The History of Engineering is a 3-credit course offered jointly by AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World and the Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University. Topics addressed during the course range from ancient engineering feats such as the temples and monuments of ancient Egypt to ancient and modern water resource management and irrigation. Preservation and restoration of historic sites, including ancient monuments, mosques, churches and synagogues will also be covered. These topics are addressed through lectures, discussions and numerous site visits and excursions.

Structure
The course is divided into five sections and is taught by a team of Cairo University engineering professors.

Part I. History of Engineering (Prof. Saad El-Raghy)
This part reviews the history of engineering covering the ancient, renaissance and modern eras. It outlines the main branches of engineering and discusses engineering methodology. It also touches on the social context of engineering. Engineering design is very powerful tool to make changes to the environment, society and economies, and its application brings with it a great responsibility.

Part II. History of Mechanical Engineering (Prof. Galal Hassan)
Production of metallic and non-metallic devices, engineering measurements, positive displacement pumps, water wheels, automatic control systems, automatic fountains, robots.

Part III. Water Engineering (Prof. Abdallah Bazaraa)
This part explores Nile hydrology and geography from the headwaters to the estuary in the Mediterranean and water allocation among different sectors in Egypt. It also examines the means used (dams, canals, etc.) to regulate the flow of the river and enable humans to harness its benefits. It reviews the development of irrigation systems throughout Egypt’s history (Pharaonic, Roman, Islamic, Ottoman, Muhammad Ali, British Occupation, 1952 Revolution, Post High Aswan Dam). Lectures will stress the importance of considering the environmental impact of various water projects.

Part IV. Building and Construction Engineering (Prof. Sherif Mourad)
This part focuses on building construction technology throughout the various historic periods, including the various statical systems used, design criteria, loading considerations as well as the construction materials. Examples from actual structures will be analyzed, including structures for residential buildings, service buildings, religious structures, military, as well as educational facilities. Lectures will stress the functionality and efficiency of the design as well as durability and strength of the construction materials.

Part V. Preservation and Restoration of Monuments (Prof. Hafez / Prof. Mourad)
This part focuses on the steps required for preservation and restoration of historic structures. It includes both field measurements and testing as well as analytical modeling. Assessment procedure is a global approach involving many engineering trades (structural, architectural, electromechanical, survey, landscape, etc.) as well as input from archaeology and history. Emphasis is on traditional techniques with limited use of material that is intrusive to the original fabric of the structures. The end product of such a study is design drawings, detailed drawings, specifications and bill of quantities.

All lectures will be held at the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University. Each topic is covered in two lectures (one day) in addition to discussions during the relevant field trips. All lectures are held in the morning according to the following schedule:
09:00 – 10:30 Lecture (1)
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30 Lecture (2)

Afternoons are devoted to cultural activities, reading of course materials and preparation of research papers.

Field Trips
Several field trips and tours will be organized as follows:
• The Giza plateau, great pyramids and Sphinx
• The Smart Village, Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage
• Al-Qanatir Al-Khayriyya (North of Cairo), Delta Barrages, The National Water Research Center, The Irrigation Museum
• The Suez Canal and Al-Salam Canal Project
• Major Islamic and Coptic Monuments in Cairo
• Luxor, Temples and Tombs, ancient Egyptian sites including the Valley of the Kings
• Aswan and Aswan High Dam
• Abu Simbel, The story of a temple restoration