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5 Branches of Engineering

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Allen Oneil
5 Branches of Engineering

Engineering is a huge discipline. In general, an engineer applies scientific knowledge to solve practical problems and design equipment and processes. Engineers apply scientific principles to design or develop structures, equipment, or processes. Engineering encompasses several disciplines. Traditionally, the main branches of engineering are chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, biological engineering, and mechanical engineering, but there are many other areas of specialization.

Civil engineering is one of the oldest forms of engineering. Civil engineering pertains to the discipline pertaining to the design, construction, analysis, and maintenance of structures, both natural and man-made, including bridge, roads, dams, and buildings. Sub-disciplines of civil engineering may include construction engineering, materials engineering, control engineering, structural engineering, urban engineering, municipal engineering, biomechanics, and surveying.

Electrical engineering involves the study and application of electricity and electronics. Some consider computer engineering and software engineering to be sub-disciplines of electrical engineering. Electronic engineering, optical engineering, power engineering, control engineering, and telecommunications engineering are electrical engineering specialties.

Mechanical engineering may be considered the mother of all engineering branches. Mechanical engineering applies physical principles and materials science to the design, manufacture, and analysis of mechanical systems. Mechanical engineers design, manufacture, and operate systems that extend our physical abilities. A mechanical engineer's work is seen every day in anything that moves. This includes designing an aircraft, planning a building's ventilation system and improving a car's fuel economy. Mechanical engineering also saves lives through bioengineering technologies. The world's first artificial heart was partially designed, manufactured and implanted using mechanical engineering principles.

Biological engineering is applied in biology and medicine. It includes biomedical engineering, biochemical engineering, protein engineering, genetic engineering, and tissue engineering. Some of the duties of biological engineers include: Designing biomedical equipment and devices, such as artificial internal organs, replacements for body parts, and machines for diagnosing medical problems, Installing, adjusting, maintaining, repairing, or providing technical support for biomedical equipment, Evaluating the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment, Training clinicians and other personnel on the proper use of biomedical equipment, following up on  the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, Preparing procedures, write technical reports, publish research papers, and make recommendations based on their research findings and finally presenting research findings to scientists, nonscientist executives, clinicians, hospital management, engineers, other colleagues, and the public

Chemical engineering applies chemistry to develop new materials and processes to convert materials into useful products. Chemical engineers have been improving our well-being for more than a century. From the development of smaller, faster computer chips to innovations in recycling, treating disease, cleaning water, and generating energy, the processes, and products that chemical engineers have helped create touch every aspect of our lives. 

It is therefore quite evident that engineering is a very crucial and important part of our lives as it touches on everything. It is quite beneficial to us and we should, therefore, have a lot of interest concerning engineering as it will assist us when it comes to all matters and aspects of life.

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Allen Oneil
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