Engineering Infrastructure Diagramming and Modeling (1986) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix A: The Definition of Engineering and of Engineers in Historical Context
Appendix A: The Definition of Engineering and of Engineers in Historical Context
Pages 71-79
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From page 71... ...
The basis for that contention ranges from concern that unqualified practitioners might harm public health, safety, and welfare to a somewhat elitist rejection of those perceived as not holding the "proper" credentials. Among these credentials, the most often cited by those advocating more stringent theoretical definitions are graduation from an accredited engineering program and/or some type of legally .
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From page 72... ...
The words ingeniator, ingeniarius, and ingegerus all identified builders of military machines hence the modern-day association of the word engineer with machines and the general use of that word in society for a variety of functions associated with machinery and mechanical equipment. The significance of this evolution is that the terms engineer and engineering have never been, nor can they ever be, the sole province of the engineering profession as we define it today.
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From page 73... ...
Public recognition of engineers as a group distinct from scientists is found as early as 1830 when Auguste Comte in Coors de philosophic positive observed: "Between scientists in the strict sense of the word and the actual managers of production, there is beginning to emerge in our days an intermediate class, that of the engineers, whose particular function it is to organize the connections between theory and practice." A compilation of the views of engineering and scientific society leaders published by the National Society of Professional Engineers ASPEN in 1963 demonstrates the preoccupation with making the distinction between engineering and science. It also reveals consistency with earlier definitions of engineering wherever engineering is defined separately.
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From page 74... ...
Those credentials exclude many, including those with educational backgrounds in science and those without either a four-year accredited engineering degree or a license, who are nonetheless performing what has traditionally been described as an engineering func tion. The emergence of the engineering technologist with a four-year Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree has exacerbated the definitional dilemma and provided further impetus in some circles for tightening definitions because of the similarities between the educational programs for the engineer and the technologist.
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From page 75... ...
Engineering Technologist The engineering technologist must be applications-oriented, building upon a background of applied mathematics through the concepts and applications of calculus. Based upon applied science and technology, the technologist must be able to produce practical, workable results quickly; install and operate technical systems; devise hardware from proven concepts; develop and produce products; service machines and systems; manage construction and production processes; and provide sales support for technical products and systems.
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From page 76... ...
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From page 77... ...
4. Practice of Engineering The term "Practice of Engineering" within the intent of this Act shall mean any service or creative work, the adequate performance of which requires engineering education, training and experience in the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences to such services or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning and design of engineering works and systems, planning the use of land and water, teaching of advanced engineering subjects, engineering surveys and the inspection of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance with drawings and specifications; any of which embraces such services or work, either public or private, in connection with any utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, work systems, projects, and industrial or consumer products or equipment of a
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From page 78... ...
The definition of the Practice of Engineering is also substantially more detailed because it attempts to define the many types of engineering work covered by the Model Law. The introduction of the term Professional Engineer to describe only licensed engineers has further confused the definitional picture in that to some it implies that nonlicensed engineers may somehow be unprofessional.
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From page 79... ...
Summing up the definitional issue, several points are clear. First, the definition of engineering is extremely broad and can accommodate a wide range of practitioners; second, that range involves level of function, area and type of practice, jolt titles, academic background, and experience; and third, to portray and understand the engineering enterprise in the United States adequately, all of those substantively involved in that enterprise must lee accommodated in the definitional frameworks adopted, whatever the level and type of academic, experience, or practice credentials.
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