Engineering Solutions
Engineering solutions are not merely the design of physical objects. An engineering solution is what the name implies: a solution to an engineering problem. And it certainly does not start with the design of a piece of machinery – that part only comes much later.
No, the start of such a project will take the engineering concern to the client, where a meeting will be held to illustrate the extent of the problem. The client knows what the problem is, he knows he wants it fixed and he knows what outcomes he wants but he does not have an idea how to arrive there.
The client might be a government that wants to be enable road transport across a very wide river. This may sound easy enough: build a bridge! However, the various requirements of a complete engineering SOLUTION – not merely a BRIDGE – come into focus when the problem statement is delivered.
It comes to the fore that the bridge is to be built close to the Arctic Circle, which is snowed under for much of the year. Additionally, the frozen river becomes a glacier in winter, slowly edging forth, pushing millions of tons of ice into the sea. In summer, ships travel up and down the river.
In fact, this bridge was built and it was far more than a bridge – it was a complete engineering solution to problems that was previously thought to be impossible to overcome. It met all the client’s requirements.
Some of the engineering challenges were the need for construction to continue, even in sub-zero temperature and high winds; new technology had to be employed that would enable the bridge pillars to withstand the immense pressure of the advancing ice, simultaneously efficiently splitting the ice without wearing away. This was made more difficult by the need for the bridge to be high, in order for ships to pass underneath.
This project called for engineering solutions to natural obstacles and it took years to plan and execute. It is clear that it is more than just another bridge.