EGR 2101 Engineer in Society I

Historical Background:
The development of engineering as the response to the increasingly complex problems of the individual,
the community and society. Significant technological discoveries which have affected the progress of
civilization. The industrial revolution and the harnessing and exploitation of various fuel sources: coal, oil,
and generation of electricity, nuclear power and renewable sources (solar energy, wind power, etc). The
impact of engineering activities on the environment and its resources.

The Engineering Profession

The evolution of the different branches of engineering, and the structure, organization and ethics of the
professions, the specific responsibilities to society of the Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, and the
Mechanical Engineer. Other engineering disciplines and their interrelationships: multi-disciplinary
projects. The contrast between the Engineer and the Scientist, and the engineering approach to the solution of
practical problems.

Engineering Projects:
The role of engineering activities and industry in the nation's economy. Introduction to economics,
management and law as relating to engineering and industrial practice. The planning, construction and
operation.. of engineering projects and facilities.

NOTE: Films and seminars by practicing engineers will comprise part of the above lecture course,
which will also be supplemented by work visits to illustrate the major branches of engineering as far as local
opportunities allow.

1
 ENGINEER IN SOCIETY I
HISTORY OF ENGINEERING/TECHNOLOGY
INTRODUCTION:
The history of engineering/technology is synonymous with the invention of tools and techniques. Background
knowledge has enabled people to create new things and conversely, many scientific endeavours have become
possible through technologies which assist humans to go to places previously unheard of and probe the nature of the
universe in more detail than our natural senses could imagine.
The history of engineering can be divided roughly into four phases usually overlapping, each marked by a
revolution.

The Prehistory of Modern Engineering/Stone Age

The major lifestyle during this period involved limited use of tools and few if any hunting and food preparation, fire,
stone tools and weapons. Stone Age cultures developed music and engaged in organized warfare. They developed
ocean worthy outrigger ship technology leading to migration across the seas which require knowledge of the ocean
currents. During this period, polished stone tools were made from a variety of hard rocks such as flint, jade and
greenstone largely by working exposures such as quarries but later the valuable rocks were pursued by tunneling
underground, thus the first steps in mining technology.

Copper and Bronze Age

The stone Age developed into the Bronze Age after the Neolithic revolution involved radical changes in agricultural
technology which included development of agriculture, animal domestication and the use of permanent settlements.
These factors made possible the development of metal smelting with copper and later bronze (an alloy of tin &
copper).
The Iron Age: This age is characterized by the use of iron smelting technology. It generally replaced bronze and
made it possible to produce tools which were stronger and cheaper to make than bronze.

Ancient Civilizations:
It was the growth of ancient civilizations which produced the greatest advances in technology and engineering which
stimulated other societies to adapt new ways of living and governance. The Egyptians invented and used many simple
machines such as the ramp to aid construction process. This includes valley civilization, situated in an area notable
for its early application of city planning and sanitation technologies. Ancient civilization was also at the forefront
2
of seafaring technology. The Chinese made many first known discoveries and developments. Some of the major
technological contribution from China include early seismological detectors, double action piston pump,
wheelbarrow, the suspension bridge, gun powder etc.

The Romans developed an intensive and sophisticated agriculture, expanded upon existing iron working technology,
advanced road construction (exceeded only in the 19th century), true arch bridges, harbours, reservoirs and dams on a
very large scale across their empire. Some of their building have lasted 2000 years till the present day.

With the invention and adaptation of tools during the Stone age, Bronze age, Iron age etc. periods, man
furthered his exploits which resulted in extensive development of the human societies - civilization.
Civilization have been described as a complex phenomenon (Gulma.1999), which include vast items such as
knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, technology, and it implies the changes that takes place in
man's immediate environment as a result of his activities. It is characterized by man's creations dominating
or replacing the natural objects which man has started with.
History has it that modem civilization has its roots in four centers, which include:
i. Mesopotamia (3,500 BC)
ii. Nile River valley (3, 000 BC)
iii. Indus River valley (1,750 BC)
iv. Andean civilization (900 BC)
Generally, it is considered that civilization had its primary growth in two regions of the world, from the
Mesopotamia in the Near or Middle East and the Nile River Valley in Egypt to Indus River Valley which are
all group as Mediterranean civilization. The second center of civilization is the Andean civilization, around
900BC, which comprises of Andean and the middle - western part of South America, comprising the Artec
and Maya civilization.
Other forms of civilization, which are characterized by the great empires of Greek and Roman, emerged from
the two. When the Roman Empire fell, there was no developed human society for quite a while, leading to
period of Dark Ages (Not much was known about this period in man's history). The period of Dark Ages was
followed by the middle Ages or medieval time (1450-1660 AD) which was known as the period of scientific
study and Astrology. It was an era that brought self-reliance in agriculture, resuscitation of technological
innovations that led to invention of water wheel, windmills, and steering ships with rudder, compass, clock,
printing technology etc.

3
As the human settlements to the west of the Roman Empire started developing fast then came the period of
Renaissance-rebirth of civilization in the part of world known as the West (Europe). This led to Western
Civilization, which started in 16th century. One major feature of this civilization is the Industrial
Revolution of 1750 - 1850AD. This is very significant in the history of the development of human
societies as the socio-economic condition as well as technological advancement were greatly enhanced.
This revolution to large extent brought about a shift in the orientation of the scientists and engineers of the time
towards research and development of technologies relevant for domestic economic growth. They
researched and invented product for which the capitalist of the period provided fund unlike the scientist
of the early societies who were known with scholarly theories about the universe.

After the industrial revolution of Europe, the progress of civilization in terms of impact of technological
development which started with advent of Bronze Age, Iron Age, Steam Age, Energy Age, continued with Jet
Age, Technology Age, and Computer Age, etc.

Conclusively, the term civilization can be describe as a condition of human society characterized by a
high level of cultural and technological achievements and correspondingly complex, social and political
developments.

Medieval and Modern Technologies

From the 8th century, the medieval Islamic World witnessed a fundamental transformation in agriculture known as
the "Muslim Agricultural Revolution", "Arab Agricultural Revolution" or Green Revolution", This is as a result of
the global economy established by Muslim traders across the old world during the "Afro - Asiatic age of
discovery". The Muslim engineers in the Islamic world developed hydropower, wind power, industrial uses of
water mills were in widespread use since the 8th century. By the 11th century, every province throughout the Islamic
world had these industrial mills in operation from Andalus in Spain and North Africa to Middle East and Central Asia.

19th Century
During the 19th century. Astonishing developments in transportation, construction and communication technologies
originating in Europe especially in Britain occurred. The steam Engine which had been in existence since the early
18th century, was practically applied to both steamboat and railway transportation. The first purpose built railway
line opened between Manchester and Liverpool in 1830.
Other technologies explored for the first time include the incandescent light bulb. Machine tools used by engineers
4
to manufacture other machines began in the first decade of the century notably by Richard Roberts and Joseph
Whinworth. Steamships were eventually iron clad and played a role in the opening of Japan and China to trade with
the West. The second Industrial revolution of the end of the 19 th century saw rapid development of chemical,
electrical, petroleum and steel technologies connected with highly structured technology research.

The Industrial Revolution (1850 -1950AD)

The early industrial revolution started in the 19th century and still remains the hallmark of the modern
technological civilization. It typifies the period of rapid development of England and other European
countries through industrialization, which is the building of machines to replace human labour in the
processing of agricultural products and production of other basic needs of the society through
manufacturing.

The economy and social system of the era contributed principally to the great achievements of the
time. It was the era when influence, power and money are acquired mainly by technological means. It
recorded more profit and increase in the standard of living as shown by the increase in the National
turnover.
By 1750AD, England was agrarian country with 80% population living in the countryside (rural area)
and urban centers just 20%. The revolutionary change which was to have a significant influence in the
total way of life of the people started off in the urban centers which had become the locations for the
mills and industries and hence, it entail the slow and gradual but sudden and revolutionary shift of the
means of production from that of employing skilled workers to that of employing machines that requires
skills to operate, yet, being more productive and cheaper to maintain.
The change also brought about the shift of emphasis from the traditional occupation of farming to
manufacturing and this drew workers from the lands in the rural areas to urban centers where the mills are
located. This becomes possible because of the lucrative nature of the business, which also requires no
special skills.
Along with this shift, was also the break from the country beliefs and traditions of the pre-Christian Stone
Age fanners and the adoption of loose and freer life style of the urban centers? The revolution
transformed England of 1750, that by 1880 AD, it is no longer dependent on land but on machines and
manufacturing, no longer dependents on heavy skilled labour but on factory conditions, no longer
country life but towns life style. Processed food was plentiful and varied and freely sold in shops and
markets. Generally, there was great shift of Engineering/technology orientation from scholarly theories
5
about the universe to research and development. Relevant to the domestic economic growth, more,
inventions, more complex and fundamental Engineering systems were evolved.
World trade in real sense of it started, and other contrivances such as steam engine, steamship and
radio were made. It is the swiftness of this great change in the ways of life on first 100 years, almost
sudden nature of change in all ramifications that makes its revolution and hence industrial revolution.

Significance of the Industrial Revolution

i. The industrial revolution is significant for the role it played in the quick transformation of
Europe from largely agrarian nation to fast developing economic giant that it becomes by the turn
of the century,
ii. It is also significant for the abundant wealth it created for the countries of
Europe and later America, which made tremendous up-liftment in the
living standard of the people possible.
iii. It made possible free trade of goods and services in the hospitality sector e.g. Hotels, Restaurant,
Taxis etc.
iv. Created a sense of freedom, comfort and case of living for urban dwellers, which resulted in the
rural urban drift,
v. Great inventions were prominent during the time and activities that culminated in today
Engineering also started at that time,
vi. Since then, human societies have been able to cope with the development of engineering approach
to problem solving.

20th Century
Due to the scientific gains directly tied to military research and development, technologies including electronic
computing developed as rapidly as they did in part due to war. Radio, radar and early sound recording were key
technologies which paved the way for the telephone, fax machine, and magnetic storage of data. Energy and engine
power developed after the Manhattan project. Transport by Cocketry, most of the work occurred in the U.S.
(Goddard), Russia (Tsiolkovsley) and Germany (Oberth).

In the early 20th century, attention moved to space exploration pioneered by a Russian by the name Konstantin K.
TsioiKovsky, an American called Robert H. Goddard and a German called Hermann Oberth.
6
The Soviet launched its first artificial satellite named Sputnik 1 into orbit in October 1957 and a month later Sputnik
2 with a live dog named Laika was sent into orbit to prove man's survival around the earth's orbit. The Americans
launched explorer 1 three months later. Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin and American Astronaut Alan B. Sheperd
manned the first space vehicle on 12th April and 5th May 1961 respectively.
On 20th July 1969, United States Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin of the Apollo 41 lunar module
became the first humans to set foot on the moon. A year later a moon core soil sample was collected.

Computer and Information Age (From 1950 Beyond)

The modern computer evolved from the middle of the 20th century (i.e 1950 ranging from the vacuum tube relays, to
transistors to small scale integrated circuits (1C) to the ultra large IC'S and as Pentium I to V and currently duo core
which are now connected to form networks. The networks are interconnected to form internet.

21st Century
Despite the fact that the 21st century just began, technology is being developed even more rapidly, marked
progress in almost all fields of science and technology has led to improvements to the technology we currently possess,
the rate of development in computers being only one example at which the speed of progress continues. Current
ongoing developments include research into nanotechnology.

The Impact of Engineering Activities

Engineering have been defined as the application of science, technology art and economics to the
definition and solution of real socio economic and ecological problems. Virtually all aspect of the
human life is attached to the engineering functions. To be able to more form one part to another
involves a motor car, bicycle, plane, train etc. Each one of these mediums is a product of engineering.
Top economically viable or so called industrial superpowers are ripping high, the tasty fruits of their
engineering supremacy. They have been able to control world economy just by harnessing, developing
and selling their engineering and technological knowhow. Engineering activities can therefore be
described as those technological functions or creations designed and built to serve mankind in his day to
day growth both individually and collectively as a society thereby increasing and sustaining balances
in his wealth, i.e. economy.

These activities include road design and construction, bridges, dam and reservoirs, ports and harbour,
irrigation schemes; communication systems; Transportation facilities; Military formation and arsenal;
7
Power and energy resources; Petroleum and chemical facilities, etc. Each of these activities lends it impact
in form of services to the economy of a nation. In spite of the forgoing, many problems facing the world
today are bound up with technological engineering and such issues cannot be understood adequately
and dealt with effectively unless there is deep and all-encompassing appreciation of technology and its
impact. Such impact includes impacts on business organization and others.

History of Engineering and Technology in Nigeria

Williams, 1980 reported that the ancient engineering became practically extinct with the collapse of the
Roman Empire and was only revived by Arabs of Africa and Near East who conserved them from where it
later found its way back to Europe during the middle Ages. These ancient engineering practices laid the
foundation for modem engineering and technological imprints in Europe and the world. As Williams opined
the engineering and technology which is practiced today did not owe its existence to one particular specie of
mankind, even though some species prompted by various reasons of need and greater curiosities have
contributed more to its advancement.

The history of engineering and technological development in Nigeria is a mixture of the traditional and
modem. Nigeria was not left out in the traditional technology evolution as before the .advance of the
colonial masters, technological prowess has been exhibited by different cultural settings in Nigeria such as
NOK and Bronze sculptures of Benue-Plateau, Benin's, Igbo Ukwu; the Jukun salt mines; textile loom
and dye pits of Akwuete and Kano city; blacksmithery of Awka; Brass artifacts of Nupe people; alcohol
distillation from palm wine of Niger Delta region; irrigation works on Mambilla plateau; war canoes of
Ijaw people; etc. The advent of Colonial Authority subdued to a near extinction the advancement of these
traditional technology as the European technology which is more refined was introduced making it impossible
to improve on our traditional indigenous engineering and technology feat.
Isichei, 1983 reported that the suppressive attitude of the British towards the traditional technology
expertise of the Nigerians was not accidental but dictated by policy as demonstrated when tin collection and
smelting was made illegal in 1913 and alcohol distillation from palm wine banned. All these inhibitions has
stunted our growth in modem technology which would have been from our local or traditional experiments
and experiences, rather modem engineering practices, technology and industrial processes were introduced
as exotic, and not easy to transplant or made to grow in the Nigerian society as opined by Ajayi (1995).
Unfortunately this process of delinking the modem to the traditional have continued after the exit of the
British even among scientist and engineers.
8
Some notable colonial infrastructures put in place by technical know-how of the British and our own
manpower include the railway system, roads, electrical power supply, telecommunications, marine and
harbour, coastal and inland waterways, etc. These structures were designed, constructed and managed by the
Government under the Public Works Department (PWD).

Though some of these infrastructures are still in existence, some are now moribund but today's Nigeria
engineer have been in far-front of various technological breakthrough in project idealization, design,
construction, management, maintenance of engineering facilities in area of transportation, housing,
communications, energy, water supply, environmental protection against erosion, desertification etc.