Reflective Paper on Engineering Design & Management
John Augustus Roebling
He was born in the year 1806 at Mühlhausen, Prussia. The German born civil engineer contributed to the development of the design of the steel suspension bridges. One of his best works of arts was the Brooklyn Bridge in the New York City that was completed under the supervision of his eldest son, Washington Augustus in the year 1883. His motivation was developed from the way he grew up watching the canal boats being driven over the hills from one watershed and he took the initiative of convincing the canal commissioners to allow him replace the he-men hawsers with the wire cables. He developed his own methods for stranding and weaving the wire cables, this proved to be durable more than it had been predicted. The demand of the cables soon became perverse such that he established a factory that manufactured in Trenton. The industrial complex developed producing products ranging from the chicken wires to the huge 36-inch cables. This continued to be referred as a family managed business carried on by three generations of the Roebling’s.
Roebling was less of a businessperson than an engineer, and with the development of his reputation as a designer and builder of the long session suspension bridges. He spent less time working with the Trenton Factory. His eldest son, Washington, joined him and they managed to build four suspension bridges, two at Pittsburg, one at Niagara Falls, and the other one across the Ohio River. The New York state accepted Roebling’s design of the bridge that connected Brooklyn and Manhattan within a span of 1,595 ft and later they promoted him to be the chief engineer. His dedication to his work eventually cost Roebling his life whereby he hit the ferry slip when he realized that the ferry was docking and his feet stuck between the pilings. He was later rushed to the hospital whereby he died of tetanus three weeks later.
The influence of Engineers on the society
Engineers are termed as the creators who can create different structures automatically and eventually have a great impact to the society and the people in particular. According to the video, Roebling encouraged change through the construction of the bridges. It is evident that the society is never expectant on the change created by technology, however there are individuals who recognize opportunities and they take advantage of it and encourage development. There are also people who find technology as a threat and they strive so that they can maintain their status quo. These are the individuals who drag the state’s economy.
The influence of Engineers on Nature
The engineers have an effect on nature as they change the relationship in which individual’s relate with their surrounding environment. Sometimes these effects can be either negative or positive. According to the video, a large portion of the land and the properties were destructed during the construction of the bridges. However, on the positive effects, transport was eased for individuals and this made Roebling famous through the history.
Professional working and learning of engineers
As an engineer an individual is expected to be clear and perfect in their work as learning is developed though the mistakes. According to the video, Roebling is depicted as an individual who was born a genius and he took advantage of the available chances to make something out of it. He managed to create opportunities out of every possible matter and he learned through his mistakes. This is a factor that enabled his son to get influenced and eventually join him in his career. During the technique of developing the Brooklyn Bridge, he encountered various shortcomings but his passion for his career made him successful.
Communication methods of engineers
Majority of the engineers have diverse ways of communicating majority of the engineers use sketch of written reports, in the video it was evident that the engineers communicated in many ways with some opting to use their profound languages t o transact deals. These was challenging as some of the assistants never understood each other based on their languages and passing information seemed difficult.
Engineers and researches
Research is one of the main attributes that revolves around the lives of engineers. Although they make various mistakes, it is evident that through researches they tend to perfect their pieces of art. Although they encounter shortcomings in the research process, such as losing their lives, their aim is always that they regain successful results.
Engineers and how they maintain ambiguity
Engineers always have the expectation of the unexpected as they take whatever fate brings to them and this helps them to lower their rate of risk. According to the video, it is evident that Roebling and Washington made various mistakes and one of it cost the life of Roebling but according to them, this was a stepping-stone as they used it to propel in their endeavors.
