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Engineers relied on analog methods until the arrival of commercial computers in the 1970s, which had sufficient capacity and an affordable price to begin the digital transformation. Here’s a summary of the history of engineering tools that every energy engineer relies on.
Engineering 1.0 era – pre-history to 1760
Early engineering relied on simple tools:
- Papyrus, and then parchment for writing and drawings.
- Straightedges and t-squares to draw lines.
- Ropes to measure distances.
- Plumb-bobs to ensure a vertical line.
- Wooden models.
- Arithmetic and basic geometry,
Design drawings were closer to artistic sketches than the technical drawings we see on monitors today.
The advantage was that any illiterate craftsman could understand and produce the designs. The drawings were sufficient to build pyramids, temples, aqueducts, roads, bridges, churches, castles and fortresses.
The disadvantages included lots of verbal communication to clarify requirements, experimentation to reduce structural failures, the inability to work offsite, and an occasional lack of symmetry.
Once Brunelleschi established the laws of linear perspective in Florence, Italy, by 1420, early engineers could realistically depict mechanical devices for the first time.
Engineering 2.0 era – 1760 to 1970
The invention of steam power by James Watt and others started the Industrial Revolution and triggered the Engineering 2.0 era. Engineering tools that were used and refined include:
- Pencils, pens, ink and erasers.
- Paper for writing and drawings.
- Leroy lettering set and templates.
- French curves and triangles.
- Rulers, scales and micrometers.
- Protractors, dividers and compasses.
- Tacks and push pins.
- Slide rules and then calculators.
- Drawing boards.
- Cardboard and then plastic models.
- Mathematics and complex geometry,
Engineering drawings evolved during this period to include many features that we take for granted today using more modern digital tools such as:
- Multiple views of designs for structural, electrical or mechanical aspects.
- Orthographic drawing projections.
- Isometric and section views.
- Dimensions and scaled drawings.
- Title blocks and revisions.
- Notes, tables and bills of material.
This engineering technology was sufficient to build many types of industrial plants: tall buildings, automobiles, large ships, aircraft, complex engines, rockets, nuclear bombs and reactors. Engineers designed and built the energy infrastructure, including dams, electrical turbines, wells, natural gas plants, refineries, and pipelines.
Engineering 3.0 era – 1970 to 1995
The Engineering 3.0 era began with 2D computer-aided design (CAD) systems using the recently developed computers. These systems started on mainframe computers, then moved to UNIX workstations and finally became available on DOS personal computers (PCs). 2D CAD systems began the digital transformation of engineering work. 2D CAD offered the following advantages:
- Geometry could be easily moved, copied and erased.
- An unlimited drawing size that could design the smallest components to the largest machine or facility at any desired scale.
- A symbols library of commonly used geometries that could be quickly inserted.
- Integrated text.
- Automatic generation of bills of material (BOM).
- Engineering calculations for areas, the center of gravity, moments of inertia and minimum distances.
The shortcomings of 2D CAD included the following:
- Irritatingly slow performance when opening a drawing, panning or zooming in on the drawing.
- Software limitations.
- Hardware and software costs.
This digital technology was sufficient to build more sophisticated and better-performing versions of everything built in the Engineering 2.0 era, plus electronic components and products. Digital technology enabled offsite manufacturing of components and modules to reduce lower productivity onsite labour and improve quality through consistency. In energy, the digital transformation produced the electronic control of facilities or SCADA.
Engineering 4.0 era – 1985 to 2015
Engineering tools that defined the Engineering 4.0 era were 3D computer-aided design (CAD) systems. These systems followed the same path as 2D CAD from mainframe computers to UNIX workstations and then to Windows personal computers.
The 3D CAD systems offered powerful new features, including:
- Extending 2D drawings into 3D models.
- Using a digitizing tablet with a stylus as an input device.
- Immediate viewing of designs from any angle, pan, zoom and isometric view.
- Use of more sophisticated visualization supported by rendering and animations.
- Analyzing parts and assemblies for a wide variety of failures.
- Interference and clearance detection for piping, lighting fixtures, cable routing and complex assemblies.
- Engineering calculations for volume, weight, surface area, and center of gravity.
- Projected, immersive models.
To effectively manage the large amount of data 3D CAD systems created, the first Engineering Data Management (EDM) and Product Data Management (PDM) tools were developed and implemented.
Now, designing and building products that engineers had only dreamed about previously was possible digitally. Examples include compact electronic products like the iPhone and buildings with sharp curves like the Absolute World Twin Towers in Mississauga, Ontario and the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, Washington. In energy, 3D CAD systems produced more sophisticated component designs and enabled higher throughput facilities.
Engineering 5.0 era – 2015 and beyond
The three pillars of the previous eras, CAD, simulation and data management, are being expanded during the Engineering 5.0 era to:
- Serve other departments, including sales, purchasing, planning, construction and project management.
- Produce more accurate e-books and data sheets for documentation, websites, assembly instructions and repair manuals.
- Produce digital product manufacturing information (PMI) for manufacturing.
- Create inspection drawings and reports for quality assurance processes.
- Produce data for building information modeling (BIM) for construction, operation, and maintenance.
- Operate more complex simulations with higher resolution.
- Build Virtual Reality (VR) models.
The Engineering 5.0 era supports the design and construction of new energy facilities required for the energy transition.
The future will bring:
- More adoption of collaboration, simulation and visualization tools.
- Leveraging cloud computing power and storage.
- Expanded support for additive manufacturing.
- Introduction of Mixed Realty (MR) headsets for design and simulation.
- Integration of data from Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices.
- Metaverse models.
Engineering tools have evolved from simple physical devices used successfully for centuries. During the 20th century, engineers adopted sophisticated digital tools, leading to digital transformation. Using digital tools, energy engineers can build more sophisticated, reliable and efficient production, processing, and transportation facilities.
About Yogi Schulz
Yogi Schulz is an information technology consultant who works extensively in the petroleum industry to select and implement administrative, operations, and geotechnical systems. He writes regular articles about developments in the energy industry and technology.
You can contact Yogi Schulz through his LinkedIn profile at this link.
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