Engineering and Construction Resources - Essay Example

Engineering and Construction resources Engineering refers to the application of the social, economic and scientific structures in order to construct, build and create structures as well as maintain them. It entails the application of practical knowledge towards the creation of products, structures and processes, which serves to solve the existing problems in the world (Hamen, 18). This being the case, there are a variety of resources that are available for engineering and construction, which normally differ, depending on the type of the construction to be undertaken, and the purpose for which the product, structure or process is developed. The resources for use in engineering range from the simple routine engineering articles, to the complex and field-specific publications that are authoritatively published, for adoption into different engineering fields. Such resources are a preserve of trained and professional engineers. Other than the usual simple article resources, engineering also applies technological resources as such design and programming software, as well as the virtual design tools, which are applied to model structures, products of the processes that the engineers want to produce, so that they can have a modeled sample for reference, when the actual design and construction is being undertaken (Hamen, 44). Therefore, while covering the subject of engineering and construction resources, it is inevitable to note that engineering resources are such diverse and widespread, such that it is practically impossible to cover each and every resource. The discussion of engineering resources can therefore take a selective approach, based on the field of engineering, and the main resources applicable to the field. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is one of the major resource centers for engineering and construction professionals, whose history dates back over a century ago. It is a tax-exempt engineering professional body, whose mission and objective is to disburse the engineering knowledge as widely as possible, so that it can be accessed by those who require it (ASCE, 42). It is an engineering society that seeks to serve members, partners and the public at large, through providing them with essential values. It seeks to advance technology, while also promoting the learning of new technology use in the world, to facilitate the advancement for the common engineering good. The body therefore influences public policy, while also promoting professionalism that is meant to advance the place of engineering in the society, while also supporting the construction engineering leader, to advance the course for engineering in advocating for engineering and environmental stewardship (ASCE, 27). To achieve this course, the engineering body has undertaken the publication of various engineering materials, emerging as the world’s greatest publisher of engineering information. The engineering body produces its publication in 31 different categories, which accumulates to a total of 55,000 pages publication every single year (ASCE, 17). The engineering society avails its publication both in print and online, making the essential engineering information available to all interested parties, while also collaborating with the government and he policy makers to publish authoritative publications, which guide the engineering and construction practice the world over (ASCE, 55). Institution of Civil Engineers, (ICE) Bookshop is a major resource for engineering and construction worldwide. This body seeks to provide both informative and authoritative engineering and construction information to engineering professionals globally (Institution of Civil Engineers, 22). The ICE Bookshop mainly specializes in the publication of multi-author reference works from renowned and qualified experts in the field of engineering and constructions, which includes the applicable guidelines, procedures, standards, codes and practices, which guides the operations of the engineering and construction fields (Institution of Civil Engineers, 72). Considering that such materials are multi-author reference works, they serve to act as authoritative reference materials for this field. Further, this engineering body is involved in the development of the state-of-the-art reports and technical books, which feature the modern and recently developed operational guidelines for use in the field of engineering and construction. Such state-of-the-art reports are produced successively, to continuously update and inform the past ones, enabling the professionals operating in this field, as well as those aspiring to engage in the field to continuously refresh and acquaint themselves with the day by day developments in the field of engineering and construction (Institution of Civil Engineers, 56). This serves to ensure that the operations under this field are undertaken under the information and knowledge of the recent developments, as opposed to the application of code, standards and procedures that are already post-dated. ICE Bookshop also avails to the whole world, the conference proceedings, and contract documents, which serves to inform the world on the current developments in the field of engineering and construction, based on the conference discussions and resolutions (Institution of Civil Engineers, 35). Such publications also inform the engineering and construction professionals on the various essentials of contractual engagements, thus guiding them further, beyond just engineering procedures, standards and guidelines. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a mechanical engineering resource center that was established in 1880, which seeks to set internationally recognized industrial and manufacturing codes and standards, which enhances public safety worldwide (Rajan, 32). It comprises of over 120, 000 members, all involved in the technical, educational and research tasks for the field of mechanical engineering. The tasks undertaken by its members serves to generate the most appropriate codes of conduct and internationally recognized standards, that guides the field of mechanical engineering, ensuring that industries and machineries operate at the highest safety levels possible, thus reducing the casualty levels (Rajan, 61). Majorly, this engineering body centers its research on the application of technology, ideas and scientific principles, to ensure that all the individuals working under the mechanical engineering category are availed with the required technology, knowledge and operational guidelines, which enhances the achievement of the mechanical engineers and operators, considering that the field of mechanical engineering touches on more, than just the engineers. This body is involved in researching and publishing both educational and authoritative materials, which are adopted for mechanical engineering practices worldwide. This mechanical engineering body mostly centers its focus on the production of materials for educating middle-level college students on the mechanical principles, practices, codes of conducts and standards; to enhance their development into professional mechanical engineering technicians, who mainly work in plant and equipment repair and maintenance, while under the direction of the mechanical engineers or the mechanical technologists, since it is not possible for all industries and manufacturing plants to hire the services of purely mechanical engineers (Rajan, 85). Thus, the main role of the body is to advance the mechanical engineering knowledge beyond the mechanical engineers. Works Cited American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Standard Practice for the Design and Operation of Precipitation Enhancement Projects. Reston, Va: ASCE, 2004. Print. Hamen, Susan E. Engineering. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub. Co, 2011. Print.. Institution of Civil Engineers. Ice Design and Construct Conditions of Contract: Guidance Notes. London: Institution of Civil Engineers, 1993. Print. Rajan, T S. Basic Mechanical Engineering. New Delhi: New Age International, 2007. Print. Read More