Architectural Engineering

 

 An ideal built environment needs the co-operation and co-ordination of different experts. Technology has opened up endless opportunities through new concepts, methods, materials and applications. Stadia, swimming pools, multistoried buildings, theaters, housing and shopping complexes etc. display the contribution of many specialists. According to Thomas Tredgold, civil engineering is the art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of man. It is a social engineering where even a common man should get the benefits of advances in technology without reducing the quality of life. 

Finally, every citizen needs a Built Environment for various activities. The main need is co-ordination and orientation of two important classes of people --- the architects and civil engineers. Those civil engineers who wish to develop their career in Built Environment in different roles or as promoters and builders, should know more about architecture and the role of architect. The architect needs the help of a civil engineer in different roles to gain success in his work which is a creative process.

On the other hand, modern architecture also needs an architect capable of grouping the fundamentals of structural design as well as an engineer willing to tackle new and unsolved architectural problems. There is an urgent need of getting together the intelligent architect with the imaginative practical engineer who is aware of the intricacies of mathematics but is not its blind slave. 

For all this, a change is essential in our education system. In the field of creativity, a critical study of case studies of buildings/structures/housing schemes and their layout as planned and executed by different architects and structural engineers, with the help of other specialists should be given due importance. For example, if the construction of a stadium, a theater or a shopping complex is explained with slides, stating the inherent problems which arose difficulties in the construction process which were met with and an analysis of cost for different items, the process will enrich all concerned, viz., architects, builders, structural engineers and students.

Such case studies of different types of built environment will develop the imagination of all concerned, including new entrant teachers. It will inspire the student to become useful social structural engineers, builders and the like. Many complaints from customers and the past mistakes will be nearly eliminated through a serious review of their case studies. 

The Institution of Engineers (India) has started an Architectural Engineering Division to bring Engineers and Architects close to each other. The Built Environment needs engineers from other streams also, such as mechanical, electrical, refrigeration, acoustics, communication etc. There is a need for material science not only to develop new materials of construction but also to test them before using and undertake evaluation after their use. This needs engineers of different aptitudes and insights who are also interested in physics, chemistry and other new branches like polymers. 

Certificate or vocational courses are needed for different streams of subjects, i.e., specialists after ITI, diploma and degree levels to develop vista vision. The four year degree course for desirous civil engineers includes as many as thirty subjects as per syllabi to make broad-based. Hence, there is an urgency for post-educational practical certificate courses such as those of quantity surveyor, service engineer, project manager etc. Such courses of short duration will be useful to the society by bringing together persons, owners, consultants, product manufacturers and also users.