The History of Engineering

 

IEEE Global Engineering Day is celebrated annually on May 13th. On this day, we acknowledge the remarkable accomplishments of engineers and their significant impact on society. The contributions of engineers have altered the course of humanity and revolutionized our daily lives. From the structures we utilize to the technology we rely on, it takes incredible skill and intellect to create such marvels.

Pen and Paper

Engineering has traversed a long path to reach where it stands today. The earliest example of engineering drafts dates back to 2000 B.C when an aerial view was captured for a fossilized plan of a Babylonian castle. Fast forward to the 1950s. Engineers during this decade relied on similar equipment used today, but on a much larger scale. Students today also use drawing boards, pencils, erasers, and geometric tools; the main difference is the size of their work surfaces. While students today typically work on standardized paper sizes like A0, A1, or A2, engineers in the 1950s worked on pages as large as the floors they walked on.

Engineers before AutoCAD

Their work wasn’t confined to set dimensions; it often extended across entire rooms, showcasing the scope of their engineering projects. They did, however, strive to condense all their intricate drawings onto a single sheet of paper, demonstrating their commitment to precision and efficiency within spatial limitations.

The Inception of AutoCAD

The revolution in engineering drafting commenced in 1963 with the introduction of Sketchpad, a groundbreaking program developed by Ivan Sutherland. Sketchpad marked a pivotal moment in the field as the first graphically interfaced CAD program of its kind, albeit rudimentary by today’s standards. It provided users with the capability to create x-y plots, laying the foundation for modern CAD systems.

Despite the departure of John Walker, the company found new leadership in Carol Bartz, whose tenure further propelled Autodesk’s success. Under her guidance, Autodesk expanded its portfolio, offering a diverse range of software tools tailored for design, modeling, rendering, and applications. Today, Autodesk stands as a powerhouse in the industry, with AutoCAD’s market dominance serving as a testament to its enduring impact on the world of engineering and design.

Conclusions

 

In conclusion, IEEE Global Engineering Day is a day to celebrate the remarkable achievements of engineers and their impact on society. AutoCAD represents an engineering milestone, revolutionizing the way engineers think about design and visualization. While the journey of engineering has been long and challenging, engineers continue to push boundaries and innovate, improving our daily lives, one design at a time.



How mining industry can enhance operations through simulation?

 

The mining industry is undergoing a technological revolution, allowing significant improvements in processes and equipment. This has led to a new generation of mining practices focused on safety, automation, energy efficiency, environmental management, and cost-effectiveness.

The use of simulation in mining engineering has become crucial to help balance the pressures of time, costs, sustainability, and quality. Engineers constantly face the challenge of optimizing exploration and transportation processes, improving equipment performance, ensuring profitability of underperforming mines, and optimizing the production and structural behavior of metals.

Simulation in engineering enables mining companies to develop, verify, and apply new specialized technologies related to process innovation, operational efficiency, maintenance, best practices, safety, and sustainable development.

 

Safety and Sustainability

Safety and sustainability are key priorities in the mining industry. Simulation plays a crucial role in predicting potential accidents and phenomena that may affect workers, the environment, and production. Examples include predicting resonance, buckling, ductile fracture, dynamic loads, thermal effects, wear, corrosion, and material failures.

Increased Productivity

Simulation can significantly enhance productivity by predicting equipment and process behavior. For example, it can be used to reduce obstructions in chutes, increase mill performance, determine the optimal point for fluid transport, and minimize unexpected shutdowns.

Predictive and Proactive Maintenance

Equipment maintenance is essential to ensure operational efficiency and prolong its lifespan. Simulation enables predictive and proactive maintenance by analyzing equipment conditions and identifying potential failures before they occur. This reduces unplanned downtime, optimizes processes, and lowers operating costs.