Augmented Reality is Transforming Mechanical Engineering

Augmented Reality.. what is it really? 

If you have a smartphone, chances are you've been using augmented reality without even realizing it. From sending filtered selfies on Snapchat to catching Pikachu on Pokemon^TM Go, or even giving still images life in the TotalAR mobile application, augmented reality has made its way into our everyday lives. 

So what is Augmented Reality, exactly? Augmented Reality, or AR, can be defined as an "enhanced image or environment as viewed on a screen or other display, produced by overlaying computer-generated images, sounds, or other data on the real-world environment."ⁱ So in Snap Chat, for example, AR comes to play when one adds a filter to a picture via face recognition. 

AR technology has become so popular throughout the few years that it is starting to make appearances in various professional work environments such as education, medicine, and mechanical engineering.

Since you're here, you're probably wondering how AR can be used in mechanical engineering. We break it down in some examples below: 

Table of Contents

1. Automation

2. Maintanence

3. Inspection

1. Automation 

In the age of constantly craving convenience, automation is the end goal for many technologies. As a society, we strive to create self-driving cars, smart buildings, and more. In mechanical engineering, automation is a common theme in developing technologies. As mechanical engineers work towards automated products, AR can help with the overhead management. For instance, if a robotic lift was being used to stack boxes, one with an AR application or a Hololens could use AR to point or look at the robot to run a diagnostic test, therefore evaluating production metrics. 

2. Maintenance 

On a relatively same note as the above item, AR can help run maintenance evaluations. By using AR in the inspection of a Roof Top Unit, for example, an HVAC/ Refrigeration engineer could obtain performance metrics on the given unit. The same is true in machine design and Thermal and Fluid system engineers. Once evaluated, AR applications could suggest maintenance actions to perform to ensure the device continues to run correctly. 

3. Inspection 

AR can be used in mechanical inspections when something isn't working correctly. By visually analyzing a component of a mechanical machine, AR can pinpoint certain errors such as a broken wire, a loose gasket, or missing parts. This is especially helpful for those engineers who work and design various models because errors are more easily pointed out. 

References 

i. Augmented Reality. Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/ browse/augmented-reality

ii. Cundle, M. Augmented Reality in Engineering. Retrieved from https://www.rs-online.com/ designspark/augmented reality-in-engineering

The Transition to CBT Exams

Let's take a look into the past, the early-mid 1970s when the scantron was first developed. If you were in grade school or college proceeding the 1970s, you probably remember the stress scantrons caused-ensuring your #2 pencil completely filled in the bubble of your corresponding answer to a question, for example, or (the most stressful) hoping that the bubble you attempted to erase was in fact completely erased. 

Although the scantron completely revolutionized exam-taking and scoring in earlier years, technology continues to rapidly evolve, therefore causing the scantron to slowly lose its popularity. In our case, that statement is especially true for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). 

The last few years, you've probably heard the term "Computer-Based Testing" or "CBT" tossed around regarding NCEES examinations. Since 2011, NCEES has been slowly transitioning its exams away from scantron technology for an even more streamlined administrative and scoring process. Beginning with the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) and Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exams, NCEES has already transitioned a handful of examinations to the CBT format. 

Wondering what a CBT exam really is and what it means for you as an NCEES examinee? If your exam has already transitioned to the new format, you will be taking your exam on (you guessed it!) a computer. CBT exams can be taken at any NCEES-approved testing center based on your schedule (granted, some smaller exams are offered on a limited, scheduled basis). 

So far, the following exams have transitioned over to the CBT format: 

• All FE Exams
• FS
• PS
• PE Chemical
• PE Nuclear 
• PE Petroleum
• PE Environmental

According to NCEES, below are the estimated times of the remaining transition periods: 

Exam	Transition Year
PE Fire Protection	2020
PE Industrial Systems	2020
PE Mechanical: HVAC and Refrigeration	2020
PE Mechanical: Machine Design and Materials	2020
PE Mechanical: Thermal and Fluids System	2020
PE Agricultural and Biological	2021
PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering	2021
PE Electrical and Computer: Electronics, Controls, and Communications	2021
PE Electrical and Computer: Power	2021
PE Mining and Mineral Processing	2021
PE Architectural	2022
PE Control Systems	2022
PE Metallurgical and Materials	2022
PE Naval Architecture and Marine	2022
PE Civil	2023
Structural Exam (SE)	2024

If your chosen exam is a ways from being transitioned, your exam will be administered via the paper and pencil method (aka using a scantron). Exams will also be held only in April and/or October each year, depending on the type of exam. Because those exams are administered using scantrons, they will only consist of multiple-choice questions and do take some time to be scored. For most PE exams, for example, scantron scoring takes approximately a month.

As CBT exams are logistically easier to manage and score, CBT exams have differing question types throughout. These questions are called Alternative Item Type (AIT) questions. AIT questions feature multiple formats including drag and drop questions, fill in the blank questions and questions where multiple correct answers are selected. According to NCEES, those taking the computer-based exams should expect 10 percent of the questions to be AITs, and the remaining questions will be in the traditional multiple-choice format.

Benefits of Architect Licensing: Salary, Career Advancement, And More

As an ARE 5.0 exam prep provider, we often get asked what the benefits are of becoming a licensed architect. Becoming a licensed architect may seem like a daunting task, so whether licensure is worth it or not is often questioned. We get it-becoming licensed through the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is a rigorous task, as licensure is achieved after taking and passing the following exams: 

• Practice Management
• Project Management
• Programming and Analysis
• Project Planning and Design
• Project Development and Documentation
• Construction and Evaluation

The whole process of becoming licensed seems like a lot of effort, and it is. But, becoming license can significantly help you in your career. Learn how below: 

Table of Contents

1. Increase Your Salary

2. Advance your career!

3. Open Your Own Firm

4. Help Your Company Grow

1. Increase Your Salary

This reason may seem obvious, but surprisingly is overlooked by many in the architecture field. Those who go above and beyond to get their architect license from NCARB are statistically benefitted by having a higher salary than those who don't. In fact, unlicensed architects earn an average of $58,000ⁱ, whereas a licensed architect can typically make between $79,000 and $138,000ⁱⁱ. If you're struggling among the idea of paying NCARB exam fees, dedicating a large amount of time to prepare for the six different exam divisions and avoiding the exam stress all together, taking the licensure exams and becoming a licensed architect will pay off in the long run.

2. Advance your career! 

Job searching is hard enough as it is, but trying to find a job as an unlicensed architect can be really difficult as there are only a few positions unlicensed architects can be employed in (such as a building designer). There are also restrictions to what jobs unlicensed architects can partake in. For example, unlicensed architects are typically restrained to work on buildings that are under 3 stories tall. https://archinect.com/news/article/150003646/five-reasons-why-you-should-get-your-architecture-license

3. Open Your Own Firm

This one is for those who dream big and want to be their own bosses.

On a similar note as advancing one's career, architects can neither open their own firms without a license nor become a principal architect. 

4. Help Your Company Grow

Throughout this article, we've focused on how to obtain an architect license that can help you as an individual professional. However, becoming licensed can also help the company or firm that you work for. When you, as an employee, become a licensed architect, you are also helping your firm look more valuable to prospective clients. The more licensed architects a firm employs, the more impressive it looks. And, as a bonus: the more clients a firm gets, the chance of getting a higher salary increases!

Convinced? We hope so! If you're wondering how to begin the journey of becoming a licensed architect, check out our ARE 5.0 exam review courses. Prepare, practice, pass!

References

i. How to Earn a Six Figure Architect Salary. Retrieved from: https://www.thearchitectsguide.com/blog/six-figure-architecture-salary

ii. Architects: Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/architects.htm

iii. Five Reasons Why You Should Get Your Architecture License. Retrieved from: https://archinect.com/news/article/150003646/five-reasons-why-you-should-get-your-architecture-license

How Difficult is the PE Exam?

If you have thought about taking the PE Exam, you've most likely considered the difficulty. When compared to college exams or even the FE exam, the PE is a whole different animal.
Of course, the PE exam is an extremely important step in any engineer's career, as professional licensure provides the following:

• Confirmation to employers that you are dedicated and knowledgeable in your chosen field
• Endorsement on your technical engineering skills
• The ability to sign and seal engineering drawings
• The ability to work for both public and private clients
• And more!

Now that we've established the importance, back to the question "How difficult is the PE exam?"

Our answer: The perception of how difficult the PE exam is differs for everyone. Some examinees fly through the PE exam with ease while others may find the exam to be grueling. The typical difference between these two experiences: preparation. Let's look at two different scenarios to evaluate the differences:

Scenario 1

Bill is an engineering intern at a big, multi-location civil engineering firm. He was in the top percentile of his graduating university class and passed the FE exam on the first try when he was a senior in college. He signs up for the PE exam once he is eligible and prepares by watching 15-minute tutorial videos every other night as a refresher. Bill believes that since he did so well in college and passed the FE exam with ease, he can pass the PE exam without really studying. When exam day comes, he confidently walks into the exam room, sure he will conquer the PE Civil exam.

                            Scenario 2                                                                 

Mary has been out of college for about 10 years and is nervous about taking the PE Civil exam. She passed the FE Civil exam with ease, but that was when she was still in college and consistently learning and practicing engineering concepts. Mary decides she needs to sign up for a PE Civil exam review course to help her prepare, as she needs a complete refresher on the topics that will be on the exam (especially in geometrics)! Mary signs up for an exam review course that allows her to begin studying right away and at her own pace, as well as attend live, instructor-led courses closer to the exam. After attending hours and hours of courses specifically angled towards the exam topics, Mary feels she may be able to pass the exam. Although she is still a tad nervous, she walks into the exam room with more confidence than she had before taking an exam prep course.

Although the perception of ease differs between each PE examinee, sufficiently preparing for the exam can be a big determiner whether an examinee passes or not. If you're wondering how long the average person studies for the PE exam, the average person studies approximately 200 hours! Studying for the exam is extremely important-especially studying every possible exam topic to ensure success. The more one prepares, the most likely they will pass.
Remember our friends from earlier? After waiting weeks upon weeks following the PE Civil exam, results are finally out! As soon as Bill sees an email come from NCEES announcing the news, he hurriedly logs into his My NCEES account to confirm his suspicions that he passed with flying colors. To his complete and utter shock, Bill learns that he failed his exam.
When Mary receives her notification of exam results being out, she nervously logs into her NCEES account to see if she passed or failed. Although she felt like she did well on the PE Civil exam, the fact that she has been out of school for a while makes her second guess her success. Luckily when she logs in to view her diagnostic report, she saw that she passed! The PE Civil exam review course really helped her prepare for the exam, and she fully accounts her passing to the hours of interactive, online courses she attended.