News and Resources for Software Engineers

There has been much debate about the idea of  software engineers per se. Some schools of thought have decided that software engineers are simply ‘programmers’ but this is not the case. Problems that require to be solved by software have to be engineered. Many low-level software applications rely on an in-depth knowledge of the hardware upon which the program is to operate. This can be as simple as how quickly a particular piece of hardware (e.g. an LCD screen, or digital sensor) will respond to a programmed command. Then consider a low-level programmer who has to have an intricate knowledge of his CPU to code for absolute speed. For example, a 6502 assembly language programmer knows that if he stores a number in the CPU’s accumulator, and issues an ASL (Arithmetic Shift Left) instruction, the number will be multiplied by two and if there’s any overrun, the carry flag will be set. This semantic example illustrates that the programmer has to know his/her code and hardware to engineer a solution.

We’ll be starting several courses here soon on engineers.net offering programming lessons for novices from complete and utter scratch. All you’ll need to know to start with is how to turn your computer on! Watch this space for more information, and we’ll let you know when the first lessons are published. The first three languages will be 8-bit machine code/assembler, BASIC and Linux (‘bash’ fundamentals).

The scope of software engineering is vast and the software engineer is a vital ally to all other types of engineers. Did you just notice that super-fast car flash past? What about the cute robotic dog at your friend’s place, or that tall building coming up in the neighbourhood? Have you ever wondered what makes TV screens so flat; how passenger aircraft fly, or how contact lenses are made? Well, the answer to these questions is that the brains behind all these scientific wonders belong to engineers, and software plays a major part in all these developments.

However, engineers just do not build blocks. They apply mathematics and science to create valuable assets from natural resources. Although engineering dates back to time immemorial, it is a relatively young academic discipline or profession. It is a considerable endeavor to build; innovate, maintain, develop, and apply technology for the welfare and benefit of others. This means that engineering encompasses maths and science, science and art, models and approximation and also ventures into creativity. Does this mean that engineers are ‘jacks of all trades and masters of none’ if they are able to do everything?

Well, let’s find out by exploring more of the exciting world of engineering in general.

Engineering Fundamentals

Engineering is a broad term that has several other branches, or ‘disciplines’ besides software. Some of these disciplines no longer hold meaning because of society’s changing needs. Some of today’s engineering disciplines are also bound to become redundant as we move into the future. That’s the nature of scientific advancement. Here are some examples of engineering disciplines, although the list is by no means exhaustive, and there are always overlaps from one to another:

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering is a branch of engineering involved with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It also encompasses airborne weapon technologies. Aeronautics engineers carry out research, design, and development of vehicles and systems for atmospheric and space environments. These technologies are used in civilian transportation, defense systems, and for exploring outer space.

Specialisation: Aerodynamics; propulsion, flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, fluidics, structures, computation, thermodynamics and guidance and control systems.

Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural engineering is the application of analysis to further the conservation of natural resources such as water and soil. It also involves the protection of resources from air and water pollution, soil and nutrient loss, and from large-scale building projects which might have adverse ecological consequences. Agricultural engineering also aids in power transmission, structural analysis, and environmental control.

Agricultural engineers design and build agricultural machinery and equipment. They carry out tasks such as planning; supervising, managing irrigation and dairy systems, drainage, flood and water control systems, and they perform experiments to check and monitor the impact of pollution on the environment.

Specialisation: Soil and water; power and machinery, design and construction of farm buildings, food engineering, and electrical power and distribution.

Architectural Engineering

Architectural engineers apply engineering principles to the construction, planning and design of buildings and other structures. Architectural engineers are different from architects. They work together with architects to design buildings. Their main function is to use engineering systems such as electrical, heating, lighting, ventilation and fire protection within buildings.

Specialisation: Structural; HVAC, acoustics, electrical, lighting and construction management.

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering applies engineering principles to solving problems in the fields of medicine and biomedical sciences. Biomedical engineers have an understanding of living systems, and they usually take up this subject for others’ welfare. They research, examine, and apply biological, chemical, electrical, mechanical and material information to find solutions to medicine and biomedical sciences.

Specialisation: Biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical imaging and tissue engineering.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering is of course the application of chemistry. It involves the application of engineering principles to the design, construction, and operation of machines and specialist facilities that carry out chemical reactions to make useful products. Chemical engineers perform research and development concerning the interaction of chemical compounds with different types of materials. They perform experiments for different industries they are employed in; including aerospace, electronics, and environmental science.

Specialisation: Biotechnology; pharmaceuticals, metals, fertilizers and pesticides, automotive, food sciences, waste management and thermodynamics.

Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is the application of engineering to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of roads; airports, buildings, bridges; water and waste water treatment plants and sewers. It is one of the oldest fields of engineering. Civil engineers design tunnels; roads, bridges, dams,  and pipelines. Other contributions include infrastructure for transport, energy, industry, and commerce.

Specialisation: Water resources, environmental engineering, transportation, hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, surveying, architecture, and structural engineering.

Computer Engineering

Computer engineering is the application of engineering disciplines to the study and design of digital hardware and software systems, which include communication systems, computers, and devices. This field of engineering is an amalgamation of computer science and electrical engineering, involving the design and execution of innovative computer technologies for consumer; industrial, commercial and military applications. They also maintain computer programs for companies and design, specify and/or install new computer systems.

Specialisation: General digital systems, forensics, network infrastructure, emergency response, gaming systems and telecommunications.

Electronic Engineering

Electronic engineers design, create and test electronic equipment. This involves working with all kinds of electronic devices ranging from pocket calculators to supercomputers. They design new and better electronics. They test equipment, design circuits and solve problems. They also design and test the manufacture of electronic equipment, including broadcast and communication systems.

Specialisation: Communications, cellular phones, medical technology, handheld gaming systems, and airline navigation systems.

Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineers apply engineering principles to industry. They design production systems, perform analyses, and specify integrated combinations of people, machinery, and facilities to create products and services for the welfare of humankind. They help companies make the best use of available resources and increase efficiency. They also develop automation for higher productivity, create production schedules, and ensure that the highest standards of quality control are maintained.

Specialisation: Engineering economics; manufacturing systems, process optimisation, statistics and stochastic systems.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineers work to control the principles of motion, energy and force by providing mechanical solutions. They design new and better machines, ranging from toasters to bicycles to supersonic fighters. They combine materials, people, and economic resources to create an end product. Research; testing manufacturing, operations, marketing, and administration are some other tasks performed by mechanical engineers.

Specialization: Robotics; manufacturing, automotive or transportation, and air conditioning or HVAC.

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear engineering is the application of engineering disciplines to atomic particles. Engineers design and build high-powered nuclear weapons and at the other end of the scale, develop new techniques in nuclear medicine to diagnose medical conditions. They design future electrical energy systems, such as fission and fusion reactors, for economic and security growth. They also design power systems, nuclear propulsion systems, and radiation sources and detectors for deep space missions.

Specialisation: Fluid mechanics, reactor physics, quantum mechanics, thermal hydraulics, linear circuits, and radiation effects.

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering is the application of engineering disciplines to seek out oil and gas reservoirs beneath the earth’s surface. It is also a discipline where work is being done to enable the use of clean energy products to produce fewer harmful chemical emissions. Engineers assess prospective oil and gas reservoirs, supervise drilling activities, choose and execute recovery schemes, and design surface collection and treatment facilities. These days they also have to develop and apply ways to recover hydrocarbons from oil shale, tar sands, and offshore oil and gas fields.

Specialisation: Drilling, production, reservoir, and petrophysical engineering.

Qualifications for Engineers

Essentially: An aptitude toward solving critical problems; being creative, designing things that matter, changing the world by making a difference, and a desire to make a great salary are some prerequisites for becoming an engineer. In short, if you want to turn your passion into a well-paid profession, engineering is for you.

Most colleges and universities have a four-year engineering program. Some engineering schools also offer five-year master’s degree programs. In the first two years, students study mathematics, basic sciences, introductory engineering, humanities, and social sciences. In the last two years, students are allowed to choose an area of specialisation of their choice.

Engineering Job Prospects

The job market is booming for engineers. According to a survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineers held about 1.6 million jobs in 2008. Statistics also indicate that the overall employment in engineering is expected to grow by 11 percent during 2008-2018, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Most engineers work in offices, buildings, laboratories, or at industrial plants. Many others may have to work at construction sites, oil and gas exploration, and production sites where they solve problems in situ.