From a business persepective, engineering advancements have improved efficiency and productivity and the future indicates this will continue to an even more substantial degree. Look for engineers to take advantage of opportunities to transform the engineering landscape and the way they work as AI and other technology develops — opening the door to more efficient project delivery and an increased level of client satisfaction.
Living in an era of robotic armor, flying machines and artificial intelligence, it is hard to believe that not long ago, engineering was a field in its infancy. In fact, many of the technologies that we take for granted today are relatively new. How did we get from early engineering to the high-tech field it is today? Let us look at the history of engineering and how it has evolved.
The first cars were built in the late 1800s, and the Wright brothers' first powered airplane did not take its famous flight until 1903. It was not until after World War II that computers began to enter mainstream use. Even cellphones were not widely available until the 1990s.
Engineers now have access to powerful computers that can simulate complex designs and help identify and solve problems. As a result, engineers can create safer, more efficient structures and systems than ever before.
Early engineers date back to the pyramids and the building of Egypt. However, the field of engineering began to take shape and draw attention during the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. That was a time when new technologies and ideas were being developed rapidly. One of the most important inventions of this era was the steam engine, which led to the development of railways and factories. Another significant invention was electricity, which paved the way for modern conveniences like lightbulbs and refrigerators.
During the 20th century, engineering became increasingly specialized. With technological advancements, engineers could develop new fields, such as aerospace engineering and civil engineering. In addition, computer science emerged as its field in the mid-1900s, although it has since become closely intertwined with engineering. In the past, slide rules, drafting instruments and sketching and mechanical drawing capabilities were instrumental to engineers’ work. Mechanical drawings are nearly outdated today, however, thanks to computers and CAD software. Technological advances have also transformed how engineers and the rest of society communicates. Before the 1960s, engineers had to get by with landlines, telegrams and the postal service. But today, they can communicate instantly with anyone worldwide using email, instant messaging, video conferencing and communication elements embedded in software programs.
Travel has changed as well. Earlier, engineers would travel by ship or train if they had to go far. Now they can fly anywhere in the world in a matter of hours. And it does not stop there. In many cases, engineers do not have to travel at all. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, advances in software have allowed engineers to bring client projects to life virtually in any part of the world, by enabling site tours, meetings and the sharing of plans and designs online.
Advances in technology affect not only the tools engineers use but also what they study. For example, in the mid-1800s, engineers fell into two groups: military and civil engineers. The former focused on designing weapons and fortifications, while the latter focused on building bridges, roads and canals. The distinction between the two groups began to blur with the advent of innovative technologies such as the telegraph, telephone, electricity and automobiles.
Today, many fields of engineering exist, including mechanical, electrical, aerospace, chemical, biomedical, nuclear and environmental. Modern technologies have also given rise to new areas of specialization within each field. For example, nanotechnology is a relatively new field that deals with the design and construction of exceedingly small devices.
