engineering technology as a career

Engineering Technology as a CareerDr Sam Man Keong CEng, CMath, CSciEmail: [email protected] ; HP: 96740515

A Career in Eng Tech

About the Speaker Prof Sam Man KeongSingapore : SP/NUS/NTU.Australia : MelbU/RMIT/CQU.Chartered Engineer (UK/Ireland/Australia)Chartered Builder (UK)Chartered Mathematician (UK)Chartered Scientist (UK)A life-long learner.


About SIETEstablished : 1980.Engineering Technologists; Engineering Technicians.Poly/ITE graduates.Website : www.siet.org.sg


HighlightsDefinitions : Science; Technology; Engineering.Relationship: Science, Engineering and Technology.The Five Main Branches of Engineering.Engineering Modern Era.Usage of Technology.Engineering in a Social Context.


What is Science???Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") is the human effort to discover, understand, or to understand better, how the physical world works, with observable physical evidence as the basis of that understanding. It is done through observation of existing phenomena, and/or through experimentation that tries to simulate phenomena under controlled conditions. Knowledge in science is gained through research.


BIOLOGY AND ANATOMY Biology, the study of life, is a broad field covering everything from the little chemical machines inside our cells to the broad scale of theories about the ecosystem and global climate changes. including cells, genes, evolution, the scientific method, and current issues.


CHEMISTRY Chemistry, the science that systematically studies the composition, properties, and activity of organic and inorganic substances, should become a focus to everyone. As one of the most used sciences today, Chemistry is the study that connects the everyday world to the molecular world. In this subject, one learns how to break down substances, combine substances to make more complex ones, and also devise methods to help change the way we feel.


PHYSICS Physics is the scientific study of matter and energy and how they interact with each other.. As a very broad subject, Physics is broken down into many branches which include Classical Physics, Quantum Physics, Atomic Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Solid State Physics.


ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Enviromnental Science is the science that describes the interrelationship among organisms, the environment, and all the factors which influence life on earth including atmospheric conditions, food chains, the water cycle, etc. A science about our earth and its daily activies, this science is important for everyone.


[Issac Newton (1642 1727)]- Law of Universal GravitationAlbert Einstein (1879 1955]- Theory of Relativity


[Charles Darwin (1809 1882)] Charles Darwin: The Theory of Evolution


[Gregor Mendel (1822 1884) Genetics][James Watson (1928 - ..) DNA in 1953] with Francis Crick


[Robert Boyle (1627 1691) Boyles Law]


[John Dalton (1766 1844) Modern Atomic Theory]


[Curie Marie (1867 1934) - She was a pioneer in the field of radioactivity, the first and only person honored with Nobel Prizes in two different sciences ]


Stephen William Hawking (1942 - ) 1970: Using quantum theory and general relativity he was able to show that black holes can emit radiation. His success with proving this made him work from that time on combining the theory of general relativity with quantum theory. In 1971 Hawking investigated the creation of the Universe and predicted that, following the big bang, many objects as heavy as 109 tons but only the size of a proton would be created.


What is Engineering?Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying scientific knowledge and utilizing natural laws and physical resources in order to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that realize a desired objective and meet specified criteria.


Archimedes (287BC- 212BC)His contributions in geometry revolutionised the subject and his methods anticipated the integral calculus 2,000 years before Newton and Leibniz. He was also a thoroughly practical man who invented a wide variety of machines including pulleys and the Archimidean screw pumping device.


Robert Hooke (1635 1703) Robert Hooke was an English scientist who made contributions to many different fields including mathematics, optics, mechanics, architecture and astronomy. He had a famous quarrel with Newton.


What is Technology?Technology is a broad concept that deals with a species' usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt to its environment. In human society, it is a consequence of science and engineering, although several technological advances predate the two concepts.


What is Technology?"technology" can refer to material objects of use to humanity, such as machines, hardware or utensils, but can also encompass broader themes, including systems, methods of organization, and techniques. The term can either be applied generally or to specific areas: examples include "construction technology", "medical technology", or "state-of-the-art technology".


Science, Engineering and Technology (1)The distinction between science, engineering and technology is not always clear. Science is the reasoned investigation or study of phenomena, aimed at discovering enduring principles among elements of the phenomenal world by employing formal techniques such as the scientific method. Technologies are not usually exclusively products of science, because they have to satisfy requirements such as utility, usability and safety.


Science, Engineering and Technology (2)Engineering is the goal-oriented process of designing and making tools and systems to exploit natural phenomena for practical human means, often (but not always) using results and techniques from science. The development of technology may draw upon many fields of knowledge, including scientific, engineering, mathematical, linguistic, and historical knowledge, to achieve some practical result.


Science, Engineering and Technology (3)Technology is often a consequence of science and engineering although technology as a human activity precedes the two fields. For example, science might study the flow of electrons in electrical conductors, by using already-existing tools and knowledge. This new-found knowledge may then be used by engineers to create new tools and machines, such as semiconductors, computers, and other forms of advanced technology. In this sense, scientists and engineers may both be considered technologists; the three fields are often considered as one for the purposes of research and reference.


The Five Main Branches of Engineering (1700 Present)Modern engineering and technology began in the 1700s and developed into five main branches: Civil, Mechanical, Mining and Metallurgical, Chemical, and Electrical.


Engineering Modern Era (1) - CivilCivil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works such as bridges, roads, canals, dams and buildings. Civil engineering is the oldest engineering discipline after military engineering.


Engineering Modern Era (1) - CivilIt is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering.


A view of the pyramids at Giza from the plateau to the south of the complex. From right to left are the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The three smaller pyramids in the foreground are subsidiary structures associated with Menkaure's pyramid.


Pont du Gard, France, a Roman aqueduct built circa 19 BC.


Great Wall of China


Hoover Dam, USA


The Petronas Twin Towers, designed by Thornton-Tomasetti and Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd engineers, and Cesar Pelli, were the world's tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004 Aerial view of Burj Dubai on October 26, 2008[Height : 818 m]


The Institution of Civil Engineers headquarters in London


Sam at London - 1996


Engineering Modern Era (2) - ElectricalElectrical Engineering can trace its origins in the experiments of Alessandro Volta in the 1800s, the experiments of Michael Faraday, Georg Ohm and others and the invention of the electric motor in 1872. The work of James Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz in the late 19th century gave rise to the field of Electronics. The later inventions of the vacuum tube and the transistor further accelerated the development of Electronics to such an extent that electrical and electronics engineers currently outnumber their colleagues of any other Engineering specialty.


Engineering Modern Era (3) - MechanicalThe inventions of Thomas Savery and the Scottish engineer James Watt gave rise to modern Mechanical Engineering. The development of specialized machines and their maintenance tools during the industrial revolution led to the rapid growth of Mechanical Engineering both in its birthplace Britain and abroad.


Engineering Modern Era (3)The first PhD in engineering (technically, applied science and engineering) awarded in the United States went to Willard Gibbs at Yale University in 1863; it was also the second PhD awarded in science in the U.S.In 1990, with the rise of computer technology, the first search engine was built by computer engineer Alan Emtage.


Usage of Technology (1)The human race's use of technology began with the conversion of natural resources into simple tools. The prehistorical discovery of the ability to control fire increased the available sources of food and the invention of the wheel helped humans in travelling in and controlling their environment. Recent technological developments, including the printing press, the telephone, and the Internet, have lessened physical barriers to communication and allowed humans to interact on a global scale. However, not all technology has been used for peaceful purposes; the development of weapons of ever-increasing destructive power has progressed throughout history, from clubs to nuclear weapons.


Usage of Technology (2)Technology has affected society and its surroundings in a number of ways. In many societies, technology has helped develop more advanced economies (including today's global economy) and has allowed the rise of a leisure class. Many technological processes produce unwanted by-products, known as pollution, and deplete natural resources, to the detriment of the Earth and its environment. Various implementations of technology influence the values of a society and new technology often raises new ethical questions. Examples include the rise of the notion of efficiency in terms of human productivity, a term originally applied only to machines, and the challenge of traditional norms.


Hand axes from the Acheulian period


An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools.


The wheel was invented in circa 4000 BC.


Watt steam engine


Design of a turbine requires collaboration from engineers from many fields


By the mid 20th century, humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space.


Engineering in a Social ContextEngineering design is a very powerful tool to make changes to environment, society and economies, and its application brings with it a great responsibility, as represented by many of the Engineering Institutions codes of practice and ethics.


Engineering in a Social ContextEngineering projects can be subject to considerable controversy. Some examples : the development of nuclear weapons, the Three Gorges Dam, the design and use of Sports Utility Vehicles and the extraction of oil.


2nd World War : 1945Map showing the locations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan where the two atomic weapons were employed


Atomic Bombs : 2nd War WorldThe bombs killed as many as 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki by the end of 1945, roughly half on the days of the bombings. Since then, thousands more have died from injuries or illness attributed to exposure to radiation released by the bombs. In both cities, the overwhelming majority of the dead were civilians.


6 August 1945 : The mushroom cloud over Hiroshima after the dropping of Little Boy


9 August 1945 :The Fat Man mushroom cloud resulting from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rises 18 km (11 mi, 60,000 ft) into the air from the hypocenter.


A postwar "Little Boy" casing mockup A post-war "Fat Man" model


The energy released by the bomb was powerful enough to burn through clothing. The dark portions of the garments this victim wore at the time of the blast were emblazoned on to the flesh as scars, while skin underneath the lighter parts (which absorb less energy) was not damaged as badly.


Urakami Tenshudo (Catholic Church in Nagasaki) in January 1946, destroyed by the atomic bomb, the dome of the church having toppled off.


Three Gorges Dam China The Three Gorges Dam () is a hydroelectric river dam that spans the Yangtze River in Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei, China. It is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world. The total electric generating capacity of the dam will reach 22,500megawatts. This is the biggest project that has been undertaken in China since the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.


Three Gorges Dam (left), Gezhouba Dam (right).


Three Gorges Dam


Ship locks for river traffic to bypass the Three Gorges Dam, May 2004


Scale of the projectThe dam wall is made of concrete and is about 2,309metres (7,575ft) long, and 101metres (331ft) high. The wall is 115metres (377.3ft) thick on the bottom and 40metres (131.2ft) thick on top. The project used 27,200,000cubic metres (35,600,000cuyd) of concrete, 463,000tonnes of steel, enough to build 63Eiffel Towers, and moved about 102,600,000cubic metres (134,200,000cuyd) of earth.


Scale of the projectWhen the water level is maximum at 175metres (574ft) over sea level (91metres (299ft) above river level) , the reservoir created by the Three Gorges Dam is about 660kilometres (410mi) in length and 1.12kilometres (0.70mi) in width on average, and contains 39.3 cu km (9.43 cubic miles) of water.The total surface area of the reservoir is 1045 sq km.


EconomiesWhen finished, the project will have cost 180billion yuan, over 20billion yuan less than the initial estimated budget of 203.9billion yuan, just under 30 billion USD. This is because the calculation accounts for the effect of inflation, and the lower costs are attributed to a low inflation rate in recent years. It is estimated that the cost of construction will be recovered when the dam generates 1000TWh of the electricity, which will be sold at the price of 250billion yuan. This will take 10more years after the dam starts full operation.The fully completed Three Gorges dam will contribute about 100TWh of generation per year.


Three Gorges Dam Francis Turbine:The diameter of the turbine is 9.709/10.427m(VGS design/Alstom's design).


Environmental Contribution of the damDirect reduction of air pollutant and greenhouse gas emission.Reduction of greenhouse gas due to navigation.Aforestation.Waste management.


Flood control and drought relief The most significant function of the dam is to control flooding, which is a major problem of a seasonal river like the Yangtze. Millions of people live downstream of the dam, and many large and important cities like Wuhan, Nanjing and Shanghai lie next to the river. Plenty of farm land and the most important industrial area of China are built beside the river.


Flood control and drought reliefIn 1954 the river flooded 47.75 million acres (193,000km) of land, killing 33,169people and forcing 18,884,000people to move. The flood covered Wuhan, a city with 8 million people, for over three months, and the Jingguang Railway was out of service for more than 100days.


Flood control and drought reliefIn 1998 a flood in the same area caused billions of dollars in damage. The Chinese government asked for support from its military to fight the flooding. Two thousand and thirty-nine square kilometers of farm land was flooded. The flood affected more than 2.3million people, and 1,526 were killed.


Flood control and drought reliefThe reservoir's flood storage capacity is 22cubic kilometers (18million acre feet). This capacity will reduce the frequency of major downstream flooding from once every 10 years to once every 100 years. With the dam, it is expected that major floods can be controlled. If a "super" flood comes, the dam is expected to minimize its effect.


Relocation of local residentsDuring the planning stages in the 1990s it was estimated that 1.13million residents would be forced to relocate; new developments have doubled that number to 2.3million. That estimate has been increased and as of 13 October 2007, 1,400,000citizens have been displaced, which is about 1.5% of the total population of Hubei Province (60.3 million) and Chongqing City (31.44million) where the reservoir is located. About 140,000residents will be relocated out of Hubei province to eastern provinces and some central provinces, and the majority of the remaining people will be relocated within Hubei Province.


Relocation of local residentsOn October 11, 2007 Chinese state media announced that under a development plan of Chongqing city, an additional 4 million people will be encouraged to move from their homes near the dam to the Chongqing metropolitan area by the year 2020.


Relocation of local residentsOn one hand, the massive relocation demonstrates the Chinese government's determination and will to complete the huge project. On the other hand, there have been accusations that corruption in the government has kept residents from getting proper assistance. For instance, millions in tax money sent to the town of Gaoyang for the purpose of relocation 13,000 farmers disappeared after it was sent to the local government, and residents were denied compensation.


CriticismEnvironmental impact.Effect on local culture and aesthetic values.Sedimentation.Induced seismicity.National Security Concerns.


Contentious Beliefs about the Three Gorges Dam ProjectThe dam can generate up to 18.6 GW of power. More than 4 million people have to be relocated due to the dam. Scientists even claim that the weight of the water from the reservoir will be so heavy it will tilt the earth on its rotational axis by a slight degree. The Three Gorges Dam creates the largest human made reservoir on the earth.


Contentious Beliefs about the Three Gorges Dam ProjectThe Three Gorges Dam can supply 10% of Chinas electricity demand. When the dam was planned in late 1980s and early 1990s it was expected to provide 10% of electricity consumption in China. However, Chinas demand for electricity has increased at a higher rate than was planned, and if fully operational now, it would support about 3% of the total electricity consumption in China.


Contentious Beliefs about the Three Gorges Dam ProjectThe Three Gorges Dam can supply 10% of Chinas electricity demand. According to World Energy Outlook 2007 by International Energy Agency, China the electricity demand will rise to 4409TWh by 2015. In other words, by 2015, the fully operational Three Gorges Dam will provide 2.27% of the Chinas total electricity consumption.


Contentious Beliefs about the Three Gorges Dam ProjectThe Three Gorges Dam caused the Sichuan earthquake. The increased load on one of the tectonic plates associated with the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in May 2008 did bear the increased load of the dam's earthworks, structure, and the filling reservoir of water. Other reservoir filling has been noted to cause induced seismicity but a direct correlation to activity of such magnitude as a 7.8 quake has not been previously recorded.


Sichuan Earthquake 12 May 2008


Dams Mekong RiverIt is the 12th-longest river in the world, and 7th longest in Asia. (discharging 475km3/114cumi of water annually). Its estimated length is 4,350km (2,703mi), and it drains an area of 795,000km2 (307,000sqmi).From the Tibetan Plateau it runs through China's Yunnan province, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.


Map of Mekong River


Mekong River - Asia


The Mekong in Yunnan Province, China


Mekong River - Environmental concerns The two most controversial current issues are the building of dams and the blasting of rapids.A number of dams have already been built on the river's tributaries, notably the Pak Mun dam in Thailand. This has been criticized on grounds of cost as well as damage to the environment and to the livelihoods of affected villagers, though none have been built on the main part itself.


Mekong River - Environmental concernsChina is engaged in an extensive program of dam-building on the river itself: it has already completed one at Manwan, a second is under construction at Dachaoshan, and another twelve are under consideration.Poverty stricken Cambodia is one nation that is completely dependent on the river for food and the vast majority of its fledgling economy. The annual floods provide much needed water for crops of the otherwise dry dusty land, and to refresh Tonle Sap, yet its major cities are all vulnerable to flooding.


Proposed 4 new Dams Mekong Basin


Map of 4 planed dams on the mainstream of lower Mekong


China Western Development

Mekong DamsComp MWGongguoqiao Dam2008750Xiaowan Dam20134200Manwan Dam19961500Dachaoshan Dam20031350Nuozhadu Dam20175850Jinghong Dam20101750Ganlanba Damn/a150Mengsong Damn/a600


Map of the Tonle Sap lake and surrounding provinces


Normal FlowWet Season (Reverse flow into the Tnl Sap)Receding Flow During Dry Season


View of the Mekong before sunset.


Another View of the Mekong River


Crossing the Mekong by ferry, near Champasak, Laos


ThaiLao Friendship Bridge [Opened April 8, 1994]


Khone Falls, Cambodia-Lao Border


Mekong River @ Phnom Penh, Cambodia (1994)


Angkor Wat, Cambodia (1994)


Environmental impacts of dams.Impact above damFlood plain creation Breaking up the ecosystem Water for energy Reservoir Delta/Sediment Buildup Impact below dam Flow rate Water content Flood prevention Water temperature Coastal Impact Channel Erosion


Giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis) Maximum Size: 118 inches (300 centimeters), 661.5 pounds (300 kilograms) ; Mekong River Basin, Southeast Asia


Giant freshwater stingray (Himantura chaophraya) Maximum Size: 197 inches (500 centimeters), 1,323 pounds (600 kilograms), body diameter 95 inches (240 centimeters); Mekong River Basin, Southeast Asia


Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) Maximum Size: 118 inches (300 centimeters), 661.4 pounds (300 kilograms) ; Mekong River Basin, Southeast Asia


6 March 2009First Thailand Laos rail link opensTowards Pan-Asian rail dream: Singapore Kunming (5000 km)


Yangtse News 13 July 2008


Thank YouGreat Wall of China October 2007


Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. (Albert Einstein)Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. (Leonardo da Vinci)


Nobody knows tomorrow.Dont put off till tomorrow what you can do today, for there may be no tomorrow.


engineering technology as a career

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