Stephen T Muench
Comprehensive design project focusing on planning, design, and construction of transportation project such as highways, transit, and airports. Prerequisite: either CEE 320 or CEE 327; CEE 440; either CEE 404, CEE 410, CEE 412, CEE 416, CEE 421, CEE 424, or CEE 425.
We will produce a proposal for the future use of the E-1 parking lot. While a lot such as this may sound mundane, it involves accommodation of park-and-ride facilities, bus terminal facilities, pavement design, subsurface investigation, sustainability features, and event amenities.
Student learning goals
COMMUNICATIONS Communication skills are essential for engineers. Calculations, creativity, designs and recommendations are only of value if they can be effectively communicated to fellow engineers, decision makers and the public. Upon completion of this class, the student will be able to: • Communicate engineering design in a clear, concise and effective format both in oral presentation and written report.
TEAMWORK Civil and Environmental Engineers nearly always work on multi-disciplinary teams. The ability to do this effectively is critical to career success…and it is fun. Upon completion of this class, the student will be able to: • Work on an integrated engineering team to develop a solution to a complex engineering problem.
CRITICAL THINKING The ability to take in information, synthesize and analyze it, and then make intelligent decisions is fundamental to engineering. This ability, termed “critical thinking” here can be difficult but is a reality of everyday practice. Information is often incomplete or inconsistent and must be effectively synthesized and analyzed in order to make decisions. Upon completion of this class, the student will be able to: • Exercise critical thinking by making engineering judgment decisions based on real-world information that is often inconsistent or incomplete.
INTEGRATED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION The capstone design course is intended to allow students to exercise the skill sets they have been developing while in the department. This means using subject matter from current and former classes to solve a complex engineering problem. Upon completion of this class, the student will be able to: • Identify and evaluate sources of information for engineering design and construction associated with a specific project. • Synthesize engineering and planning information from disparate sources in order to develop design and construction solutions. • Design and engineering solution to a multi-faceted real-world problem. • Design construction solutions to a multi-faceted real-world problem. • Integrate design and construction solutions with one another and larger goals such as owner strategic plans and initiatives.
General method of instruction
Collaborative student work in small teams. Instructors are more guides and consultants.
Take lots of other CEE courses. Free your mind and your body will follow.
Class assignments and grading
Completion of several group and individual assignments. All related to the final presentation and written proposal.