Engineering Professional PracticeChapter 1, 6 hours

Prof. Dr. Hari Krishna Shrestha

September 2015http://nec.edu.np/faculty/hariks/Chap%201%20Lecture%20Notes%20Apr%202015.pdf

Why EPP?

• To pass BE.• To prevent yourself from unnecessary legal hassle.• To get respect from society• To implement your decision• To get job• To prevent yourself from embarrassing situations• To get respect from your peers and competitors

Chapter 1: Society and Technology (6 hr)1.1 Definition, types and essential elements of a society

1.2 Factors and classical theories of social change (cyclical, evolution, functional and conflict)

1.3 Impacts and consequences of technology on socio-economic parameters (agriculture, communication, construction methods, information storage, generation and dissemination, dispute resolution, family structure, culture and livelihood)

1.4 Effects of major technological developments (2D and 3D printing, dynamite, automation, mechanization, organic chemistry, transportation, internet, communication, and satellites) on practice of engineering profession.

1.5 Role of engineers in society

1.1 Society: Definition, Types and Essential Elements

• Classical Definitions of Society: Abstract and ConcreteMany definitions of society; the definitions keeps changing, since society is dynamic.• Schaefer and Lamm: the largest form of human group, which

consists of people who share common heritage and culture.• Ian Robertson: society gives content, direction and meaning

to our lives, and we, in turn, in countless ways, reshape the society that we leave to the next generation. Society is a population that occupies the same territory, is subject to the same political authority and participates in a common culture.

• John F. Cuber: a group of people who have lived long enough to become organized and to consider themselves and considered as a unit more or less distinct from other human units.

1.1 Society: Definition, Types and Essential Elements

• Ginsberg: a collection of individuals unified by certain relation or modes of behavior, which mark them off from others who do not enter into these relations or who differ from them in behavior

• P. Gisbert: a complicated network of social relationships by which every human being is interconnected with his fellowmen.

• MacIver and Page: a system of usages and procedures, authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controls of human behavior and of liberties.

• A.W. Green: the largest group to which any individual belongsOut of these definitions of society, which one do you consider to be the best? Why?

1.1 Types and Elements of a Society

Types of Society: from evolutionary aspect• Tribal: hunting and gathering society: hunts for meat,

gathers natural products, do not produce food• Pastoral: domesticate animals, mostly sheep, goat,

chicken, for meat• Horticultural: domesticate plants, awareness of plant

from seed, slash and burn• Agricultural: cultivation of crops, animal energy, irrigation,

saving of seed, feudal, beginning of town and cities• Industrial: mechanized production, mass production,

large cities and slums• Post-industrial: information, communication and service,

generation of knowledge

1.1 Types and Elements of a SocietyBasic Elements: Normally societies have following elements:

• People and plurality: society consists of people, of both sexes, of all ages, of different ideas, race, color.

• Likeness and differences: Members of a society are alike in many aspects. This “alikeness” bonds them, and they seek understanding and cooperation from each other. The members of a society are different in many ways too, like culture, profession, interest, opinion, views etc.

• Cooperation and conflict: Members of a society cooperate with each other, and they depend on each other. Yet, due to differences, conflict exists in a society.

• Stable and dynamic: Society is relatively stable; the norms, values, and culture are normally stable. Yet, society is dynamic. Some elements of a society change slowly, and some change rapidly, depending on external and internal factors.

1.2 Factors and Classical Theories of Social Change

Factors/Driver/Causes of Social Change• Physical environment/Contact with other societies:

Physically easily accessible society changes rapidly than those located in remote (difficult to access) areas

• Information, knowledge and skills: Rate of social change depends on access to information, ability to put together the information into knowledge, ability to convert the knowledge into skills

• Natural causes: Earthquake, landslide, flood, desertification, and tsunami disintegrate social fabric and changes society.

• Anthropogenic (Human) activities: International War, Civil War, displacement for “developmental” activities, industrial accidents, mass migration

1.2 Classical Theories of Social Change• Cyclical: ups and downs, birth and death, Oswald Spengler: approximate

1000 year cycle. Critics of this theory cite examples that do not follow the 1000 year cycle.

• Evolution: changing with time, getting complex with time, society continuously develops through time and change.

• Functionalist: changes as required to keep the whole society functioning, when particular part of a society changes. August Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Talcott Parsons propagate this theory. This theory emphasizes on changing role of different parts of a society to maintain stability of a society.

• Conflict: Karl Marx (19th century) class conflict between haves and have-nots. Expanded version of conflict theory finds social conflict between any groups in which the potential for inequity exists: racial, gender, religions, political, economic, and so on. Unequal groups usually have conflicting values and agendas, causing them to compete against one another. This constant competition between groups forms the basis for the ever-changing nature of society.

1.3 Impacts and Consequences of Technology on Socio-economic parameters (positive)

a) AgricultureImpact on ImpactFood Production

Food production mechanized, food production increasing, Green Revolution, GMF

Food Processing

Food processing getting complex, requiring industrial management

Food Preservation

Food security increasing, for most, better food preservation

Mechanization Mechanization of agriculture/food processingCommercialization

From subsistence to cash crop, patented seeds and food processing techniques

Food Variety Increasing, year round availability, no more seasonalFertilizer/Pesticide From organic to chemical, pesticide use increasingWater use Increasing due to cash crops & agricultural

intensification; reduced by micro-irrigation

1.3 b Impact on CommunicationImpact on ImpactInformation generation and dissemination

Increasing access to information

Mass communication: Newspaper, Magazines, FM Radio, TV, instant/breaking news

Enhanced public awareness, timely information to people

Internet and Social Media Increased access to information, social media influencing design of communication techniques

Telephone, mobile phone Increased and easier access to telephone

Virtual Meeting, virtual reality, tele-medicines

Less need of physical presence in meeting, distance medicine services and remote controller operation possible

1.3 c Impact on Construction MethodsImpact on ImpactConstruction Technology Labor based technology gradually

replaced by capital based technologyConstruction materials Better materials, light weight, fire

proof, glass as structural elements, increased use of aluminum, pre-fabricated, pre-stressed

Size of infrastructure IncreasingMechanization, Automation, and Robotics use

More mechanization, automation and robotics use

Construction Project Management

From ad hoc and haphazard decisions to scientific and systematic management tools, like CPM, PERT, and software like MS Project, Primevera, Project Management

ICT use for construction site control

Better access control, better safety, better material management

1.3 d Impact on Information Generation, Storage and DisseminationImpact on ImpactInformation access Increasing access to information through

multiple mediumsStorage, virtual storage

Floppy disk, CD, DVD, External hard disk, Dropbox, Cloud storage, mailbox size

Generation Information generation growing exponentially, automatic data logging, GIS, GPS, Satellite Images, Remote sensing

Dissemination e-paper, interactive TV, internet, social media

Impact on ImpactWarfare Increased use of gun power, rockets, missiles, drones,

improvised explosive devices, chemical-biologicalWMD A-bomb, H-bomb, nuclear bomb made but not yet

used (except two in WW II), Star War, MAD policyEvidence Evidence types recorded in electronic media

1.3 e Impact on Dispute/Conflict Resolution

1.3 f Impacts on Family Structure, Culture and LivelihoodImpact on ImpactFamily Family relation more complex, IV-fertilization, test-tube

baby, cloning, surrogacy, same sex marriage, family size reducing, micro-family getting possible, life span increasing, change in status of female and disabled

Tradition/Culture

Traditions-values challenged and altered or replaced, heritage preservation better

RecreationTraditional dances/music/drama/games giving ways to movies, video games, theme parks, pay per view

Social Norms and Values

Social norms and values increasingly challenged and altered or replaced, social class disintegrating, new economic class emerging

Language International language use increasing, language getting standardized, brail script & sign language use increasing

Livelihood and living standard

Livelihood diversification & specialization increasing, Living standard & HDI increasing, poverty decreasing, employment opportunity increasing, price decreasing

1.4 Effects of Major Technological Developmentsa) 2D and 3D Printing:• written and mass produced record of agreements, laws, rules, regulations,

guidelines, procedure, manuals, books, newspapers, magazines, journals, easily available

Effects:• need to memorize diminished, information available when needed• Judgment based on written laws rather than wisdom of justices, • 3D printing: can change production mode; from micro-components to 3D maps to

house and bridges

b) Dynamite:• Explosives, Dynamite, Warfare, Colonization, Endangered species, Crime,

TerrorismEffects: warfare getting increasingly violent and costly, species getting extinct, increasing use of gunpowder in crimes and terrorist activities

c) Automation/Mechanization:• Industrial production, agricultural mechanization, transportation,

robotics, automation,Effects: • Lower cost of goods and food• Easier movement over long distances• Standardization and interchangeability of design, size, shape• Safer working environment for dangerous jobs• Higher living standard, material comfort

d) Organic Chemistry• Plastic, Polymer, plastic, Construction glues, fossil fuel, construction

materialsEffects: New materials: including construction materials, PPR pipes, PVC pipes, synthetic glues, synthetic clothes, bio-degradable plastic, light weight and stronger materials, water proofing, paint• Fossil fuel: transportation, bitumen

1.4 Effects of Major Technological Developments

1.4 e) Impact on TransportationImpact on ImpactLand transportation Road, multi level roads, railwaysUnderground Metro/Underground railwaysWater Naval transportation, river navigationAir Air cargo, air travel, air ambulanceTransportation safety Increasing

1.4 f) Effects of developments in Internet, Communication SatelliteCommunication Satellites• Mass Communication: Radio, TV, Newspaper, Internet, WWW,

social media, virtual meetings, Satellite maps, GIS, GPS, Map making, Open Source Mapping, Google Maps, Global Circulation Modeling, Surveying, Wild Fire detection, Early Warning

Effects: ICT development, TV, GPS, Satellite Maps, Weather forecasting, Climate Modeling, LiDAR, GIS based planning (urban, land use etc), Remote Sensing

Computer and Computer CrimesComputer:• Modeling, simulation (visualization of potential impacts and solution

before the event occurs and solutions implemented), design, solution techniques (FDM, FEM), Management Information System, Spatial planning using GIS, computer crimes, intrusion on personal privacy, data mining, data theft,

Effects: information generating, storing and dissemination• Design of materials using simulation• Electronic equipment

Electronic Transaction Act 2004 has listed the following acts under the Computer Crime• Theft, damage or alteration of computer source code• Unauthorized access to materials on computer • Destruction and computer and information system• Publication of illegal materials on electronic form• Violation of confidentiality• Posting of false information• Submitting or showing forged license or certificate• Non-submission of the document or other materials• Computer fraud

1.5 Role of Engineers in Society

The practice of engineering is directly related to societal issues, and hence has an impact on society. Engineering is the application of science to solve societal problems.Some of the basic roles of an engineering in society are: • Interact with society to fully understand the societal issues (needs and

problems) and propose a range of short-medium-long term options/solutions with financial, technical, safety, and environmental pros and cons of each option

• Contribute in decision making process to choose the best option• Prepare optimum design, including detailed specification to implement

the designed product• Execute the solution by creating the product to solve the issue or

supervising the constructing the solution• Continuously monitor and evaluate the performance of the solution, and

upgrade the solution based on evaluation• Train people to operate and maintain the solution system for its

reliability and sustainability

Changes brought by engineers in societies

• Mass production of goods through mechanization: lower price of goods

• Automation of production system: standardization of parts and design, more safety in work place

• Faster means of transportation: easier access to remote places and faster pace of life, better integration of different communities

• Mass communication: Awareness enhancement, easier access to information

• Inventing labor saving devices: faster construction• Creating faster pace of life: More productivity• Commercializing recreation: Recreation when wanted• Emphasizing on high degree of specialization: More reliable and

accurate results

Self EvaluationSociety:• Define society and discuss the essential elements of a society.• What is social change? What are the factors of social change?• Discuss the types of societies. • What are the theories of social and cultural change?

Impact of Technology on Society• Define technology. What are the effects and impacts of technology on society?• Describe the impact of technology in the rural society.• What are the impacts of technology in social and cultural changes? • What is the role of transportation facility to improve the economic condition of the rural

people of Nepal? Explain with the help of suitable example.• Throw light on how technological development is reflected in Human Development.• What is the impact of technology on society for bringing social as well as cultural

change? Briefly discuss.• 'Technology is the indicator of development.' Relate it with societies of the world. Write

technological achievement of the 21st century that has greatest impact on human.• Explain the impact of computer in society.• Explain the impact of 2D and 3D printers in society, with suitable examples.