Major public works such as tunnels and dams generally meet all three criteria to be called engineering projects.
The phrase engineering projects is not a technical term. It can refer to any of the three things. It can simply mean any project where engineering plays a role, projects where the engineering design process is employed, or work supervised by a design engineer.
With the first meaning, engineering projects are often used to apply to science fair projects or other projects that involve engineering in some way, i.e. where something is built, a vague understanding of engineering, but not created. following the engineering design. process. That this happens with science fair projects, for example, may be because scientific inquiry has long been taught in school, while the design process has not received as much attention. This can also happen because science fairs may require project entries to follow the steps of the science investigation.
The second meaning of engineering projects refers to projects that are like the first in all respects except that they make use of the engineering design process. To understand the difference between the first and second meanings of engineering design, it is necessary to understand the difference between scientific research and the design process. This is because while scientific research and the engineering design process have similarities, they address different goals.
Scientific inquiry involves identifying questions that can be answered through inquiry; design and conduct research; use appropriate tools and techniques to collect, analyze and interpret data; and use logical thinking about evidence to develop descriptions, models, explanations, and predictions, which can then be shared. The engineering design process involves defining a need, conducting preliminary research, establishing design criteria, preparing preliminary designs or drafts, building and testing a prototype, testing and redesigning as appropriate, and presenting the results. Thus, scientific inquiry focuses on answering questions and engineering designs of the second kind on satisfying needs.
Third-class engineering projects also use the engineering design process and focus on meeting needs. Furthermore, they are linked to the hierarchical system of engineering qualifications. Engineers must be licensed in the United States and elsewhere.
A new license model was recommended by a NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) working group in 2003. In this model, a Graduate Engineer has completed their training, an Associate Engineer has also passed the Foundations Examination of Engineering (FE), a Registered Engineer is the first level of license and means that the Associate Engineer has had four years of experience and has accepted their state board’s code of ethics, and a Professional Engineer is the second level of license, which It is offered to registered engineers who have passed the Engineering Principles and Practices (EP) exam.
In this scheme, a graduate engineer does not have the privilege of practicing engineering. At the Associate Engineer level, he or she may be an Associate Project Engineer. Full responsibility for engineering designs cannot be assumed until the individual reaches the level of Professional Engineer, at which point the individual can legally assume responsibility for engineering documents, including drawings.