Welcome
Engineering: Past & Present (Excerpt from Delaware County Times Nov 12, 2008) At its core, engineering's origins can be traced to ancient times, when basic tools, such as the wheel and the pulley, were first developed. "We might be the world's second oldest profession," said Nick Cirilli, owner of engineering firm Cirilli Associates Inc. in Springfield.
The term "engineer" dates back to about 1325, and was used to refer to anyone who operated a military machine, such as a catapult.
It was not until buildings and bridges were first constructed that engineering began to take on its modern meaning. Now a broad discipline, engineering can be broken down into several concentrations: Aerospace, chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical. According to Cirilli, the challenge of engineering is to examine known problems and find solutions.
"We take risks," Cirilli said, "but it's a very calculated risk. We have to take limitations into account and design against them. Scientists discover new information all of the time; what we have to do is to apply that knowledge."
The achievements of engineering can be seen in nearly every facet of modern life, from buildings and structures to electronics and fuel.
As a profession, engineering was one of the first in the country to organize. Anyone who wishes to act as a professional engineer must first pass a state licensing exam, which varies from state to state.