ECU 108 – INTRODUCTION TO

ENGINEERING PROFESSION

LESSON 2: ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE

Eng. Martin Mutuku Nzomo PE

Senior Lecturer
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
School of Engineering and Technology
Kenyatta University
Cell Phone: +254-722-516-125
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Engineering and Science
• Engineering is different from science.
Scientist try to understand nature while
Engineers make things that do not exist in
nature.
• Quoting Theodore Von Karman, “Scientist
study the world as it is. Engineers create the
world that has never been.

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…….Engineering and Science
• The engineer must put his/her ideas in concrete
terms and design something that people can
use.
• That something can be a service, a gadget, a
material, a method , a computing program, an
innovative experiment, a new solution to a
problem or an improvement on what is existing.
• Since a design has to be concrete, it must have
its geometry, dimensions and characteristic
numbers.

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Challenge for Engineers
• Almost all engineers working on new designs
find that they do not have all the needed
information.
• Most often, they are limited by insufficient
scientific knowledge. Thus they study
mathematics, Physics, chemistry, biology and
mechanics.
• Although engineering solutions make use of
scientific principles, engineers must also take
into account safety, efficiency, economy,
reliability and constructability or case of
fabrication, as well as legal considerations.
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Major Engineering Disciplines
• Engineering is a broad discipline which is
often broken into several sub-disciplines.
• These disciplines concern themselves with
different areas of engineering work.
• Although initially an engineer will usually be
trained in a specific discipline, throughout an
engineer’s career, the engineer may become
multi-discipline, having worked in several of
the outlined areas.

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……Major Engineering Disciplines

• Engineering is often characterised as four

main branches:
– Chemical Engineering
– Civil Engineering
– Electrical Engineering
– Mechanical Engineering.
• Others include Naval (Marine) Engineering
and Mining Engineering

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Major Engineering Disciplines & Focus
Engineering Focus
branch

Chemical The exploitation of engineering and

Engineering chemical Engineering in order to
carry out large scale chemical
process

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Major Engineering Disciplines & Focus
Engineering Focus
branch
Civil The design and construction of
Engineering public and private works such as
infrastructure (airports, roads,
railway, water supply and treatment
etc), bridges, dams and buildings

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Major Engineering Disciplines & Focus
Engineering Focus
branch
Electrical The design and studying of various
Engineering electrical and electronic circuits,
generators, motor,
electromagnetic/electromechanical
devices, electronic devices,
telecommunications,
instrumentations controls and
electronics

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Major Engineering Disciplines & Focus
Engineering Focus
branch
Mechanical The design of physical or mechanical
Engineering systems such as power and energy
systems, aerospace, aircraft
products, weapon systems,
transportation products, engines,
compression, powertrain kinematic
charges, vacuum technology,
vibration system, other specialized
equipment
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Summary Definitions
• Chemical Engineering comprises the application of
physical and biological sciences to the process of
converting raw materials or chemicals into more
useful or valuable forms.
• Civil Engineering comprises the design, construction,
and maintenance of the physical and natural built
environments.
• Electrical Engineering comprises the study and
application of electricity, electronics and
electromagnetism.
• Mechanical Engineering Engineering comprises the
design, analysis and usage of heat and mechanical
power for the operation of machines and mechanical
systems.

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Chemical Engineering
Subdiscipline Scope Major specialties

Materials Ceramic engineering,

Engineering the theory and
processing of raw
Involves the
oxide material (e.g.
properties of
alumina oxide), and
matter and its
advanced material
applications to
that are polymorphic,
engineering
polycrystalline, oxide,
and non-oxide
ceramics
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…..Chemical Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Process Focuses on the Petroleum refinery
Engineering design, engineering, the design
operation, of processes related to
control, and the manufacture of
optimization of refined products
chemical
processes Plastics engineering, the
design of the
production process of
plastics products
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….Chemical Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Process Focuses on the Petroleum refinery
Engineering design, engineering
operation,
control, and Plastics engineering
optimization of
chemical Paper engineering, the
processes design of the
production process of
paper products

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….Chemical Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline

Molecular Manufacture of
Engineering Molecules

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Civil Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Geotechnical Concerned with the Mining Engineerig, the exploration,
Engineering behavior of extraction and processing of raw
geological materials materials from the earth
at the site of a civil
engineering project

Structural The engineering of Earthquake engineering, the behaviour of

Engineering structures that structures subject to seismic loading
support or resist
structural loads Wind engineering, the analysis of wind
and its effects on the built environment

Architectural engineering, application of

engineering principles to building design
and construction

Ocean engineering, the design of offshore15

…Civil Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Geotechnical Concerned with Mining Engineerig,
Engineering the behavior of the exploration,
geological extraction and
materials at the processing of raw
site of a civil materials from the
engineering earth
project

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….. Civil Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Transportation The use of Traffic Engineering,
Engineering engineering to a branch of
ensure safe and transportation
efficient engineering
transportation focusing on the
of people and infrastructure
goods necessary for
transportation

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….. Civil Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Transportation The use of Highway Engineering
Engineering engineering to
ensure safe Railway Systems
and efficient Engineering
transportation
of people and
goods

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….. Civil Engineering
Environmental The application Ecological
Engineering of engineering Engineering, the
to the design, monitoring
improvement and construction of
and protection ecosystems.
of the
environment Fire Protection
Engineering, the
application of
engineering to
protect people and
environments from
fire and smoke 19
….. Civil Engineering
Environmental The Sanitary Engineering, the
Engineering application of application of engineering
engineering to
methods to improve
the
improvement sanitation of human
and protection communities
of the
environment Hydrawlic Engineering,
the planning,
development and
maintenance of water
resources and the
application of hydrology
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….. Civil Engineering
Environmental The application Municipal
Engineering of engineering Engineering, civil
to the engineering applied
improvement to municipal issues
and protection such as water and
of the waste management,
environment transportation
networks,
subdivisions,
communications,
hydrology,
hydraulics, e.t.c.
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Electrical Engineering
Sub Scope Major
discipline specialties
Electronic The design of circuits Telecommunicati
Engineering that use the ons Engineering
electromagnetic
properties of
electrical components
such as resistors,
capacitors, inductors,
diodes and transistors
to achieve a particular
functionality.
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….Electrical Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Computer The design Computer Science, the
Engineering and control of specification, design,
computing construction and use of
devices with computer systems, and
the the practical techniques
application of used for their
electrical implementation and
systems application. It embraces
subject areas such as:-
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…..Electrical Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Computer The design and software engineering,
Engineering control of hardware architecture and
computing
design, multimedia, mobile
devices with
the application computing,
of electrical communications,
systems simulation and modelling,
artificial intelligence and
human-computer
interaction.
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….Electrical Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Automation The design and control of Control
Engineering industrial systems through engineering,
instrument devices with focuses on the
the application of modeling of
computing controls such as dynamic systems
PLC (programmable logic and the design of
control), DCS (distributive controllers using
control systems), or a electrical circuits,
combination, to affect digital signal
reactions in a production processors and
system for a desired result microcontrollers
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…..Electrical Engineering
Sub Scope Major
discipline specialties
Power The generation,
Engineering transmission and
distribution of electricity,
and the design of devices
such as transformers,
electric generators,
electric motors, high
voltage engineering and
power electronics.
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……Electrical Engineering
Sub Scope Major
discipline specialties

Optical
Engineering The design of
instruments and
systems that
utilize the
properties of
electromagnetic
radiation.

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Mechanical Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Vehicle The design, Automotive engineering,
Engineering manufacture the design, manufacture
and operation and operation of
of the systems motorcycles,
and automobiles, buses and
equipment trucks
that propel Aerospace engineering,
and control the design of aircraft,
vehicles spacecraft and other air
vehicles
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…..Mechanical Engineering
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Manufacturing
Engineering

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…..Mechanical Engineering
Sub Scope Major
discipline specialties
Thermal Concerns heating or
Engineering cooling of processes,
equipment, or enclosed
environments
Accoustical Concerns the
Engineering manipulation and control
of vibration, especially
vibration isolation and
the reduction of
unwanted sounds
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Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Industrial The design Manufacturing
Engineering and analysis engineering, the ability to
of logistical plan the practices of
and manufacturing, to research
resource and develop the tool,
systems. processes, machines and
equipment, and to
integrate the facilities and
systems for producing
quality products with
optimal expenditure.
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..Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Industrial The design Component engineering,
Engineering and analysis the process of assuring
of logistical the availability of suitable
and resource components required to
systems. manufacture a product.

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..Interdisciplinary and specialized fields

Sub Scope Major specialties

discipline
Industrial The design Systems engineering,
Engineering and analysis focuses on issues such as
of logistical logistics, the coordination
and resource of different teams,
systems. automatic control of
machinery for complex
engineering projects

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…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline

Industrial The design Manufacturing

Engineering and analysis engineering, the ability to
of logistical plan Construction
and engineering, the planning
resource and management of
systems. construction projects

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….Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Industrial The design Construction engineering,
Engineering and the planning and
analysis of management of
logistical construction projects.
and
resource Safety engineering, assuring
systems. that a life- critical system
behaves as needed even
when pieces fail.

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…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Industrial The design Reliability engineering,
Engineering and optimising asset
analysis of maintenance to minimise
logistical whole of life cost
and
resource
systems.

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…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major
discipline specialties
Applied The field concerned with the
Engineering application of management,
design, and technical skills for the
design and integration of systems,
the execution of new product
designs, the improvement of
manufacturing processes, and the
management and direction of
physical and/or technical
functions of a firm or
organization.

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….Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Subdiscipline Scope Major specialties

Applied Applied Engineering Automation/Contr

Engineering degreed programs typically ol
include instruction in basic Systems/Mechatro
engineering principles, nics/Robotics
project management, Computer-aided
industrial processes, Drawing & Design
production and operations (CADD)
management, systems Construction
integration and control, Electronics
quality control, and General
statistics.[2] Graphics
Manufacturing
Nanotechnology
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….Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Biological The Biomedical engineering,
Engineering application the application of
of engineering principles and
engineering techniques to the medical
principles to and biological sciences
the fields of Genetic engineering, the
biology and design and development
medicine. of techniques to directly
manipulate an organism's
genes
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…..Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Biological The Biochemical engineering,
Engineering application of the design and
engineering construction of unit
principles to processes that involve
the fields of biological organisms or
biology and molecules
medicine. Tissue engineering
Protein engineering, the
development of useful or
valuable proteins
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…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Mechatronics A hybrid of Robotics
mechanical Instrumentation
and engineering
electrical Avionics, the design of
engineering, electronics and systems
intended to on board an aircraft or
examine the spacecraft
design of
automation
systems.
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….Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Nuclear The application
Engineering of nuclear
processes to
engineering.

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…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Agricultural The application of Bioprocess
Engineering engineering engineering, the
principles to design and
agricultural fields development of
such as farm power equipment and
and machinery, processes for the
biological material manufacturing of
process, bioenergy, products from
farm structures, and biological materials
agricultural natural
resources 43
…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Agricultural The application of Food engineering, concerns
Engineering engineering food processing, food
principles to machinery, packaging,
agricultural fields ingredient manufacturing,
such as farm instrumentation, and
power and control.
machinery, Aquaculture engineering,
biological material the study of cultured
process, bioenergy, aquatic species and the
farm structures, production systems used in
and agricultural their culture.
natural resources
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….Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Nano The practice
Engineering of engineering
on the
nanoscale

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…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Petroleum The application Reservoir engineering,
Engineering of engineering the application of
principles to scientific principles to
drilling for and study the flow of
producing crude fluids in underground
oil and natural reservoirs so as to
gas obtain a high
economic recovery.

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…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Petroleum The application of Drilling engineering, the
Engineering engineering design and application
principles to
of equipment and
drilling for and
producing crude techniques to drill wells.
oil and natural gas

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…Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope Major specialties
discipline
Petroleum The application of Production engineering,
Engineering engineering the design and application
principles to
of equipment and
drilling for and
producing crude techniques to bring well
oil and natural fluids to the surface and
gas then separate out the
various components.

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 …Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Scope
discipline
Energy Energy engineering is a broad field of
Engineering engineering dealing with energy efficiency,
energy services, facility management, plant
engineering, environmental compliance
and alternative energy technologies.
Domain of Energy Engineering expertise
combines selective subjects from the fields
Chemical, Mechanical and Electrical
Engineering. It is an interdisciplinary
program which has relativity with
electrical, mechanical and chemical
engineering 49
 …Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Subdiscipline Major specialties

Energy
Engineering
• Solar engineering, Solar Energy
Engineering includes designing and
building services based on solar
energy, solar energy product
development, solar PV systems, Solar
Product Manufacturing and Solar
Systems Integration

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 …Interdisciplinary and specialized fields
Sub Major specialties
discipline
Energy • Wind engineering, Wind engineering
Engineering analysis effects of wind in the natural
and the built environment and
studies the possible damage,
inconvenience or benefits which may
result from wind. In the field of
structural engineering it includes
strong winds, which may cause
discomfort, as well as extreme winds,
such as in a tornado, hurricane or
heavy storm, which may cause
widespread destruction 51
QUESTIONS?

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THANK YOU

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