THE INSTITUTION OF ENGII\EERSO SRI LAFIKAPROFESSIONAL REVIEW

- September 2011

SECTIOT{ LIB". THE ENGIF{EER IN SOCIETYDate: 25 September 20ll Time allowed: 3 hours

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lnstructions to CandidatesBefore answering the question papLr, read and understand the instructions given below.

Answer EQUB questions only. At lcast ONE of them should be from SECTION I.

Each question carries 25 marks.

Answers to all questions should be written in separate answer bookso as they will bemarked by separate examiners.

. Ensure that you write your index number and question numben clearly on aUanswer books.

It is important that you write the question numbers you answer, in the cageprovided on the cover page.

Pay attention to legihility, grammar, spelling and punctuation markso in addition tothe relevance, organisation and style of presentation.

Answers to all questions are expecfed in essay form, unless otherwise specified in therelevant questions.

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Question IThe engineets union of an engineering organisation responsible for the ptovision of services for Lhe counayresorts to trade union action to secure beneflts for themseh'es. This causes severe inconvenience to the

public.a. Is this acceptable rn terms of the IESL Code of Etirics?

b. \K4rat action should the IESL take if there is deemed to be a violation of the IESL Code of Ethics.Jus tify your reasoning.

Question 2

^. What do you understand by the tenn "ETHICS"

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b. Why is it necessary for a professional body to have a Code of Ethics?

c. Each of the eight clauses of the IIiSL Code of Fl,thics deals wrth a specific issue wh.ich must beobserved to ensure compliancc with the Code of Ethics. Identi$ each of these and give a shortdescripnon of the aspects covered by each of the clauses.

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Question 3

Results from a recent inter:net survey conducted on digital cLvide in Sri I anka are presented belorv.The Frst graph shows the percentage of respondents of different age groups which responded tothe questionnaire. Two important cluestions were frosed to the respondents and the two chaitsillustrate the ftequency of the responses.Analyse the data presented by the lwo charts, and identiFT the major issues that can be raisedfrom this study.

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Age groups of the respondents of theinternet survey

#Age groups of ther"espondents of theinternet survey

Question; Have you ever felt that it is better if the parents have only a littleknowledge about computers/mobile phones' and other newtechnologies, so that you can do whatever you want behind their back?

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Question: Can your parents

They do not have easyaccess to internet but theY

do know how to use it8aA

use inte!"net to get their work done without your help?

They have easy access &they use internet

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They have access tointernet but they do

not know how to use it They do not have acress to32V" ternet & they do not

know how to use it3loA

Source: http://www.t-hesundavleader.lk/2011/07/17lwho-uses-icts-in-sri-lanka-and-v{hl

Question 4

The engineering profession recognises that nsk is inherent in the acuvities unclertaken by its members.

Professionai engineers and engineering technicians have a significant tolc to play in limiting or

eiiminating risk, and there is a personal obligation on thern to maintain and enhance their competence

in their area of pracdce.

") lVhat is 'TJsk" to an engineer? Explaln your aflsv/er through your experience as a practicingengineer.

b) Discuss how engineers meer their professional obligations ensuling that risk is an importantconsidetalion in a-ll dreir en[$neering activities'

Question 5

Disposal of Municipal Solid'Waste has been a problem in Sn Lanka for a long time. One of the

solutions identified to soive this prnblern is fhe genetation of electriciry using Municipal Solid

Waste. In order to promote Power generation from lv{urucipal Solid Waste, a tariff of Rs 22'02 /k\[h is offered to those who generate and sc[ electriciry to the Unlity. Dcspite thrs being thehighest tariff offeted to any power generating source under the Non-Conventj.onal RenewableEnergy category, t}lere ate no operating Gtid connected generating plants using Municipal Solid'Waste.

\X4rat do you think are lhe reasons for fhe poot tesponse?

How do yoll propose to ovetcome drem?What are yout suggestions to overcome the Solid Waste disposal problem in Sri Lanka?

Qucstion 6

Question 7

Question I

Sri Lanka has proposed Hambantl-rota to be a candidate City to hold the )C(I CommonwealthGames in 20i8. If Sri Lanka is successfi-ri in the bid, the government has plans to developHambantho ta as a fururistic city by bunoing Skyscrapers, sophist.icated spots facilities, IT parksand superior accommodation facilitiesi. \7hile this is sure to bring in a iot of development to thearea r.nd to the country, it also has a huge cost attached.!{hat is }'our view as to the decision to host Commonwealth Games?Your answer must include the pros and cons of the decision, other alternate developmentoptions available to the country and where hosrtng of the Commonwealth Game stands ari-rolr.gthem,

Discuss the role of the Engineer in a construction contract, based on the conditions of a contract familiartoyou.

When managing a project, one of the difhcult tasks is cost control of the project in order toensure that no cost overfl-lns at its completion. If you are the engfneer responsible for costcontrol function of a project, discuss rvhat techniques, methods )'ou would be using fo conrrolthe cost of the project, highlighting challenges likely to be faced.

Question 9

Recendy, there have been a seties of boiler explosions reported from all around the counrry owingto a vadety of reasons. The following is a summarv ol one such incident that was reported in theDa:ly Mirror on Septernber 19,2011(Internet Edition)."At least three wotkers including a flema]e were killed and a few others injuted when a boiler of afactory exploded this moming. Police sources said the rnjured were rushed to the hospital" saidthe arrjcle on that particular day and below we irave included some of the responses received onthis news.

A) "Send in Engineers to coaduct a safety audit. Seems the boiler needs a pressure relief valve."

B) 'This is now over to you Factorv Safety Inspectors of the Labot Depatlment to carry outthorough inspection of all factories wrth borlers to ensure the safery regulahons enacted by

the factories ordinance. "

C) "N{ost of the factories have very old boilers in operation- no rvell schedule pfvefrtive ofpredictive maintenance at alll T'he administration must be charged for these faiiures."

It is also noted that there exist qtrite a numbet of local manufactuters of boilers who do not

adopt Pro fessionai Practices.

At present ihere are no Sti Lankan Standards for design and manufacture of boilers, although

thete are a number of international standards fot reference.

a) Critically analyse the akrove responses.

b) As a responsibie er1:gineer, what actions do yotr recommend to the government in otderto minirnise the tncidents of boiler e xplosions, whicl"r rnight result in the loss of [vesl

Question 10

The United Nations Environment Program flJNFIP) ittroduced the concept of Cleanet Production(CP) in 1989, and defined it as 'the contmuous applicatiofl of an integtated preventiveenvilonmentai strategy appJied to processes, prodlrcts and services to increase eco-efficiency and

reduce risks to humans and the cnvironment'.

CP can be applied to any rndustry or service rncluding rlon corrxnercial activities.

Cleaner production activities include measures such as waste and pollution pleventron at source,

waste minirlisation, resource efficiency itrrprovement, and eco-efficiency. The fout elements ofcleaner producLion are:

1. The precauUonary approach - potential poliutefs must prove drat a substance or activiW wili

do no harm;

2. The preventive approach - preventing poliution at the source rather than aftet it has been

created;

3. Democratic control - workers, consllmersr and communities all have access to information

and are in..'olved in decision-making;

4. Integrated and holistic approach - addressing all material, energy and $'ater flow using life-cycle analyses.

Answer the following:

a) CP uses the principle, "Polluiioh is due to waste of valuable resources" - Justi$, this staternent usingexamples from your ovrn work environment.

b) Write a brief proposal (not more than 400 words) to your CEO/Manager or your partners,recommending and ;usu$'ing implementadon of CP in your organisarion.