Individual Reflective Paper

Individual Reflective Paper

Nathan Pearce S0254095

This reflective paper will examine an era from the beginning of the nineteenth century for a period of over 125 years. During this time humanity witnessed the creation of some of the most remarkable accomplishments in engineering history. These engineering feats are celebrated for not only their technological enterprise but also as extraordinary deeds of human creativity and spirit. This period of industrial progression initiated a level of engineering technical advancement that was founded in iron, cement, stone and steel (Cadbury 2004, p.1). Visionary engineers together with an army of tradesmen, workers and their families, endured terrible sacrifice, to forge the foundation principals of modern engineering practice and advance the profession of engineering through the creation of the 7 wonders of the industrial world.

I think the design, development, financing and construction of the Great Eastern as well as the other wonders of the industrialised world indelibly shaped the current expectations of professional engineers. These developments influenced modern engineering practice, identified by a graduate engineer’s generic attributes including: risk assessment practices in health and safety in engineering, investigation and selection of materials and processes used in construction, development of the professional practice of engineering including all relevant graduate attributes, professional capacity to communicate and work in teams as a practicing engineer, the complex nature of engineering problems, which may involve uncertainty and imprecise or conflicting information and the broad role of a modern engineer which must address the requirements of many stakeholder groups. 

7 Wonders of Industrial World

The 7 wonders of the industrial world are identified as: the Bell Rock Lighthouse, the Great Eastern, Bazalgette’s London Sewers, the Transcontinental Railway, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Panama Canal and Hoover Dam (Cadbury, 2004).

From the early 1850’s together with naval architect John Scott Russell, Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed and built the only wonder that did not endure into the 21st century. Brunel’s ship was almost 700 feet long and intended to carry up to 4000 passengers whilst it circumnavigated the world as a symbol of British engineering marvel (Cadbury, 2004 p.16). Its design was revolutionary, incorporating an iron double hull and combining paddle engines with screw propulsion (Cadbury 2004, p.16).

The enormous cost of marooned shipping on a reef outside the Firth of Forth in Scotland compelled authorities to embark on the construction of the Bell Rock Lighthouse. It was designed and built by Robert Stevenson between 1807-1811 (7 Wonders of the Industrial World – The Bell Rock Lighthouse, 2003).

Three epidemics of cholera inspired Joseph Bazalgette to propose and design a scheme of sewers in London. Work began in 1858 on 82 miles of sewerage highway, linked with over 1000 miles of street sewers that set a standard of sanitation that was quickly duplicated all over the world (7 Wonders of the Industrial World – Bazalgette’s London Sewers, 2003).