ES 101Projects and Ethics

Dr. Robert A. Perkins, PE

ffrap@uaf.edu

http://www.faculty.uaf.edu/ffrap/

What’s an “engineer”?

• LS 100

• T vs. Q

• Different than a “scientist?”

• Engineers Design things

• Needlework?

• Designs that must use natural science and mathematics.

Steps in Engineering Education

• (Inclination, motivation)

• General College

• Math and Science

• General Engineering

• General Discipline

• Special Discipline

Thought Methods

• Analysis

• Synthesis

• Components

• Design

Design Output

• Report– calculations– recommendations

• Plans and Drawings

• Specifications

• Most engineering work gets done is projects

• What’s a project– in your own words

What is a project?

• One-of-kind undertaking

• Definite objective

• Start and end points

Engineers work

• Owners of Projects– planning, administration, expert advice

• Design of Projects– A/E

• Construction– planning, bidding, administration, design

• Regulation

Project Life CycleRecognize Nee Recognize Need Design? Budget

Conceptual Phase 5-15% +/- 100%

Design 35, 95, 100%

+/- 10%

Production or construction Changes

Operation, Turn-on O&M

Divestment, Tear down

Three aspects of P.M

• Schedule– time

• Cost– budget

• Production– performance, specification

Bar Chart Schedules

• Most common

• Simple

• (Excel)

• Gantt chart

WBS

• Cost codes

• (Excel)

Types of Estimates

• Rough - gut level, inaccurate -30% to +60%. ROM

• Semi detailed - based on historical records, reasonably sophisticated and accurate -15% to +20%.

• Detailed - based on detailed specifications and cost models, very accuracy -3% to +5%.

Difficulties in Estimation

• One of a Kind– Estimation by analogy

• Time and effort available

• Estimator experience

Take Home Thoughts

• Most engineers work on projects• Projects have a life cycle• Accuracy of estimates increases with design

completion• Projects must be managed with attention to cost,

schedule, and performance• Projects are estimated and tracked with a work

breakdown structure• Changes to design cost more as the project

progresses

Engineering as a Profession

What is a “profession?”

• Specialized education leading to knowledge and skills not commonly possessed by the public

• The work requires exercise of discretion and judgment and is not subject to standardization.

• The profession has legal status and requires well-formulated standards for admission such as registration or licensing

• Standards of conduct are set forth in codes of ethics

• Group consciousness promotes knowledge and professional ideals through societies and associations.

• The professional community exercises oversight and control of member conduct

• Activates satisfy indispensable and beneficial needs, with service to the public as the foremost motive.

Professional licensing

• AKA “Registration”• Dates to early 1900

– Chaos with development– Texas one of last

• Most countries have similar laws• Laws and Regulations• Law establishes Board of Registration

– Promulgates regulations

Alaska

• Has unified board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors

• Belongs to NCEES– National Council of Examiners for Engineering

and Surveying– Develops Exams (FE and PE) and– Suggests policy

Licensing

• Education– 4 years ABET

• Experience– 4 years

• Examination– Pass both FE and PE

Why does society issue licenses?

Protect the Public

Why get your license?

• Certain jobs require it

• You must have it to consult

• In many situations it improves your chances for promotion

• Professional pride

• “Industrial exemption”– Dilbert doesn’t have license

Organization of Profession

• Or, “engineering the fragmented profession.”

• Discipline

• Employment

• Management

Discipline

• ME, CE, EE, others

• ME– HVAC– Machine– Energy

• And so on

Employment

• Government

• Industry

• Academia/Research

• Construction

• Consulting

Ethics

• What do we mean by ethics?

What is “morality”

• Conduct and motives

• Right and wrong

• Good and bad character

What is ethics?

• Ethics is the study of morals

• The application of morals

• Analysis of moral choices

Professional Ethics

• Engineering ethics

• Rules and standards that govern our engineering choices and decisions

• How should we conduct ourselves in our professional capacity?

• Cost vs. safety.

• Engineers handle complex matters– future effects

• Personal vs. Professional Ethics• Personal

– How we treat other persons

• Professional– Corporations– Governments

Why teach ethics

• Good people know the right thing to do and do it.

• Bad people are not going to do the right thing.

• Heat recovery system.

Code of Ethics

• NSPE

• All major engineering societies similar

• Alaska (all most states) regulations

• Intent of Code is encourage/regulate professional conduct for the good of society.

Engineers…shall hold paramountparamount the safety, health and welfare of

the public.

Fundamental canon 1.

NSPE Code

• NSPE Ethics

• State of Alaska Ethics• (via touch and go)

– http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/AAC/Title12/Chapter036/Section200.htm

Issues

• Conflict of Interest

• Confidentially

• Contributions and Kickbacks

• Whistle blowing

• International

• Benefit Cost– Safety v. Affordability

Take Home Thoughts

• Engineering is a profession• Engineers make decisions with profound

effect on the public heath, safety, and wellbeing

• Engineers are required to be licensed to practice engineering

• Engineers have a code of ethics that governs their professional conduct

If nothing else, remember

• Engineers…shall hold paramountparamount the safety, health and welfare of the public.

• Fundamental canon 1.