In the real world, electrical engineers don't work in isolation. For better or worse, there are always overlaps of engineering disciplines. For example, consider building a residential property like an apartment building. The electrical engineer's goal is to get power to every home in the complex. However, this electrical design will face many obstructions from other disciplines. Consider these obstacles and the disciplines that need to be considered:
How does power get routed around the building? We will need to make sure to avoid HVAC ductwork and other mechanical systems. It's best to talk to a mechanical or architectural engineer about this.
What about installing heavy equipment like transformers? Is the building rated to carry that weight? That's a question for a structural engineer.
How do we get power into the building? If we're using an underground service entrance, we'll need to coordinate the route for this power with civil engineers to make sure we aren't passing through non-buildable areas like detention basins.
These are just a few examples of the intricacies of cross-discipline coordination. And for a familiar topic at that! All kinds of infrastructure, industrial, and power projects face challenges like this. Here are some tips to ensure good coordination between engineers:
Establish clear roles and responsibilities at the onset of the project. There's nothing worse than having a problem and not knowing who to talk to about it. By establishing responsibilities and open lines of communication at the beginning of a project, it becomes easy to figure out who has the solution. In our electrical world, it feels like we know everything, but it's easy to be confused about scope.
Brainstorm conflicts in advance: It might sound silly but think of the things that can go wrong between disciplines! If the project is new and complicated, start with something familiar and ask if the same problems could pop up for your project. You may not understand the chemical, structural, civil, and mechanical needs of a random project, but you can start by sharing your concerns of what you do know (even if it's just with reference to something like the apartment complex above).
Learn the basics of other disciplines: Electrical engineers shouldn't be expected to do calculations for other engineering disciplines (nor is it ethical). That shouldn't stop you from learning more about these other disciplines though. When we understand the key facets of other engineering disciplines we gain two main benefits. First, we can design our power systems with the needs and limitations of others in mind, saving time and rework. Second, we can build a stronger technical relationship with our counterparts. If we understand the challenges others are going through, it makes it easier for them to empathize when we have a problem.
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