Engineers and architects affect all of modern life

If you’re like most people, in the last 24 hours, you’ve used more than half of the top 20 engineering achievements of this century – in just one day! And your life was undoubtedly touched in some way by the balance.
As categorized in A Century of Innovation: 20 Engineering Achievements that Transformed Our Lives, published by the National Academies Press, those achievements include electrification, the automobile, airplanes, water supply and distribution, electronics, radio and television, agricultural mechanization, computers, telephones, air conditioning/refrigeration, highways, spacecraft, the Internet, imaging, household appliances, health technologies, petroleum and petrochemical technologies, laser and fiber optics, nuclear technologies and high-performance materials.
Clearly, engineering plays a role in everything we do, because engineering is defined as the application of scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. Engineers often refer to themselves as “problem solvers.” Their work is the link between what our society needs and the products that meet those needs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineers held 1.4 million jobs in the U.S. in 2004. Of those, more than half were in the mechanical, industrial, electrical and electronics specialty areas. Engineers are employed in every state ” in large cities and in rural areas” and in every major industry.
Engineering employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations between now and 2014; however, job outlook varies by engineering specialty. In a rapidly changing technological world, many industries will have to quickly update their processes and will rely on engineers to do that work. One factor that could limit employment growth is the abundance of English-speaking engineers in other nations who will work via the Internet for substantially less money that their American counterparts. This trend, coupled with the fact that the U.S. graduated about 70,000 engineers in 2004 while China graduated more than 600,000 and India more than 350,000, could make the employment outlook for engineers less than favorable going forward. In the future, biomedical and environmental engineers may have a leg up on their colleagues in other specialties. Nuclear, mining and petroleum engineers may see a slowdown in their disciplines.
Engineers command an impressive starting salary when compared with other professional baccalaureate degree holders. Aerospace, chemical, computer, electrical, mechanical and nuclear engineers will typically start above $50,000 with a bachelor’s degree.
Closely connected to the engineering profession is architecture. Architects, like engineers, solve the problems associated with meeting society’s need for structures in which we can live, work, play, worship, meet, eat, govern and shop. Architects consider aesthetics, functionality and efficiency in turning rough concepts into images that can be executed by contractors and builders.
Approximately one in four architects is self-employed, which is more than three times the proportion for all professional and related occupations. And while a bit of engineering expertise is necessary for a career in architecture, equally important are skills in project management, supervision and communication – especially communication. Successful architects must be able to convey their visions persuasively.
In 2004, architects held approximately 130,000 jobs nationwide, mostly in private firms with fewer than five employees. Obviously the employment of architects is closely tied to construction activity. Prognosticators hint that the growth in the architectural field going forward will be in commercial property, as well as healthcare facilities, retirement communities and nursing homes, as a result of the aging of the Baby Boom generation. The schools in which the Baby Boomers were educated are aging out as well, creating a demand for new, more energy-efficient educational facilities.
Energy and environmental efficiency are critical to architecture of the future. The U.S. Green Building Council advocates for the design and construction of “green” buildings – structures that use environmentally friendly materials, minimize waste, improve air and water quality, increase energy efficiency and protect the environment.
According to a recent survey conducted by McGraw-Hill Construction/ National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) the residential green building market is anticipated to grow from $19 billion from 2005 to $38 billion by 2010. Motivators for that growth include rising gas, energy and electricity prices.
In addition to solar power, green buildings utilize products such as alternative attic insulation techniques and recycled materials (including counter tops made from recycled glass and carpets made from post-consumer materials). This industry is rife with innovations. For instance, Alcoa has developed a sunshade product that generates solar power while also providing shade. The possibilities are endless.
In the U.S., buildings account for 39 percent of the nation’s total energy consumption. Since the average commercial structure will cost 10 times as much to operate over its 100-year lifespan as it cost to build, sustainable design is a movement whose time has come. But adoption has been slow because of our historically cheap energy sources. That may be changing now. No longer able to focus only on the aesthetics of building, architects and engineers are now working together to focus more on how things work. With today’s technology, these professionals can quickly see how expensive buildings will be with any alteration of energy sources or materials.
The construction industry generates millions of tons of construction waste each year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 20 to 30 percent of that debris is being recovered for processing or recycling. If more construction debris could be sent to reprocessing facilities, the cost for disposal and landfill maintenance will be reduced. And using recycled materials in the construction process substantially reduces material costs.
As with any problem, the answer likely lies with engineers. We have the technology, and they, working with architects, have the knowledge to bring it all to fruition.
Mary Paulsell is director of operations for the University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].