Editing Engineering drawing (section)

==History==
As a necessary means for visually conveying ideas, technical drawing has been in one form or another a part of human history since antiquity. The use of these early drawings was to express architectural and engineering concepts for large cultural structures: the temples, monuments, and public infrastructure. Basic forms of technical drawing were used by the Egyptians and Mesopotamians to create highly detailed irrigation systems, pyramids, and other such sophisticated structures. But their methods were, comparatively easy, yet needed a great deal of skill and accuracy. Even in their primitive form, they gave the construction a drawing for structures that would stand the test of time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Five Flute - Engineering design review platform for modern hardware teams |url=https://www.fiveflute.com/guide/drawings-101-the-basics-of-creating-high-quality-engineering-drawings/ |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=www.fiveflute.com}}</ref>

With the invention of technical drawing in ancient Greece and Rome technical drawing, they have further evolved. Works by Vitruvius and other engineers and architects such as Vitruvius used drawings as a medium for the transmission of construction techniques, and the illustration of the basic principles of balance and proportion in architecture. Early examples of what would lead to more formal technical drawing practices included the drawings and geometric calculations used to construct aqueducts, bridges, and fortresses. Technical drawings also figured in the 12th-century design of cathedrals and castles, albeit such drawings were more typically produced by artisans and stonemasons, not formally trained engineers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Engineering Drawing / Technical Drawing |url=https://www.excedify.com/pages/engineering-drawing-and-technical-drawing-all-you-need-to-know |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=Excedify - Engineering Online Courses |language=en}}</ref>

The Renaissance was a period of great success for technical drawing. These inventive artists and inventors were starting to use sophisticated methods of visual representation within their work as well as a methodical adherence to accuracy. His notebooks contained drawings of mechanical devices anatomical studies, and engineering projects that demonstrated his advanced understanding of form, function, and proportion, as elucidated by his notebooks. Perhaps he was the first of the pioneers who combined the arts with engineering ability to produce technical drawings at once imaginative and instructive. It was an important foundation for future developments in technical drawing work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Principles of Dimensioning |url=https://www.mcgill.ca/engineeringdesign/step-step-design-process/basics-graphics-communication/principles-dimensioning |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=Engineering Design |language=en}}</ref>

As the Industrial Revolution took hold, modern engineering drawing took shape with the emergence of strictly specified conventions like drawing in orthographic projection, exploding, and standard scales. Part of the movement towards standardization was somewhat triggered by the development of engineering education and uniform drawing techniques in France. During the same period, the French mathematician Gaspard Monge developed descriptive geometry, a means of representing three-dimensional objects in two-dimensional space, and contributed to technical drawing in a major way. His work set the ground for orthographic projection which is one of the core techniques to be used in technical drawing today. Monge's methods were disseminated initially as a military secret, then far and wide, and his methods shaped the future of engineering education, and also the engineering practice.

Further contributions to the craft of technical drawing were made by pioneers like Marc Isambard Brunel. L. T. C. Rolt's biography of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to whom Marc contributed in 1799 with his detailed drawings of block-making machinery, testified to the developing nature of British engineering methods. By applying what we now call mechanical drawing techniques to depict three-dimensional machinery on a two-dimensional plane more efficient manufacturing processes as well as greater precision were enabled. These innovations were essential as the world began to move toward mechanized production, and complex engineering projects, such as bridges, railways, and ships, required highly detailed and accurate technical representations to succeed.

This increasing need for a degree of precision in technical drawings during the 19th century was a direct result of the Industrial Revolution. In this era, we have seen the development of large-scale engineering projects such as railways, steam engines, and iron structures which require a heightened degree of accuracy and standardization. New conventions and symbols were created by engineers; the use of which became standardized throughout industries, so that any person who could read a technical drawing could know the specifications of a component or structure. The standardization process helped engineer practices to become standardized, making it easier for engineers, manufacturers, and builders to work together.

In the 20th century, technical drawing underwent yet another transformation with the introduction of drafting tools such as the T-square, compasses, and protractors. These tools helped drafters achieve the high degree of precision necessary for increasingly complex projects, such as skyscrapers, airplanes, and automobiles. The establishment of standards such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) further formalized technical drawing conventions, ensuring consistency in engineering practices around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klopotic |first=Cory |title=3 Reasons Accurate Engineering Drawings Are Critical to the Manufacturing Process |url=https://www.mcl.bz/blog/3-reasons-accurate-engineering-drawings-are-critical-to-the-manufacturing-process |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=www.mcl.bz |language=en-us}}</ref>

Today, technical drawing has largely transitioned from manual drafting to [[computer-aided design]] (CAD). CAD software has revolutionized the way technical drawings are created, allowing for faster, more precise, and easily modifiable drawings. Engineers can now visualize designs in three dimensions, simulate performance, and make adjustments before any physical prototype is built. This digital transformation has not only increased efficiency but also broadened the possibilities for innovation, enabling engineers to tackle challenges that were previously unimaginable.

However, despite the advent of digital tools, the fundamental principles of technical drawing remain rooted in its history. Precision, clarity, and the ability to convey complex information visually are still at the core of technical drawing. The conventions established over centuries—from orthographic projection to the use of scale and dimension lines—continue to be essential in modern engineering and architectural practice. The evolution of technical drawing is a testament to human ingenuity, demonstrating how the ability to convey complex ideas visually has been pivotal in the advancement of civilization.