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Types of Engineering
There are about 200 types of engineering! Explore some of the major ones here.
Just like music can be grouped into areas like rap, rock or country and western, the different types of engineering can be grouped into seven different areas. Use the drop-down filter to view the different types of engineering in each category.
Aerospace engineers are responsible for the research, design and production of aircraft, spacecraft, aerospace equipment, satellites and missiles. Work done by aerospace engineers has made such things as speedy mail delivery and moon travel possible. Canadian aerospace engineers designed the Canadarm used on the Space Shuttle and Space Station Alpha.
Agricultural engineers look for solutions to problems involving the use of plants, animals and the natural environment. In the past, they focused largely on improvements to crop and livestock production. While this function continues, the scope of practice is widening to include land and resource management, pollution concerns, machinery for growing non-traditional crops, bio-energy development, and value-added processing of biological materials.
Automotive engineers design, build, maintain, and operate self - propelled vehicles for use on land or sea, in air or space.
Biological and Biosytems Engineers draw on the biotechnologies found in the food, pharmaceutical, petroleum and textiles industries and combine them with engineering design. Engineers in these areas may develop processes in which microorganisms produce antibiotics more efficiently, or conduct research into how microbes can be used to digest oil spills.
Biomechanical and biomedical engineering combine the discipline of mechanical engineering with human anatomy and physiology. Work in this area may include designing prostheses, developing movement systems for people with spinal injuries, and refining equipment for athletes in high-performance sports.
Building engineers acquire knowledge in the planning, design, construction, operation, renovation and maintenance of buildings, together with an understanding of impacts on the surrounding environment. Building engineers explore all phases in the life cycle of a building. They identify problems and find appropriate solutions to improve the quality of living within the built environment.
Chemical engineers apply principles of chemistry, mathematics and physics to the design and operation of industrial equipment and methods for the manufacture of chemical products. The fibers in clothing, soaps and detergents, leather, paints and plastics are all designed and produced by chemical engineers.
Civil engineering is one of the oldest types of engineering. It involves the design, construction and management of municipal infrastructure, highways, railways, transit systems, airports, harbours, bridges, tunnels and buildings. Civil engineers also ensure the availability of high quality water supply and sewage treatment facilities.
Communications engineers plan, analyze, design, implement, operate, test, maintain and manage communications systems and networks. They play a key role in the ongoing development of the Internet and associated technologies.
Engineers who specialize in electronic systems are concerned with the design, analysis and manufacture of electronic circuits and devices.
Construction engineers are involved in all aspects of construction projects. They are responsible for overseeing the constructing process from planning through delivery.
Electrical engineers are involved in the generation, production, transmission, distribution and application of electrical energy: the electricity that lights our homes, helps us cook our food, and powers our machinery. They also make very important contributions to telecommunications, television and computer technology.
Electromechanical systems engineering focuses on all the devices which make electrical and mechanical systems work together. People in this field often work for the automotive, power production or airline industries.
Engineers who specialize in electronic systems are concerned with the design, analysis and manufacture of electronic circuits and devices.
Chemistry, the way atoms and molecules react and interact, plays some role in just about everything.
Engineering chemists use their knowledge of chemistry to develop solutions to engineering problems. They most often work with problems relating to the environment, oil and gas production, and materials development.
Engineering chemists differ from all other engineers because they bring forward chemical solutions to engineering problems. Their expertise is most often applied to environmental development, in the design of processes, and in the design of electronic and structural materials.
Environmental engineers develop feasible solutions to problems affecting the welfare of humans and nature. They work to prevent pollution of the environment by designing systems of air and water quality control, vibration and noise reduction, and hazardous waste disposal. They also work to clean up contaminated soil, water and air.
Food engineers apply the concepts and principles of engineering to the conversion of raw food stuffs into safe consumer products of the highest possible quality. They work in the areas of food handling, processing, packaging and distribution.
Forestry engineers study the effects of industrialization on nature, silviculture, hydrology and renewable resources. They are involved in the development of sustainable forestry as well as the design of lumber harvesting and processing equipment.
Gas Engineers work in the exploration, recovery, development and processing of natural gas reserves. Gas Engineers are involved in such things as determining the best location for drilling new wells, operating gas facilities, and monitoring and forecasting reservoir performance.
Geological engineers apply geological data, techniques and principles to the investigation of natural materials such as rock, soil and ground water. They determine the suitability of various locations for buildings, dams, highways, airfields, pipelines and tunnels, and are involved in the design of these structures.
Geomatics engineers collect, display and analyze data about the Earth's surface and its gravity fields for such uses as mapping, legal boundary delineation, navigation and monitoring changes in the environment. Much of their information comes from images provided by the network of satellites orbiting the earth. Geomatics engineers also help airplane navigation and position offshore rigs.
Industrial engineers and Manufacturing engineers use their expertise in equipment, material, procedures, human resources and production methods to assist organizations in improving their efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. Industrial engineers are concerned with the management side of operations, while Manufacturing engineers focus on the Manufacturing process. The broad span of their knowledge allows them to work in almost every type of business.
Integrated and Unified Engineering are interdisciplinary fields that recognize that the trend in industry is towards diversity and sophistication. Engineers in these two fields follow a general course in which they study aspects of all the major engineering fields - civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical etc. Engineers with this kind of general background are well placed to work in many industries. Most will specialize in a specific area only after graduation.
Material engineers study the properties of existing materials, find new ways to work with them and develop new materials. Material engineers work in a variety of fields. For example, the petrochemical industry requires material engineers because many modern materials, such as synthetic rubbers and plastics, are made from the by-products of petroleum refining. Other material engineers may work in the automotive or aerospace industries. Engineers in these fields are really interested in harnessing the heat resistant properties of ceramics for use in engines. Still others might study all the materials related to housing- insulation, bricks, wood, cement etc.
Engineering mathematicians use theories and techniques, such as mathematical modeling and computational methods, to formulate and solve practical engineering problems in our world.
Mechanical engineers use the principles of mathematics, material science, physics and economics to design, manufacture and maintain mechanical equipment. Our household appliances, ventilation systems, cars, ships and airplanes have been designed, tested and manufactured by mechanical engineers.
Metallurgical engineers study the properties and characteristics of metals and other materials. They research, develop and monitor the processes for extracting metals from ores, develop new alloys and metals to meet specific requirements, and produce metal and non-metal products.
Mineral engineers are involved in the exploration, evaluation, development, extraction, processing and conservation of minerals like salt gypsum and sulfur. Mineral engineers also work to transform low-value, impure raw materials into commercially valuable products.
Mining engineers discover, extract and prepare minerals from the earth's crust to be used by manufacturing and energy industries. This involves exploration, testing, mine design and construction, as well as equipment and operations management. Mining engineers calculate the size of ore beds and determine if the ore can be extracted economically, develop plans for the entrances and work space of the mine, design ventilation and drainage systems, supervise mine workers and ensure the safety of the workers.
Naval architectural engineers and ocean engineers conceive, design and construct ships, offshore structures and other marine vehicles. They may work in design, shipbuilding, fisheries, transportation, national defense, or the oil and gas industry.
Oil engineers work in the exploration, recovery, development and processing of oil reserves. Oil engineers are involved in such things as determining the best location for drilling new wells, operating oil facilities, and monitoring and forecasting reservoir performance.
Petroleum engineers work in the exploration, recovery, development and processing of oil and gas. Petroleum engineers are involved in such things as determining the best location for drilling new wells, operating oil and gas facilities, and monitoring and forecasting reservoir performance.
Engineering physicists examine the role that physics play in engineering. They are involved in power production, astronomical research, and the design of spacecraft.
Plastics engineers study the properties of polymer materials. They also design machines used to manipulate and shape plastics.
Production engineers design, control, and continuously improve integrated systems of personnel, materials, machinery and money that produce goods and services. Their goal is to produce goods and to provide services of high quality in a timely, cost-efficient manner.
Software engineers are trained for the specification, design, development and maintenance of software systems and products. They apply both the principles of engineering and computer science in the design of large-scale and embedded software control systems.
Systems engineers assist and support policy-making, planning, decision-making and associated resource allocation or action deployment. They study the interaction of science, organizations and the environment.
Water resource engineers protect water supplies and ensure that development of new resources does not disrupt natural processes and water tables. They help in the assessment of pollution sources, the control of flood damage and soil erosion, and the resolution of conflicts over water reserves.