793 AD, American Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, a device
that rapidly and efficiently removes seeds from cotton fiber.
Engineering practice in Western
societies
10. In 1807 AD, American inventor and engineer Robert Fulton inaugurated a new era of
power driven navigation as a steamboat.
11. In 1660 Ad, a fine opportunity for planned city was offered after the great fire of
London by John Evelyn, the diarist and civil servant and Chritopher Wren, an architect to
Charles-II for rebuilding the burnt city before the ashes cool down.
12. In 1548 – 1620, Simon Stevin discovered the triangle of forces in Netherlands, which
helped to calculate the actual load on the members of cranes, trusses and other
structures.
13. Stevin‘s younger contemporary Galileo Galilel in 1564 – 1642 AD, solved the problem
of accelerated movement and began the analysis of stresses in beams.
14. Technical men organized the society of Lynxes, to which Galileo belonged. The first
research institute was founded in 1560 AD.
15. Engineering school appeared in France in 1800 AD and at the same time
specialization within engineering profession took place. John Smeaton, who went to
France in 1750s AD to round off his technical education, called himself ‘Civil engineer‘
meaning non-military engineer.
1.5 Engineering practice in Nepal
Following are some government line agencies, corporation and
companies where engineering graduates can practice engineering
profession:
1. Line ministries, OPMCM and OCMCM
2. District coordination committee
3. Metropolitan cities, sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities and rural
municipalities
4. Nepal telecommunication company LTD
5. Nepal airlines corporation
6. Nepal industrial development corporation
7. Government, private banks and cooperatives
1.5 Engineering practice in Nepal
8. Nepal electricity authority
9. Metropolitan cities, sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities and rural
municipalities
10. University grant commission
11……………………
12…………………..
13……………………..
General job description of Engineers
in public sector
1. To perform preliminary and detail survey, design and estimate,
2. To execute and assign for execution of project works,
3. To conduct various programs for increasing people’s capacity,
4. To report writings of-
• progress report,
• feasibility report,
• final report
• monitoring and evaluation report etc,
5. To monitor and evaluate ongoing projects,
6. To facilitate donor agencies is involved,
7. To execute and perform works and jobs assigned by immediate superiors, and
8. To execute other jobs planned specifically for engineers as the nature and case.
General job description of Engineers
in private sector
1. To coordinate works between stakeholders- clients, consulting and
contractors
2. To layout works, to survey and to estimate,
3. To supervise, monitor, and control works,
4. To control quality, to assess and report to concerning authorities,
5. To prepare bills as a quantity surveyor,
6. To plan project and report progress,
7. To prepare technical report and prepare claims if any,
8. To conduct necessary training regarding site work and office
organizations system to new staffs,
9. To overall manage of construction project etc.