There are several Types of engineering : Civil, chemical, mineral, among others. This diversification is due to the great breadth of this discipline.
The word "engineering" Goes back several centuries, specifically to the times of the ancient civilizations, which were characterized by their great constructions. It has its origin in the Latin word 'ingenium', which means wit.
The first engineering definition was made by Thomas Tredgold In 1828. The engineer and writer defined it as the way to direct great resources of energy of the nature so that they can be used to the convenience of the man.
In a very general way, it can be said that this is a science that is oriented to the study and application of technology with the aim of satisfying the needs of man.
On the other hand, it can also be said that in this profession both the mathematical and natural sciences are used, which are learned through study, experience and practice, in order to develop ways in which those who can Materials and forces of nature for the benefit of the people.
Engineering must be diversified by obligation to fulfill its function of applying scientific knowledge for the development of technological solutions to practical problems. With respect to the most outstanding fields, 11 types of engineering are distinguished.
List with 11 types of engineering
1- Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is one of the broadest branches. This encompasses the field that ranges from structures, construction and administration of works to transportation, hydraulics, Geotechnical , Environment and topography.
The professional in this area is responsible for carrying out feasibility, projection and management studies, as well as inspection, construction, operation and maintenance of structures.
Among the tasks of a civil engineer are to take charge of civil works such as resistant structures, buildings, houses, bridges, culverts, among others. But also hydraulic works, roads and railways.
It is also dedicated to urban planning works and others related to river, sea and air navigation. On the other hand, civil engineering is also the branch that deals with hydrological, seismic and other studies related to the mechanics of soils and rocks, among others.
2 - Mineral Engineering
One of the oldest fields of engineering is the one that has to do with mining and metallurgy. This branch comprises four subfields: mine engineering, metallurgical engineering, petroleum engineering and ceramic engineering.
Mining Engineering
This field of mineral engineering encompasses all aspects of mine clearance: exploration, location, development and operation of these.
The objective is this work is the drilling and obtaining of fossil fuels such as lignite, coal, copper ores, iron, silver, gold, among others. But also the extraction of other minerals such as bauxite, borax, sulfur, calcite, among others.
To carry out this work, it is necessary to have scientific knowledge and special training for the use of equipment such as seismographs and geophysical equipment, as well as heavy and complex machinery.
Professionals in this area must be able to carry out tasks of management, organization and execution of search of reservoirs and exploitation of reserves, among many other things.
Metallurgical Engineering
Metallurgical engineering comprises two broader areas namely, extractive metallurgy and physical metallurgy. The first one is responsible for producing metals from the ore extracted from the mine.
Mechanical, thermal and chemical processes are used to carry out this procedure. Mechanical processes are performed to remove undesirable materials that accompany the mineral. And later in order to obtain pure metal, elements such as fire or electricity are used
The second area is physical metallurgy. This is the process in which metal alloys are obtained from the refined metal produced in the extractive metallurgy. These alloys have special physical properties thanks to the procedures to which they are subjected.
Engineering in oil
This engineering is responsible for all the work that includes crude oil and natural gas. This field is dedicated specifically to the exploration, drilling and production of these two elements, but also of their storage and transport.
It is worth noting that the refinement and processing of petroleum and its by-products are no longer part of petroleum engineering but rather of chemical engineering.
An oil engineer must take care of everything that pertains to the drilling of wells. From the location and mapping of the oil formations to the decision of the site where the drilling will take place.
Ceramic engineering
It is one that applies to the products that are obtained as a consequence of the processing of nonmetallic minerals and their treatment at high temperatures. Experts in this area can perform in virtually any activity where the creation of objects resistant to high temperatures is required.
An example of such articles may be spark plug motors, jet engine parts, grinding wheels, refractory bricks, windowpanes, dinnerware, etc.
Ceramic engineers are in charge of the formulation, grinding and mixing of the starting materials, as well as the molding of the paste obtained. From this it is possible to obtain objects with the desired shapes.
The specialist in this area is basically responsible for the whole process: from the design and operation of the equipment to the final product.
3- Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering is the branch that is in charge of everything that has to do with the production of compounds and products that for its elaboration requires transformations of the physical and chemical type of the material that composes them.
It deals with the manufacture of substances on an industrial scale from raw materials. This has a close link with some of the subfields of mineral engineering such as oil, ceramics and metallurgy. But it is also related to industrial engineering and food engineering.
Professionals in this area work in a wide variety of industries ranging from chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, perfumes, cosmetics, salts, insecticides, food additives etc. to the petrochemistry Which includes lubricants, fuels, paints, enamels, solvents, synthetic fibers, etc.
4- Mechanical Engineering
This is the branch of engineering that is responsible for applying the principles of mechanics, physics, materials science, thermodynamics, among others, in the design and analysis of different mechanical systems. That is, in thermal, hydraulic, manufacturing, transport, ventilation systems, among other applications.
The specialist in this field is dedicated to work with both engines and machinery, as well as with automotive, aircraft, heating systems, ventilation, refrigeration, among others.
In addition, the mechanical engineer is a professional who is qualified to perform activities such as study, planning, construction, management, installation, operation, maintenance, repair and inspection of thermal and mechanical systems. It is also dedicated to the development of new processes and technologies.
5 - Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering is the branch that is responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electric power. The work of the engineers in this field has to do with the supervision of the operation of the power generation plants and the change of voltage that occurs between the elements of large transmission networks.
Therefore, the professional of this area has the capacity to perform in all fields that have to do with the production, transportation and commercialization of electric energy.
This involves the industries that manufacture components and those that are dedicated to electrical installations. But they can also be involved in the planning and operation of electric power supply systems.
6- Electronic Engineering
Electronic engineering is in some way related to electrical engineering. Both engineering are responsible for the study of the electrical phenomenon, as well as the mathematical and physical foundations, the study of electromagnetism, circuit theory and project planning.
However, electronic engineering focuses on the study of the use of electric power for the transmission of information reception and processing. This means that it is the basis of other sub-lines such as telecommunication engineering, computer engineering and automatic control engineering.
The specialist in this field uses electronics to solve some engineering problems such as the transformation of electricity, for the operation of telecommunications devices, industrial process control, telecommunications, among others.
7- Food Engineering
Food engineering, also known as food engineering, is the branch responsible for studying the way in which raw materials for human consumption can be transformed into products with a longer shelf life.
They do this through processes that comprise food chemistry, physics and biology. The objective of this field is to ensure that these materials can be preserved for a longer time without this implying a loss of their nutritional value.
The tasks of the professional of this branch have to do with the improvement of the food supply, specifically in three aspects: quantity, quality and cost. It is worth noting that food engineering can be developed in a wide variety of fields.
8- Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineering is responsible for the whole process that has to do with the production of goods or services.
The professional in this area is dedicated to the development of control and cost reduction programs, process design, value analysis, human productivity, materials management, information systems, labor assessment, among many others.
This branch is developed in various fields such as engineering methods, cost studies, quality control, human resources, economic engineering and information.
9- Sound Engineering
Sound engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with studying the sound phenomenon. This involves all fields of application of this one such as acoustics, electroacoustics, recording and production, sound reinforcement and the design of electroacoustic systems.
This branch interacts with other disciplines such as physics, mathematics, electronics, computer science, music grammar, among others.
The professional in this area must have an artistic as well as scientific and technological training, since only then can he offer solutions to transdisciplinary problems.
In addition, it must be capable of having a broad and unifying perspective that allows it to understand, transform, create and manage projects around the sound phenomenon, all from a scientific-technological perspective.
10- Military engineering
This branch of engineering is one that has to do with the application of engineering principles and techniques to different military situations.
It is in charge of supporting both the combat and logistics activities of the armies. This is done through an MCP system, acronyms that mean mobility, countermobility and protection.
Among the tasks of professionals in this area, which must be military, is the construction of bridges, runways, minefields, shelters, fortifications and tasks of water supply, communications and transportation, among many others. But not just this.
Military engineering not only consists in the creation but also in the destruction of any element that can facilitate the advance of the enemy. By doing this, defensive power is increased.
11- Systems Engineering
This is a branch of engineering that deals with the development of systems and information technologies . To achieve this, it is necessary to make use of a specific computer infrastructure. Systems engineering differs from other branches of this field because it does not deal with tangible products but with logical products.
For this, the professionals of the area must have different notions, especially mathematics. Because only this way you can translate your ideas in a practical way in real life.
References
- Alunni, J. (Undated). Definition of engineering. Chair: Fundamentals of Engineering. Retrieved from ing.unne.edu.ar.
- Introduction to Engineering. (without date). Department of Chemical Engineering. FI UNSJ. Branches and engineering functions. Recovered from fi.unsj.edu.ar.