Engineering Your Future

About the authors ix Preface xii Part 1 Introduction to engineering 1 Chapter 1 What is engineering? 2 Introduction 3 1.1 What is the role of an engineer? 4 A historical perspective 4 A contemporary perspective 6 1.2 Engineering disciplines 7 Electrical, electronics and telecommunications engineering 9 Mechanical engineering 10 Aerospace and aviation engineering 11 Chemical engineering 12 Civil engineering 12 Environmental engineering 14 Materials engineering 15 Mining engineering 16 Other engineering disciplines 16 1.3 The core skills and attributes of an engineer 17 The Engineers Australia competency framework 18 The Engineering New Zealand framework 20 1.4 Engineering science 23 1.5 The impact of engineering on society and national identity 24 A historical perspective 25 A contemporary perspective 32 Engineering innovations 34 Limitations of engineering 34 1.6 Professionalism, certification and ethical practice in engineering 36 Summary 38 Key terms 38 Exercises 39 Project activity 40 References 40 Acknowledgements 42 Chapter 2 The engineering method 43 Introduction 44 2.1 The engineering method 45 Step 1. Exploring the problem 46 Step 2. Exploring alternative solutions 51 Step 3. Evaluating alternative solutions 53 Step 4. Engineering decision making 54 Step 5. Communicating your recommendation 55 The scientific method 55 2.2 Systems thinking 56 The system boundary 56 2.3 Project management 59 Defining the scope 59 Scheduling 60 Resources 61 Documentation — the design file 61 Time–accuracy trade-off 62 Agile project management 63 Risk management 63 Reporting and documentation 65 Improving practice 66 Life-long learning 67 The engineering method and project management 68 2.4 The life cycle of an engineering asset 68 Design 70 2.5 Critical thinking 73 Critical thinking in an engineering context 74 Moving from having an opinion to taking a position 79 Summary 80 Key terms 81 Exercises 81 Project activity 82 References 82 Acknowledgements 83 Part 2 Engineering in society 84 Chapter 3 Sustainable engineering 85 Introduction 86 3.1 What is ecologically sustainable development (ESD)? 88 Definitions of ESD 89 What is sustainable engineering? 92 Why sustainable engineering? 93 3.2 Strategies for practising sustainable engineering 95 Constraints of sustainable engineering practice 98 Triple bottom line analysis (TBLA) 100 3.3 Environmentally sustainable engineering 100 A global perspective 101 Measuring environmental impacts 103 Life cycle assessment (LCA) 106 3.4 Socially sustainable engineering 110 Promoting intergenerational and intragenerational equity 110 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs 112 Community communication and consultation 113 Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) 114 Engagement techniques 116 3.5 Economically sustainable engineering 117 Costing 117 Economic theories 118 Least cost planning (LCP) 118 Summary 121 Key terms 122 Exercises 123 Project activity 124 References 124 Acknowledgements 126 Chapter 4 Professional responsibility and ethics 128 Introduction 129 4.1 Professional responsibility: standards and professional liability 130 4.2 Work health and safety (WHS) and personal liability 133 Product recall 137 4.3 Engineering ethics 138 The Engineering New Zealand Code of Ethical Conduct 140 The IEEE Code of Ethics 141 Interpreting and applying codes of ethics 142 4.4 Ethical theories 143 Morals and ethics 143 4.5 Common ethical dilemmas in engineering 147 Micro ethics 148 Balancing conflicting interests 151 4.6 Macro ethics 154 4.7 Culture and corruption 155 International business etiquette 156 Corruption and bribery 156 Summary 159 Key terms 160 Exercises 161 Project activity 162 References 162 Acknowledgements 163 Part 3 Professional skills 164 Chapter 5 Self-management 165 Introduction 166 5.1 Understanding self 168 Your personality and attitudes 168 Spatial ability 171 5.2 What motivates you? 172 Sources of inspiration 176 5.3 Developing your skills 178 Developing an inquiring mind 178 5.4 Self-management skills 181 Developing goals and strategies 181 Being responsible 181 Being professional 181 Managing your time effectively 182 5.5 Life-long learning 183 Knowledge frameworks 186 The program framework 187 Managing your learning 189 5.6 Reviewing your performance 196 Levels of reflection 199 Kolb’s Learning Cycle 199 Summary 201 Key terms 202 Exercises 202 Project activity 203 References 203 Acknowledgements 205 Chapter 6 Working with people 206 Introduction 207 6.1 Collaborating with others 208 6.2 Working in groups 214 Establishing a group or team 215 The fundamentals of an effective group 217 The life cycle of a team 220 Improving performance 221 Leadership 223 The benefits of working with others 224 6.3 Meetings 225 The purpose 225 The style 228 The timing 228 The length of the meeting 228 The participants 228 The procedures 228 Your contribution 229 Organising a meeting 229 The role of technology in meetings 232 The downside of working with others 232 6.4 Negotiation 235 The preparation process 235 Approaches to negotiation 236 Outcomes of the negotiation process 238 6.5 Dispute resolution 239 Conflict resolution 240 Summary 241 Key terms 242 Exercises 242 Project activity 243 References 243 Acknowledgements 244 Part 4 Communication 246 Chapter 7 Understanding communication 247 Introduction 248 7.1 What is communication? 249 Key communication skills for engineers 251 7.2 Communication theories and models 252 The communication process 253 A contemporary model 254 Developing a communication model for engineers 255 7.3 Communication contexts 259 Characteristics of communicators 260 Environments 264 Digital communication 266 7.4 Communication methods 270 Channels 270 Communication languages 270 Noise 272 7.5 Communication roles 275 The creator 275 The gatekeeper 278 The consumer 279 Summary 281 Key terms 282 Exercises 282 Project activity 282 References 283 Acknowledgements 284 Chapter 8 Communication skills 285 Introduction 286 8.1 Verbal communication skills 291 Listening 292 Telling 293 Discussing 293 Informal verbal communication 294 8.2 Formal verbal communication 296 Media releases, interviews and publicity 296 Presentations 297 Working to presentation time limits 298 The presentation contexts 299 Content and structure 300 Selecting and preparing media 301 Assembling and rehearsing the presentation 302 Is approval required? 303 Presenting through words and action 303 Answering questions 304 8.3 Written communication skills 304 Reading 304 Writing 305 Wikis 311 Web pages 311 8.4 Visual communication 312 Data 312 Summary 327 Key terms 327 Exercises 328 References 328 Acknowledgements 329 Part 5 Applying the engineering method 330 Chapter 9 Understanding the problem 331 Introduction 332 9.1 Data, information and knowledge 334 Data 334 Information 340 Knowledge 340 Differentiating between data, information and knowledge 341 9.2 Identifying information needs 343 Investigative questioning 343 Categories of information 345 Organising information needs 345 9.3 Locating and retrieving information 348 Typical sources of engineering information 348 Documents 349 Colleagues 351 Stakeholders 353 Geographic information systems 357 Library search tools 359 Internet search tools 360 Developing a search strategy 360 Recording data about information sources 364 9.4 Evaluating information and information sources 364 Evaluating information sources 364 Evaluating information 365 Refining information needs 366 9.5 Managing and using information 366 Integrating information 367 Publishing information 368 A literature review 368 An information management system 368 Controlling access to your information 371 9.6 Citing and referencing 373 Listing and citing print references 373 Listing and citing online references 375 Further information about referencing styles 376 Summary 377 Key terms 378 Exercises 378 Project activity 378 References 380 Acknowledgements 381 Chapter 10 Engineering design 382 Introduction 383 10.1 Design = problem solving 384 Key ideas in the design process 384 10.2 Systems thinking 387 Stakeholders 389 Socio–ecological thinking 392 Whole system design goals 393 Whole system design elements 396 10.3 Generating alternative solutions 404 Five Ws and an H 404 Research 405 Brainstorming 406 Lateral thinking, parallel thinking and the six thinking hats 407 Synectics 410 TRIZ 412 Transforming design through biomimetic thinking and design 414 Summary 417 Key terms 417 Exercises 418 Project activity 418 References 419 Acknowledgements 420 Chapter 11 Evaluating options 422 Introduction 423 11.1 Evaluating solutions — economics 423 Non-economic criteria 424 Qualitative approaches to project evaluation 424 Economic feasibility 425 Sensitivity analysis 431 A more detailed economic model 432 11.2 Technical feasibility 436 11.3 Mathematical modelling in design 438 Power output 439 Maximising energy production 440 Safety 442 Checking 443 Hierarchy of models 443 Summary 445 Key terms 445 Exercises 445 Project activity 446 References 446 Acknowledgements 447 Chapter 12 Engineering decision making 448 Introduction 449 12.1 Engineering decision making 449 Engineering decision support 450 12.2 Complexity 452 Static and dynamic problems 452 12.3 Team-based decision making 453 Effective team environment 455 Dominance and power 455 Diversity in teams 456 Making better decision makers 457 12.4 Reviewing key decision-making criteria 460 Uncertainty 460 Environment 460 Ethics 460 Safety 461 Review and improve — quality assurance 461 12.5 Decision support systems, tools and techniques 463 ‘Pen and paper’ decision support tools 463 Computer-based DSS 465 Networked DSS relying on communications technology 467 Intelligent DSS (IDSS) 471 GIS-based DSS 472 Summary 475 Key terms 475 Exercises 476 Project activity 476 References 476 Acknowledgements 477 Chapter 13 Managing engineering projects 478 Introduction 479 13.1 Understanding project management 480 Key factors in project management 481 The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and project management standards 481 Project management tools 485 13.2 Planning the stages of an engineering project 488 Using a tool to plan the project stages 489 Planning the stages of the green-star building project 492 Human resources 500 Financial resources 502 13.3 Creating a risk-management plan 503 Dependency risks 504 Design risks 505 Construction risks and safety 505 Internal project risks 507 Long-term risks for the green-star building 508 13.4 Developing a knowledge management plan 508 Document storage, archiving and data mining 509 Sharing knowledge 509 Communities of practice 510 Student knowledge management 511 13.5 Quality management and its relationship to project management 511 Key quality management principles 512 Engineering quality management 513 Quality plans and engineering 514 Quality and the engineering student 515 Quality and student team projects 516 Summary 517 Key terms 517 Exercises 518 Project activity 519 References 519 Acknowledgements 520 Chapter 14 Communicating information 521 Introduction 522 14.1 Three communication contexts 523 The business context 524 The discipline context 524 The public context 525 14.2 Planning a communication 527 Using the PCR model to create effective communication 527 Developing a communication plan for an engineering project 528 Using the model 529 Approach 529 Communication methods, styles, formats and media 531 14.3 Writing in the engineering workplace 531 Practice notes 533 Business correspondence 534 Human resource documents 535 Financial documents 539 Project initiation documents 541 Risk management documents 547 14.4 Technical presentations 553 How can poor presentation be avoided? 553 14.5 Visual communication 555 Drawings, plans and sketches 556 Photography 557 Engineering models 557 Summary 566 Key terms 567 Exercises 567 Project activity 567 References 567 Acknowledgements 568 Part 6 Planning your career 569 Chapter 15 Your engineering future 570 Introduction 571 15.1 Engineering to meet future global challenges 572 Antibiotic resistance 572 Climate change adaptation 576 15.2 Engineering and globalisation 581 Employment in Australia 581 Globalisation 582 Development and post development 583 15.3 Futuristic engineering: emerging fields 584 Industrial biotechnology 585 Materials science 585 Phytomining 586 Biomimicry 587 Animatronics 588 15.4 An engineering career 589 Work to rule — or be inspired to work towards a fulfilling career 590 Management approaches 590 Different types of engineering organisations 591 Efficiency and respect in the workplace 591 Continuing professional development (CPD) 592 Career planning 593 Summary 595 Key terms 595 Exercises 596 Project activity 597 References 597 Acknowledgements 598 Index 600