Civil of environmental engineering

Autonomous vehicles

Introduction

           Autonomous vehicles refer to the type of automobiles that can drive themselves without the essence of human supervision or input. On the other hand unmanned automobiles are types of vehicles that are either controlled with the aid of a remote or sometimes operate autonomously. They are also referred to as robotic, self-driving, or driverless car (Ferreras, 2014). This type of cars is capable of sensing and navigating the environment without necessarily depending on human input. For instance robotic cars only exist as prototypes and demonstration systems.

                To begin with, the important aspect about the autonomous vehicles is the essence of motion planning. On the other hand, handling both the execution as well as the research regarding the collision free pathway is via the execution of certain jobs that in return becomes the ultimate goal for these vehicles. Path planning and path tracking is the main area of motion planning. Computation and searching of collision-free path, considering the geometry of the vehicle ,taking into account the vehicles surrounding obstacles, kinematic constraints of the vehicle and as well as the dynamic constraints is the is the tasks involved with path planning. Similarly, path tracking pertains the actual navigation along a predefined pathway by considering the dynamic and kinematic constraints of the vehicle. This implies that optimal planning is one of the methods regarding the various approaches in path planning of these driverless vehicles. To ensure that this vehicle moves along this pathway, from the start to the target location without colliding with environmental obstacles, computing various kinds of optimization methods are essential too (Mashadi & Majidi, 2014).

             Autonomous vehicles equally depend on the technology that enables it to interact with other drivers on the pathway, traffic signals, and also other pedestrians. For instance employing the Google car as an example, makes it easier to focus and explain how these inevitable technology operates and interacts with itself and other vehicles on the road. ‘’Laser range finder’’ that is mounted on the roof of the Google car helps it to interpret the surrounding terrain and display a three-dimensional map. In return these maps that the car is depending on are the Google map which is located by manually driven cars. The robotic car is also designed with different sensors besides the ‘’laser range finder’’ mounted on top of the roof of the car. This include asset of four systems that is mounted on the car pumpers that allows seeing a distance sufficient to deal with the quick traffic on freeways (Swanson., 2014). Additionally on the rear-view mirror, the car contains a camera which it uses to detect traffic lights and global positioning system (GPS) unit and inertia measuring unit. Also mounted is a wheel decoder that is used to determine location of vehicle and keeps track of the vehicles movement.

            Nonetheless, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDER) sensors are mainly employed in sensitivity for these cars in that they possess a high speed, accuracy, and range. These characteristics makes the above sensors to be suitable in  integration hence providing  perception layers of controllers that has the capacity of avoiding collision with unpredicted obstacles (Bouchon et al., 2002).The TBM deals with uncertain and contradictory date problems in an efficient manner. This is in return suited for the processing of sensor data and the fusion of other data from different sources. Surrounding vehicles are represented on a grid of two or three dimensions as mentioned earlier. In this framework the LIDAR sensor aims at scanning a single plane hence the essence of using a two-dimensional grid so that the two axes appear as longitudinal and lateral. This information is essential for these automobiles in that it helps to perform various tasks such as avoiding collision and self-localization. The main advantage of this method is that it enables individuals to reduce the complexity problems in the process of segmenting it and in connection to other detection and tracking activities. Conversely, the ease of integrating it with other modernized sensors assist in enhancing the overall perception of the whole system  (Domínguez et al., 2013).

         Considering the automotives hardware, these vehicles also uses the custom interface so as to allow direct shifting of the gears, brakes electronic actuation and steering. With the software design, the vehicles driving software mechanism factors in three functional areas; perception, control and as well as planning as discussed above. Organizing vehicles into a platoon is effective in meeting the highway system requirement hence increasing traffic throughput (Yonggui et al., 2014). Equally, different parking scenario for these driverless cars is considered. For the purpose of control and monitoring, a reliable Wi-Fi communication between the back end and the vehicles is essential. In order for the vehicle not to hit the ‘’ white spot’’ without any available network connectivity, a potential QOS requirement of various applications is linked for it. Connectivity maps are therefore used to estimate and represent these network properties. In connection to that, the V- project that was developed by the European Union improves the situation through enhancing the driver to halt the vehicle at selected areas in front of the departure and incoming and to directly hasten the departure at the gate. This necessitates for the unmanned vehicles to become more promising and active as opposed to the manned manual ones (Pögel et al., 2013).

          Despite that the evolution of autonomous vehicles is not new, the development of this technology have not enabled these vehicles to complete a substantial amount of distance. The Urban challenge that was established proved that the vehicles safely operate in urban environment and that they have the ability to interact safely with the dynamic environment (N.R.C, 2005). The incorporation of this inevitable technology based on autonomous vehicles and information technology (IT) will make a breakthrough in this field. Combination of high performance cars and as well as the intelligent transportation system (ITS)  will produce a powerful tool of reaching new levels concerned with the optimization of  urban transportation. An increasing need to provide a safer access to transportation to the elderly and the disabled will still be the aim. This is to imply that mass transit, walking and individual car travel would be efficient and easy. In conclusion it is wise to say that robotic cars are reliable in that their instrumentation and design performs safely that human perception, hence fewer accidents especially during high speed. Thus fewer accidents imply that the health costs are also reduced (Ferreras, 2014).

Present Worth and Annual Cash Flow Analysis

With respect to the evolution of the modern transportation sector, is should be noted that the autonomous vehicles are on its testing phase. This then indicates that it is ultimately difficulty to be in the position of anticipating the actual outcome which is to be realized from such transportation advancements. The only factor which ought to be taken into considerations is estimating the likely magnitude of its impact to the modern economy (Mashadi & Majidi., 2014). On the other hand, additional benefits from the use of autonomous vehicles entail assessing the benefits which might arise from it as a result of higher fuel consumptions rate of the existing automotives.

Regardless of that, it has been estimated that the general mechanism regarding the spacing of the AVs has the potential of reducing it to about 15 percent. In connection to that, the road training platoons mainly facilitates the adaptive braking of the uncontrolled road challenges which enhances effective usage of the existing transportation sector.  Despite of the manner in which the autonomous vehicles would have been considered to be safer, the truth is that they are ultimately unsafe because of the absence of human driver in it. The perception which is concerned with this system is known to be having the capacity of driving policy which in return has the potential of delaying its implementation. Additionally, in case the autonomous vehicles would have been held to relatively much higher standards unlike the existing human drivers, the fact is that it costs will be rising to a certain extent which also make the majority of individuals to be unable to purchase them. This implies that a number of steps ought to be taken into consideration in order to account for its liability concerns (Ferreras, 2014).

In the connection to the above considerations, the notion regarding driverless vehicles may seen to be a distant possibility in the transportation sector. Regardless of that, autonomous technology is perceived to be having the capacity of improving exponentially. The reason for that is because some of the features used in them are already used on some of the current vehicles (Lukas, 2017). In connection to that is that such vehicle has the potential of reducing crashes, the easiness of dealing with traffic, improving the fuel economy, reducing packing needs, bringing mobility to those individual doesn’t have the capacity of driving, as well as the over time dramatic changes in the nature of travelling. In return, the impact of this is that it will have quantifiable and real benefits to any economy which will make use of this technology.

In connection to that, another point which had to be taken into consideration is that the annual economic benefits which are perceived to be arising from this technology mainly ranges between $25 billion with at least 15% market penetration. This is to imply that in the process of including other broader returns and some of the highly penetrating rates, the truth is that the autonomous vehicles will offer the potential of saving the economy of such a country. Regardless  of the fact that this financial perspective doesn’t include the associative costs and other externalities, the goodness is that there will be an extensive or dramatic changes which will be encountered I both the safety and nature of the modern transportation sector (N.R.C, 2005).

This shows that the potential benefits remains to be substantial to the economy regardless of the significant barriers which impedes its full implementation as well as other mass-market penetration. The initial expenses the autonomous vehicles will be costing is estimated to be extremely unaffordable to the majority of the developing countries unlike the developed ones.  It should be noted that the majority of the states are currently trying to pursue their testing and licensing requirements. This step has the potential of leading to desperate patchwork of requirements and regulations despite of the federal guidance offered (Swanson., 2014).

Finally, the general framework regarding the liability of the autonomous vehicles is typically absent. This results to the creation of uncertainty in the process of encountering accidents (Vant︠s︡evich et al., 2015). Therefore, security concerns ought to be examined typically from the regulatory standpoint to the travelling and privacy issues. Despite the fact that the majority of the automotive manufactures have been extensively motivated by this technology, there is the need of ensuring that policy makers are in the position of supporting its research. This should also be connected to the need of understanding the manner in which it will affect the transportation industry (Lukas, 2017). The reason for that is because the benefits which are perceived to be arising from this technology is typically autonomous to the modernization of the automotive industry.

Work cited

Bouchon-Meunier, B., Gutiérrez-Ríos, J., Magdalena, L., & Yager, R. R. (2002). Technologies for Constructing Intelligent Systems 2: Tools. Heidelberg: Physica-Verlag HD.

Domínguez, R., Alonso, J., Onieva, E., & González, C. (2013). A transferable belief model applied to LIDAR perception for autonomous vehicles. Integrated Computer-Aided Engineering, 20(3), 289-302. doi:10.3233/ICA-130433

Ferreras, L. E. (2014). THE DRIVERLESS CITY. Civil Engineering (08857024), 84(3), 52-55.

In Vant︠s︡evich, V. V., In Blundell, M., & NATO Advanced Study Institute on Advanced Autonomous Vehicle Design for Severe Environments. (2015). Advanced autonomous vehicle design for severe environments.

Lukas, N, (2017). Corporate Mobility Breakthrough 2020. Troubador Publishing Ltd, 2017

Mashadi, B., & Majidi, M. (2014). Global optimal path planning of an autonomous vehicle for overtaking a moving obstacle. Latin American Journal Of Solids & Structures, 11(14), 2555-2572.

National Research Council. (2005). Autonomous vehicles in support of naval operations. Washington: National Academies Press.

Pögel, T., Timpner, J., Rottmann, S., & Wolf, L. (2013). Estimation of Vehicular Connectivity in Autonomous Parking Scenarios. PIK - Praxis Der Informationsverarbeitung Und Kommunikation, 36(4), 243-248. doi:10.1515/pik-2013-0026

SWANSON, A. R. (2014). "SOMEBODY GRAB THE WHEEL!": STATE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE LEGISLATION AND THE ROAD TO A NATIONAL REGIME. Marquette Law Review, 97(4), 1085-1147

Yonggui, L., Huanli, G., Bugong, X., Guiyun, L., & Hui, C. (2014). Autonomous coordinated control of a platoon of vehicles with multiple disturbances. IET Control Theory & Applications, 8(18), 2325-2335. doi:10.1049/iet-cta.2014.0172

Nanotechnology, ethics and society

Nanotechnology refers to the engineering branch whose goal is to enable manipulation of materials at the atomic level for the purpose of building electromechanical devices as small as possible considering the physical matter limitations (Chen, n.d). Nanotechnology can be a very influential force to ever control the technology sector ever since the advent of internet due to the many changes it would bring about (Chen, n.d).

In most cases, discussions on ethical and social issues touching on new technologies are regarded as afterthoughts or as hindrances to innovation. Nanotechnology comes with a myriad of ethical and social issues related to environmental matters , human enhancement and the tendency of human beings to look up to technology to solve problems instead of changes in other areas such as behavioral shift (Sandler,2009). This technology has the great potential of contributing towards human development in ways that can be considered environmentally sustainable and socially just. On other hand, nanotechnology may not realize the intended full potential unless attention is focused on its ethical and social issues. As such, there is normally the need to recognize the important roles played ethics to ensure responsible technology development and dispelling various misunderstanding about issues related to emerging nanotechnologies. Another issue is the provision of ethical and social issues typology related to emerging technologies and identification of various certain aspects within every type and an emphasizes on how these issues overlap with societal expectations(Sandler,2009).

Nanotechnology can have various benefits which are achieved after thorough research is carried out in both the developed and developing nations. Some of the potential benefits involve manufacturing, environmental conservation and enhancement in medical field research and treatment.  In the manufacturing sector, nanotechnology can transform the miniaturization, material reuse or recycle and precision manufacturing. In the medicine field, this technology can be used in pharmaceutical creation, treatment of various diseases and in nano-machine-assisted surgery (Chen, n.d). In the societal efforts to conserve the environment, nanotechnology can be applied in cleaning up of toxins, recycling of waste or used materials and in reducing the consumption of resources in various the industrial sectors. In addition, with this technology, nano-machines can be used to enhance design and synthesizing pharmaceuticals and treat chronic diseases such as cancer directly (Chen, n.d). The technology can also be used in better monitoring a patient’s life signs or in making microscopic repairs in areas of the body that are hard to operate. Environmentally nano-machines can be used in cleaning up of oils spills or toxins elimination of landfills and recycling of garbage and therefore reducing the consumption of natural resources (Sandler, 2009). These benefits indicate the positive implications of nanotechnology in addressing the various issues affecting the society. The aim of technology should be to transform the society through addressing the various issues that are affecting it.

Since this technology cannot be done in a vacuum, it can have profound effects in the society which can raise ethical issues just like any other technology. Its negative effects will have to face push back from the society in form of funding, regulation, public acceptance and even its progress.  This will depend on the potential dangers that can be associated with it such extension of weapon capability , building nano-machines that are self-implicating and unauthorized tracking and monitoring which can be considered unethical. With the potential of such immense potential dangers, the technology needs to be examined in terms of its possible implications (UNESCO, 2006). Granted, it may not be as prolific and powerful as envisioned by opponents, but as with the case of any potential, extreme technology, there is a need to formulate solutions to ethical issues that may arise before the adoption of this technology by society becomes irreversible. This consideration should take into account social related issues that can result from the intersection of nanotechnologies with institutional or social problematic features that from the basis of from which nanotechnologies emerge. Such issues comprises of privacy or security, exposure to environmental dangers or lack of enough protection for consumer safety (Hunt & Mehta, 2013).

Ethical issues related to nano-technology include the contested moral aspects which result from the interaction of this technology with activities or practices that are morally controversial that the public believe should not be allowed. These include the artificial organisms’ construction, development of biological weapons, synthetic biology and modification of human beings biologically. These issues can form a strong ethical basis for organization representing public interests lobbying for introduction of stiff regulations to limit the application of this technology (UNESCO, 2006). In addition, if the research on nanotechnology can be done in secrets from the scrutiny by the public, it can be manipulated to feed the desires of few researchers at the expense of the larger public. In addition, if such technology can fall in the wrong hands, it may results in catastrophic implications to existence of human life.

 In conclusion, nanotechnology can have far reaching positive effects on the many challenges facing the society. It also be a leap forward in the technological front given the contribution it would have in the manufacturing, medicine and environmental fields if science. However, for it to be considered ethically acceptable in the society regulations will have to be enacted.

References

UNESCO,(2006). The Ethics and Politics of Nanotechnology. 13-14. Available at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001459/145951e.pdf

Sandler, R. (2009) .Nanotechnology. The Social and Ethical Issues. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. 7-10. Available at: http://www.nanotechproject.org/process/assets/files/7060/nano_pen16_final.pdf

Hunt,G., Mehta, M.(2013) .Nanotechnology: "Risk, Ethics and Law”. Taylor & Francis. 183-196.

Chen, A.(n.d). The Ethics of Nanotechnology.1. Available at: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/technology-ethics/resources/the-ethics-of-nanotechnology/

Major application (undergraduate)

Engineering and design has been at the center of my efforts to change the world, and have informed my perception of the real world around us.  I have been able to combine my technical knowledge with social understanding to have a better view of the world which has many challenging situations that needs to be solved. There is a need to bring designing skills and engineering knowledge to reshape the world through providing concrete solutions to the many problems facing the world (University of Washington, 2015). In addition to this is the need to include human factors in the engineering knowledge so that to avoid designing and producing products that can be potentially catastrophic or result to consequences in the produced products and processes.  Any design and engineering should be aimed at assisting in finding out solutions to human problems but not function as a source of these problems (University of Washington, 2015).  The world expect that anyone who has such vast knowledge to be different in their approach to problems and hence a catastrophic failure in the application of these skills and knowledge cannot be excused at all.  In this sense, I have noted the serious environmental requirements considerations as an important aspect of design due to growing pressure from regulatory authorities and the public. These requirements have a fundamental impact in the way I would design and launch new products or processes.  For instance, there is a need to develop methods of evaluating of curbing pollution emissions while the design in its early stage. In addition, various practices involved in design and engineering have to conform to the various requirements such as environmental regulations in order for them to achieve intended goal of solving human problems.

 As I continue to increasingly understand my designing abilities and engineering knowledge, I find a desire to use my talents and new found perspective to expose opportunities and solve very complex challenges. It is an urgent call to move beyond the conventional boundaries of what has been known to be designing effort and into a realistic definition of and exposure of new solutions. Through the interaction with the various organizations that employ engineers in many capacities, I have been able to sharpen my creativity and, hence, create prototype that can offer solutions that are present in the society.  An interaction with experienced engineers has been boost to my skill so that through my small ways, I have managed learn how to design solution centered products.   My work has majorly involved impact design, where I always intend to get involved in projects that are meaningful and that will impact the world around us positively. It has involved using software to do so, and this has enabled me to bring to light the achievements designing and engineering can create in each and every day.  By observing engineers and designers use various tools to come up with essential but extraordinary things, I have been able to learn from them and follow their footsteps. In future, I desire to engage in a more empathy in design. As such, a stronger empathetic understanding of how a product is experienced by users will be more important. For instance, with a population that is increasingly aging, people may require a product that will help in solving their problems, but not necessarily a product they would desire to have. I also hope to contribute towards the development of devices that are more automated so as to offer an interaction with customers. In addition, I intend to engage in wide research on how designing can be used in interventions that impact on people’s thinking, behavior and awareness.  The focus areas for design interventions normally involve health, education, leisure, social influence, personal awareness and motivations.

At this juncture, I know that HCDE will drive a human-centric perspective which is an aspect I intend to use in future for my career. Despite my eagerness to apply science and technology to design new products and services, being able to create interventions that can offer solutions to various problems in the society is more fulfilling. This is because HCDE has a lot of potential for extension of product’s array of usability to a large demographic (University of Washington, n.d). A technology that would reach out to a big social group can provide such full potential. In the department, I plan on embarking on researching more on how to build various digital technologies that can be used in coordinating and collaborating students learning process.

References

University of Washington, (2015).Designing up. Retrieved from http://www.hcde.washington.edu/files/2015-Designing-Up-HCDE-web.pdf:

University of Washington, (n.d). Human Centered Designing & Engineering. Research Areas. Retrieved from:  http://www.hcde.washington.edu/research/areas

            Phase one: Engineering Virtues

            Introduction

            Engineering profession is one of the dynamic expertise’s today that requires individuals with good virtues.  Engineers individuals who are generally responsible for some of the huge technology developments as well as innovations in which the world is currently dependent on.  Everything depends on engineering techniques which ranges from systems of conditioning air to   bridges (Harris, Pritchard, Rabins, James, & Englehardt, 2014).  Engineering is essential as it makes work easier as they assist in development of technological and innovative equipment’s which makes it easier to work.  In order for an engineer to be efficient and effective in the particular profession they are highly required to possess certain virtues. This paper will therefore provide an evaluation of some of the important virtues that an engineer should poses.

            Engineering Virtues

            Strong skills of analysis - The ability is naturally inquisitive by examining things continuously and developing critical thoughts on how things should work in a more improved way. The vice of excesses is uninterested. This is the unwillingness of thinking beyond the obvious. This involves relying on the ideas that are generated by others thus failing to develop solutions to existing issues (Harris, Pritchard, Rabins, James, & Englehardt, 2014). The vice deficiency is closed minded: the refusal to think critically.

            Show details attention- This is the capability to paying adequate attention to every detail (van, & Royakkers, 2011). The vice excess is inattentive: this is the failure of providing concentration or interest to ideas developed by others. The vice deficiency is cynosure non-alignment: the incapability to pay attention.

            Effective skills of communication- This is the capability of generating clear and understandable responses that can be understood easily (van, & Royakkers, 2011). The excess is unclear: this is the incapability to develop thoughts that can be understood in an easier way. The vice deficiency is Irresponsiveness: is the wrong reaction to existing thus causing destructions

            Creative- This is capability to developing original thoughts in generation of artistic work or problem’s solutions (Harris, Pritchard, Rabins, James, & Englehardt, 2014). The vice excess is destructiveness: this is the incapability to develop solutions thus generating damages. The vice deficiency is fear: this is the unwillingness of developing self-sufficient solutions to an existing issue.

            Think logically - This is the procedure through which an individual utilizes reasoning continuously in developing appropriate solution (Harris, Pritchard, Rabins, James, & Englehardt, 2014). The vice excess is unreasonableness: the unwillingness of developing thoughts that makes sense.

            Problem solver - This is capability of focusing on an issue as identified and attempting to synthesis knowledge as well as information in developing solutions (van, & Royakkers, 2011). The vice excess is incompetence which is the incapability to solve issues through critical developments.

            Conclusion

            An engineering profession is expected to be an excellent solver of existing issues through analytical thinking as well as effective form of communication.  They should poses creativity which is the general ability of generating critical thoughts and the desire to develop more skills as well as significant features related to the profession.  This therefore implies that engineers are expected to exist in curiosity. These are through examination of the environment, identifying the issues that surrounds and establishing better ways in which the issues can be solved.  Engineers are purposed for developing a more sustainable environment the one in which the interest of the public are prioritized.   For an engineer creativity is highly required as it permits the professions in thinking beyond the obvious things that can be established by everyone.  These skills are important for an engineering profession as they help in solving issues that arises in life.

            Reference

            Harris, C. E., Pritchard, M. S., Rabins, M. J., James, R. W., & Englehardt, E. E. (2014). Engineering ethics: Concepts and cases.

            van, . P. I., & Royakkers, L. (2011). Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Engineering Ethics Code

Carol has been working for a local oil company that has been in operation for over a decade. She has been able to establish a strong and a trusting relationship with John who is the manager of the local facility. The company has adopted Carol recommendations of the environmental regulations so that it can solidify its reputation to the society at large. Carol has been promoted to be the company consulting an engineer. The company receives petrochemical products via the pipeline which it blends them for resale to other companies. John the manager tells carol about an incident that happened some time back it was found that the company has lost over 10,000 gallons of chemicals that were being leaked through the pipes that have corroded. After some sampling was carried out it was found out that there was no surface or underground pollution within 400 feet the wells were capped and the press never came to learn about it.

In this scenario, John and Carol owe the society a professional conduct. LOS A (1 & 2) says that the licensees should be in the performance of the responsibility for the public welfare. They should be protected from any harmful effect due to the operation of the company (Harris, Pritchard & Rabins, 2013). This means that there should be a survey conducted in order to safeguard the society health, life, and property. The FE ethic codes arises in LOS A (4) whereby the manager and the engineer Carol should be truthful about the eventful happening that could have an impact on the environment later by releasing a statement and the findings of the survey carried out to assess the damage caused by the leakage (Harris, Pritchard & Rabins, 2013). Mr. John broke this code by not releasing the information to the society by choosing to be quite about it.

Reference

Harris, C. E, Pritchard, M. S & Rabins, M. J. (2013). Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Retrieved from http://implicit.che.utah.edu/Teaching/4203/FE-Ref-9.0_Web.v2.pdf

            Reference

NSPE. (2007). Code of Ethics For Engineers. National Society of Professionals.  Pdf       

Engineering

OCE ted talks 2

            Robert’s research is on the study of cockroach legs and the gecko feet.  He wants us to understand how to establish robots that can be used in future and this entire basis on the evolution of ancient engineering. He starts by explaining how he sees the movement of these creatures as they have many legs, abnormal feet and their tails have some skills.  He shows us the importance of his research that led to the discovery of the universal values that inspire the maker of original trails, search and rescue robots and pastes that are used in self cleaning that are founded on the gecko feet. Robert’s aim is to make the engineers have the education that will lead to modernization (Wright, 2014). 

            The study has helped the engineers who are currently building cockroaches like robots as they have a main reason of searching and rescuing.  These creatures are advanced same as the mobile technology but are huge in their noble reason as they have features such as cameras, gyroscopes and specific sensors that make it able for them to search and map a specific area.  As technology is continuing to advance, these insect robots are becoming few but are smarter in their purpose as they talk to each other through algorithm that will enable them to fly together (Wright, 2014). 

            This lecture shows all the engineers and those in the profession course that the nature is becoming great. They should understand that these insect based robots are solving hard predicaments such as how to walk on the hard landscapes which the nature has already solved it.  It is well said that as the insects enjoy the evolution success, thus nature can be said to have a infinite budget.  They should all understand that insects have the skills that they want to input in their robots (Wright, 2014).

Reference

Robert Wright, 2014. Engineering and evolution, retrieved from:

 http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_full_on_engineering_and_evolution?language=en 

OCE ted talks 1. 

            Peter talks about Haiti which was a disaster that was based on engineering.  The disaster is known to be based on engineering as it caused by the non-conformity and the building codes that left many buildings destroyed.  Peter still has the question on whether the efforts that are connected to rebuilding will be same on the old buildings.  His aim is to show people on how they can avoid destruction in future and how to help those that have been affected by earthquake. Peter explains that it was the building that was wrongly built but it was not caused by earthquake thus it cannot be called a natural disaster but a disaster of engineering (Haas, 2012)

            This lecture is important to the engineers as they have learnt a solution to the kind of engineering disaster.  It teaches them how to build well such that walls, slabs and the columns of a building should be well tied for them to support each other instead of breaking them leading to separation that makes them fail. For them to build well they should much focus at the top whereby if poorly built, the building will fail.  The bottom of a building will stand up an earthquake if the walls are well tied and this will make the building symmetric (Haas, 2012).     

            To the learning engineers and those in the profession, the lecture highlights that in order to make buildings safe, one should not take the policies but they should observe how others are working and get help in having new skills.  Thus it is important to understand the lecture and acknowledge the ways of building proper houses for the next generation in that if any earthquake occurs, it will not happen as a tragedy but a calamity (Haas, 2012).

Reference    

Peter Haas, 2012. Haiti disaster of engineering. 

 Retrieved from: http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_haas_haiti_s_disaster_of_engineering?language=en

Contents

Engineering Laboratories and Facilities. 2

Executive summary. 2

Introduction. 3

Problem statement 4

Objectives. 6

Solution. 7

Resources. 8

Method. 8

Costs and Resources. 9

Conclusion. 9

Work Cited. 10

            Engineering Laboratories and Facilities

Executive Summary

            Engineering laboratories, as well as the facilities, are dynamic, mechanically and technically sophisticated intensive structures which are expensive to maintain,  build and also design. Therefore becomes a challenge to develop adequate facilities for all the students in most universities.  Developing more engineering and science facilities and laboratories at the Tulsa University will work to develop theoretical knowledge of the students as well as their intellectual skills. This is, therefore, crucial in influencing the competence level of the students.  Laboratories facilities increase will thus work to analyze the abilities of the students in applying gained knowledge in practical exercises.   Laboratories development will help in the provision of adequate learning spaces for all the students in the university thus developing their skills.  The facilities will help in the student’s evaluation of their practical practices on the science and engineering skills in the active surrounding which is additionally equal to the environment in which the students will be working in the future.  Currently, the university holds fewer laboratories as well as theoretical facilities to assist the students in developing their general skills.  The synthetic course of the laboratories in the university as well as the facilities should be reformed through professional resources integration, arranging of the systems of practical teaching system of the general synthetic experiment as well as adopting technical science and engineering materials. This can thus be achieved through the means of creating adequate laboratories facilities. This is purposed to make the facilities potentially open for the students, broaden their perspective of the students and enhance the interactions between the instructors and the students. This initiative will thus help in promoting and developing the creative skills of the students through the developed technical skills.

            Introduction

 A laboratory is described as a facility that provides the students with conditions that are controlled that technological and scientific experiment, research as well as   measurements of the research can be conducted.  Laboratories that are utilized for engineering research utilizes man forms based on the differing requirements of the engineering and science specialists.  Recently several researchers have concluded on the importance of having adequate laboratories and well as facilities in an engineering and science university. The role of a science and an engineering professional is to manipulate energy, materials as well as information and generating benefits for humankind.  In order for this to be achieved effectively, engineers and students undertaking the science courses must hold adequate knowledge of the surrounding nature which works beyond mere knowledge of theory.    According to Zhang, and Chunliang Zhang, (2011), Knowledge theory is gained traditionally in the educational laboratories but in the recent years, the nature of the facilities and laboratories has transformed greatly. At the university,  there lack a coherent studying purpose  for facilities and  laboratories for the students undertaking science and engineering courses  due to   the inadequacy of the facilities  the lack of the adequate resources which has produced a learning system that is incoherent has  caused laboratories ineffectiveness due to the hampered meaning of the research  and technical facilities.

            Alam, (2014), Engineering is described as a practicing profession in which a profession is fully committed to modifying and harnessing the three main essential resources which are held by mankind for the development of technology. These resources, therefore, include information, materials as well as energy.  The general purpose of engineering education is to prepare its students in practicing engineering and particularly to deal with materials offered by nature as well as forces. This will, therefore, discuss the historical changes which need to be done in the laboratories and why the provision of additional facilities is essential in triggering learning (Alam, 290). Therefore from the earliest engineering education day’s   instructional laboratories have been a significant part of the engineering students for both the graduate and the undergraduate levels.  Instructional laboratories should be added because despite the growing need in the University of increasing the number of the facilities   what the laboratories are required to accomplish is additionally important (Alam, 290).  In order to promote a learning that is based on competency skills, the laboratories should develop the intended outcomes for the students as well as the general objectives.  The objectives are crucial because they help the instructors as well as the students in determining the effectiveness of laboratories experiences in developing skills as well as competence.  The laboratories should thus be set in a manner that encourages educational purposes as well as development. This is mainly because despite the fact that the laboratories are expected to meet the educational purposes the level of competency that they achieve is crucial.  The laboratories should additionally support knowledge development through the enhancement of technical skills.

            Following a competency-based technique helps in the evaluation of both the intellectual and analytical skills.  Laboratories help engineers to attain competence when the setup and the facilities are effectively distributed.   When an engineering student holds academic skills with appropriate technical skills to accomplish their tasks objects they can thus be referred as incompetent (Sudhir, 305).  With the increase of lab facilities for the engineering student, the existing gap between competence and academic skills will be reduced gradually. Based on recent researches it is thus clear that the most suitable way of producing competent engineers is by providing them with both intellectual and technical skills in order to generate competence.  This approach, therefore, necessitates the provision of adequate facilities for technical practices for the theoretical knowledge application (Sudhir, 305).

The university is therefore required o increase the number of engineering and science laboratories to provide the students with maximum space to apply the theoretical knowledge.  The laboratories should, therefore, hold additionally facilities as well as instruments.  Providing more technical facilities will help in developing creative skills to the students as instruments.  This approach will be crucial in exposing the students to the work nature that they will face in the future.  This will provide them with the ability to identify issues and developing appropriate solutions as they will develop the capability of making individualized decisions.  Technical facilities are effective in shaping learning for the students as they help in building visions which they utilize as a form of reference.  Effective learning necessitates adequate technical laboratories and developed facilities for the engineering students. Therefore in order to improve the current situation at the university, the laboratory surrounding and facilities should be implemented to make the environment suitable for achieving competency.  In order to manage the laboratories and facilities conditions in the university more, courses need to be set as the students are required to go to the north campus of TU. Additionally, a policy can be developed where the students can make appointments with the facilities and the laboratories to avoid congestion and to increase fairness. In order to eradicate the safety issues while utilizing the laboratories, more TA students should be hired to provide assistance and instructions for those using the facilities.

            Problem Statement

The university’s Bachelor of Science in engineering is one of the most reputed in the science universities as it holds better regards for generating excellent and effective engineers.  In the university, the program is one of the programs which holds the greater pass in the national engineering examinations.  However, the school is faced with the issue of producing engineers who hold greater intellectual skills will lower competency skills.  This, therefore, results in the poor performance of the individuals in the engineering field as most of them are unable to solve problems despite the wide range of theoretical knowledge that they hold.  According to , Sunal, Dennis, Wright, and Sundberg, (2008)Several studies have been conducted recently in order to establish the major forces which influence the capability of engineering competencies. The studies involved the conduction of interviews as well as the distribution of questionnaires.  The research questions utilized were aimed at establishing the factors that hinder the   competence capabilities of most engineers.  Based on the study’s conclusion it is thus clear that lack of adequate technical facilities and curriculum support has mainly contributed to the competent efficiency (Sunal, Dennis, Wright, and Sundberg, 68). 

Most of the participants that were involved in the study cited similar findings by illustrating that the incompetent level is mainly contributed by reduced technical practices in the learning institutions, poor curriculum which favors theoretical knowledge competence as well as intellectual skills, scarce laboratory facilities and equipment, lack of instruments diversity and advancement, high workload and technical practice strain.  This, therefore, illustrates that the engineering universities fails in incorporating both technical and theoretical skills. Scarcity resources s an issue because the laboratories facilities. High loads of work of theoretical work fail to support competence development because of lack of resources to support technical learning.  Theoretical knowledge is not important when adequate technical skills are not provided because they help in the development of both analytical and intellectual skills.

            In Tulsa University, the engineering students are many by the space in the engineering laboratories as well as the facilities that are utilized are not adequate.  Most of the students are always required to work during the midnight hours when there is no congestion as during the day the laboratories are continuously occupied the facilities are inadequate and this, therefore, requires one facility to be shared by at least two students and some students are thus required to utilize the same facility for the whole day.  The facilities are not therefore diversified in order to enable the students to utilize different facilities in developing their skills.   Safety measures are not observed as students utilize the wrong facilities which results in damages and injuries.  Security and storage facilities are inadequate and students lack adequate space to store their personal items as well as project tools. This results in theft of important materials.

            Mechanical engineering requires longer hours of technical application and the listed issues above are the leading factors to incompetent for the engineers who are joining the task force (Sunal, Dennis, Wright, and Sundberg, 72).  A recent study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of   providing additional technical hours in order to address the increasing issue of the incompetent.  Based on the conclusions of the study it is thus clear that engineering institutions are required to increase the number of facilities and laboratories and thus equip them with adequate and diversified t instruments in order to serve the required purpose.  This was established to be quite challenging for the institution as proper designs and planning needs to be utilized in achieving the objectives.  Due to the limited technical facilities, the institution is therefore required to introduce distinctly courses to ensure that the strain of the technical facilities accommodating the growing number of the students is reduced (Sunal, Dennis, Wright, and Sundberg, 88).

            The national engineering examinations aim at examining the student’s intellectual capabilities thus ignoring to evaluate the general capability of the students in practicing the gained intellectual skills through technical practices.  According to the recent study that was conducted in order to establish how well the engineers are prepared technically by the institutions, it was concluded that technical preparation is provided  by the institutions were inadequate (Zhang, and Chunliang, 423). This is because the technical facilities are only adequate to prepare the students in passing the national engineering exams. This, therefore, implies that the decreased practical participation of the students is mainly based on gaining intellectual and passing skills but not on developing technical skills for competence purpose. The issues of laboratories and facilities scarcity are the major reasons as to why the level of competence for the engineers is outweighed by the educational cost.  This, therefore, raises the necessity for more laboratories and facilities in learning institution and incorporates them with learning objectives through intellectual and analytical skills development.

            Objectives

The engineering education effectiveness can be achieved through a developed curriculum.  The education can thus benefit through the development of adequate laboratories as well as diversified facilities.  At Tulsa University this can, therefore, be achieved through increasing laboratories.  The university should, therefore, build an engineering lab which should hold at least four to five facilities in the different rooms. This will create the opportunity for the school faculty to be able to analyze the abilities of the students.  This will additionally benefit the students by enabling them to utilize more time in the laboratories in developing their skills.  The engineering students will acquire developed practical experience via mechanical skills as well as evaluation skills development.  The general objective of increasing the number of laboratories and engineering facilities is to increase the capability of engineering competence in the institution.  This will help to prepare the students by providing them with mechanical and intellectual skills which will help them in working in the future.  This can be achieved through appropriate planning and designing of the engineering labs as well as facilities.

            The utilization of practical practice is required In order for the school to be able to evaluate the capabilities of the students in the university.  This will, therefore, require the school management to develop procedures for developing and building the engineering labs as well as assessments that can be utilized the in assessment of analytical and competent skills.  Appropriate engineering labs construction will work to ensure that the experience of the students is well maintained and developed.  The provision of adequate laboratories and facilities will work in preparing students for the future engineering tasks.  The constructions   plan will thus be aimed at developing individual’s analytical skills which will thus require the application of a theoretical knowledge.  In the assumption that the management will  be able to develop  properly designed and formulated  laboratories and facilities with a safe surrounding the utilization of the labs will be utilized  as a competent learning tool which will benefit the engineering students abilities.  Moreover as stated prior, this will assist in enhancing the members of the faculty the capability of evaluating performance as well as the capability of the students in interaction. The main objective of the initiative of building more engineering laboratories and facilities is to produce   professional individuals who not only hold the required academic skills by also the competent skills.  This can thus be achieved through the general engagement in practical practices which requires adequate resources, adequate assistance as well as the development of safety, health and security measures.

            This therefore requires hiring of more competent professional to provide technical as well as instructional assistance to the students during their technical practices in the laboratories. This will help in reducing the safety issues which are mainly caused by reduced assistance based on the number of students utilizing the laboratories and the facilities.  Additionally during the night personal assistance is rarely provided which raises safety issues as the students utilizes the wrong instruments in their experiments. This leads to damages which is associated with financial loss as the instruments are highly value. This trend therefore reduces the number of resources in the laboratories which causes strains.  In order to manage the equipment in the lab the faculty should build ID controlled storages for the students. This will help in managing individuals who visits the labs as well as the facilities that they utilize during their laboratory stay.  Appointment should be done on an online platform for the student’s wishing to visit the lab.  This will help in eradicating congestion as well as resources and items loss. In addition the labs management will have adequate time to plan the schedules and the instruments to be used.  This implementation therefore necessitated for the increase in the number of laboratories and engineering facilities to accommodate the large number of students in the school. 

            Solution

The analytical and intellectual learning based approach will work in ensuring that the prior objectives are accomplished adequately.  This is through ensuring that the students are prepared thoroughly for the future engineering task force while providing benefits t the engineering and mechanical fields and the associated outcomes the approach is effective in ensuring that the students are prepared for the mechanical setting through the provision of technical and working knowledge that which require utilizing while providing mechanical and technological solutions. Based on Grossmann, (2011) this approach has been established to be more effective in comparison to other assessment and development approaches. This is mainly because the approach can be utilized in measuring the developed skills as well as knowledge which can be measured in a more reliable way. This is because the analytical assessment involves the general assessments of the capabilities which lie in the values, knowledge, skills as well as the practice attitudes.  This therefore shows that the approach will be effective in ensuring that the students are capable of utilizing their self based knowledge in developing solutions.  The technical skills are essential in ensuring that the gained knowledge is appropriately utilized (Grossmann, 27).

            In order for the analytical skills to be achieved this requires the use of increased laboratories hours for the engineering students. Increasing the number of laboratories and facilities will work to ensure that the students will not be involved in any dispute in the objective of accessing the laboratories.   The professional assistance will work to ensure that the safety issues in the laboratories are reduced.   This will additionally stop the students from damaging the laboratories facilities as assistance will be provided on how to use the facilities.  Students will additionally be able to store their project materials and personal items in the storages which will thus be controlled using IDs. This will thus eliminate the worry of losing materials which are essential as well as loss of stuff.  The online appointment application will work to ensure that the laboratories utility is well controlled. This is mainly because the appointment will ensure that the lab is reserved for the particular students for a time period to utilize the facilities thus emitting other students to make use of the facilities.

            Resources

            The faculty should conduct research based on the recent articles which are addressing the measures in which university laboratories can be improved and developed in achieving efficiency. This should thus involve the measures which encourage the development of technical skills through the available resources.  This will involve the comparison of the engineering laboratories that are being utilized by other universities. This will help in evaluating the associated disadvantages and the disadvantages of the developed laboratories (Grossmann, 29).

             Method

 Implementation of the approach will involve that the labs are opened on longer hours based on the daily schedules.  The engineering and instructional labs are a most effective method in technical skills practice.  This would thus provide increased benefits for the students undertaking the engineering program.  This will, therefore, include developing creative and decision-making skills of the students.  The laboratories increase will work to ensure that interactive learning is developed.  The actual involvement in the labs experiment will equip the students with adequate experience to deal with challenging mechanical issues (Standiford, 25).  This will additionally help the professional in developing a case which will help in providing grounds of assessment in providing students with adequate gestures. This will provide weekly cases for the students to participate in a particular case which will necessitate them to react to a given case.  The impact of laboratories and facilities would be essential in assessing the competent impact on the students. The building of additional laboratories will help in providing the students with the necessary opportunities of conducting persistent and skills that are non-persistent.  This is mainly because engineering is based on technical practice as the acquired knowledge must be utilized in providing technical and mechanical solutions (Grossmann, 31).  Utilization of the labs will help in ensuring that the engineering students are able to discover their analytical skills development extent (Grossmann, 33). 

            The implementation timeline for the initiative is elastic as it will depend on the school management organization.  This will, therefore, work to ensure that the present management schedule and the students learning schedule are not affected in any way.  An experiment will be conducted within the next six months which will involve a preliminary small scale study which will be performed in analyzing the time, feasibility, cost, statistical variability and the adverse effects of the approach.  This will thus be performed in the attempt of predicting the appropriate measures and samples that will be utilized in developing an appropriate conclusion for the plan.  This will thus help the school management in analyzing and developing plans for the future operations of the school.   So that the project will be effective in the future it is thus recommended to utilize the students that are currently undertaking engineering to prepare them for the future.  This will help in developing the general technical curriculum before the whole transition is achieved.  The implementation in the present learning will help in providing training as well as experience to the students which will help in impacting the overall schematic development which is required for the transition in the future (Standiford, 25).

            Costs and Resources

             The cost for the project is very high. This is because building modern laboratories with advanced and diversified equipment requires a higher cost than the implementation o van learning approach.   This will, therefore, require the management to develop a specified design which is associated with limited cost and ranges of academic benefits.  Additionally, the development requires the implementation other measures such as safety and provision of instructions which is expensive.  It is my opinion that the management should opt for the best design in order to install the required skills in the engineering students.  This will, therefore, require the management to cut down o the costs which are not basic in order to cater for the project.  Student’s school charges should be raised by at least 3% to provide adequate finances to speed up the development.  Although this may be an issue to the students the school will require a good amount of capital to start the development.   This will help in providing adequate resources for all the engineering students.  This will help in maximizing the potential of the school laboratories and the utilization will be increased and will be effective.  This will help in ensuring that the engineering curriculum is developed and the technical skills required in the task force are achieved. 

            Conclusion

            It is essential to building more laboratories and facilities for the engineering and science students in Tulsa University in developing their skills.  The technical approach has thus proved to be the most appropriate in generating the necessary mechanical skills.  This will help in developing the engineering programs at Tulsa University thus enabling the management to further the intended changes.  This approach will benefit the general engineering industry thus leading to better solutions for technical and mechanical issues.  Towards Tulsa University the expected benefits are endless as this kind of program will be adopted by the learners in the future and these will help in developing strategies for the employers in evaluating their employees competent.  Setting more types of facilities will help in achieving more developed skills as technical learning will be diversified.  Hiring TA professional to assist students during the experiments will additionally reduce resources damages as well as safety issues.  Building storages to store individual stuff will help in reducing loss issues as well as theft.