page_title: Architectural engineering
section_title: Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP)
hierarchical_section_title: Architectural engineering / Related engineering and design fields / Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP)
caption_attribution_description: English: One of the MEP rooms in a building at Virginia Tech, in the Center for the Performing Arts
context_page_description: Architectural engineering, also known as building engineering or architecture engineering, is an engineering discipline that deals with the technological aspects and multi-disciplinary approach to planning, design, construction and operation of buildings, such as analysis and integrated design of environmental systems, structural systems, behavior and properties of building components and materials, and construction management.
  From reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the construction of resilient buildings, architectural engineers are at the forefront of addressing several major challenges of the 21st century. They apply the latest scientific knowledge and technologies to the design of buildings. Architectural engineering as a relatively new licensed profession emerged in the 20th century as a result of the rapid technological developments. Architectural engineers are at the forefront of two major historical opportunities that today's world is immersed in: that of rapidly advancing computer-technology, and the parallel revolution arising from the need to create a sustainable planet.
context_section_description: Mechanical engineering and electrical engineering engineers are specialists, commonly referred to as (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) when engaged in the building design fields. Also known as "building services engineering" in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Mechanical engineers often design and oversee the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and rainwater systems. Plumbing designers often include design specifications for simple active fire protection systems, but for more complicated projects, fire protection engineers are often separately retained. Electrical engineers are responsible for the building's power distribution, telecommunication, fire alarm, signalization, lightning protection and control systems, as well as lighting systems
caption: MEP room in a building
exif: {"Image Make": "Apple", "Image Model": "iPhone 4S", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "5.1", "Image DateTime": "2012:04:12 17:18:59", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered", "Image ExifOffset": "198", "GPS GPSLatitudeRef": "N", "GPS GPSLatitude": "[37, 1391/100, 0]", "GPS GPSLongitudeRef": "W", "GPS GPSLongitude": "[80, 2513/100, 0]", "GPS GPSAltitudeRef": "0", "GPS GPSAltitude": "74937/116", "GPS GPSTimeStamp": "[21, 18, 5797/100]", "Image GPSInfo": "600", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "864", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "12975", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/20", "EXIF FNumber": "12/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "320", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0221", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2012:04:12 17:18:59", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2012:04:12 17:18:59", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "2779/643", "EXIF ApertureValue": "4845/1918", "EXIF BrightnessValue": "1991/2974", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "107/25", "EXIF SubjectArea": "[1631, 1223, 881, 881]", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "3264", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2448", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "35", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF Sharpness": "Normal"}