The engineering process is a series of steps engineers follow to come up with a solution to the issue. This includes finding the goal, determining constraints, designing and building, as well as testing. This is an essential part of any project at TWI and it assists us in ensuring that our projects meet high performance and safety standards. This is particularly important for New York City projects as they must meet the strictest requirements.
In this stage, students investigate the problem they’re facing to understand what the problem is and collect data. This is an open-ended and student-centered approach to science that reorients classes away from traditional teaching.
At this point, students come up with ideas about how they can solve the issue. This can be accomplished using whiteboards, software or even discussions. Some ideas might not be successful, but that’s OK because it gives them the opportunity to test other ideas and find an alternative.
After reviewing and brainstorming the findings after which the team selects an option to design and construct. This can be done on paper using CAD software or via a physical or virtual prototype. This is a great step for students since they can build a tangible prototype that will let them test their ideas.
This is where the rubber meets the road for engineers as they must remain within the limits that are imposed on them such as cost and time tools, resources, and more. Engineers also need to keep in mind their solutions need to be secure and effective in order to be used in real life.