G.M.V.H

Most engineering companies – like Claxton Engineering – have a specialist field. If not, as is the case with larger companies, they have specialist arms/ departments of the specialist fields in engineering.

The first specialist field is chemical engineering. This is where current chemicals are used and manipulated to make new, innovative chemicals for use in other industries. This includes producing new types of fuels, or improving existing types of fuels. An example of this is the quest for finding a pollution free fuel for motor vehicles. There is already a lead-free alternative, but the carbon emissions are still unacceptably high. Chemical engineers are also responsible for finding alternative energy sources to replace natural gas, coal etc.

Next is civil engineering. Civil engineers construct and build structures such as roads, railways, bridges and buildings. This is done for both the private and the public sector. Many spectacular bridges have been designed and built by civil engineers. They can also take credit for many wonderful highways and routes under lakes, rivers and the ocean.

The third specialist field is that of electrical engineering. This involves the study of anything electronic and designing new electronic products. It is a very broad specialist field and would include subjects such as electromagnetism, circuits, generators, motors etc. These engineers bring us computer-boxes for our modern cars, energy efficient generators and heaters etc. There are many things in this field that go unnoticed in everyday life, but are essential to maintain life as we know it.

Finally there is mechanical engineering. This field looks at the design of mechanical or physical systems. Aerospace and aircraft components also fall under this category of engineering, as do weapons and transportation products. It is also quite a broad field, but quite specific in its application.

There is some dispute about other branches of engineering that were traditionally considered main branches. Among these are naval engineering as well as mining engineering. However, these fields overlap considerably with the four main fields and can therefore not be considered a main branch of engineering anymore. Yet, there are new directions in engineering that look promising and may become a main branch of this discipline in the future.

Engineering is an important part of our lives. In fact, our very lives depend on the competence of engineers. Every time you ride over a bridge in a car or work on a computer, you are dealing with the product of engineering. The science and math that goes into producing these products are awesome and the dedication with which engineers work in order to improve daily life is commendable. It’s impossible to ever again take the feats of progress for granted.