WHAT IS
ENGINEERING
AND
SURVEYING?
ENGINEERING
A. 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
Construction 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.
Math- Moderate ability
Physics- Strong in mechanics, moderate in all other areas
Chemistry- Not essential
Ability 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 strong
Physics- moderate
Chemistry- Strong
Ability 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 strong
Physics- Moderate to strong
Chemistry- Moderate to strong
Ability 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 moderate
Physics- strong to moderate (especially mechanics)
Chemistry- Not essential
Ability 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 strong
Physics- Not essential. Electrical circuits most essential
Chemistry- Not essential
Ability to work in abstracts such as human behavior
Urban Planning
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.
Math- Moderate to strong.
Physics- Not essential
Chemistry- Not essential
Ability 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 moderate
Physics- Moderate to strong
Chemistry- moderate
Ability 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 SURVEYING
The 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 boundaries
Boundary Control: Determining where property boundaries are located
Topographic 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 means
Land Division: Preparing maps and legal description for the purposes of dividing parcels of land
Public Lands: Knowledge and practice of surveying practices relating to public (sectionalized) lands
Legal Principals: Knowledge and practice of preparing and interpreting legal descriptions
Geodesy: 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 statistics
Physics- Moderate: primarily electromagnetism
Chemistry- Not essential
Ability 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”