CEE 403W Civil Engineering Design Project

CEE 403W: Civil Engineering Design Project (Required for a BSCE degree)

Group design project of civil engineering systems requiring synthesis, data gathering, preliminary investigation, master planning, conceptual designs, layouts, support studies, cost estimates and report writing. Emphasis will be on alternatives, constraints, economics, use of consultants, schedules, professional ethics and current practice, and written and oral presentations of reports. (qualifies as a guaranteed practicum experience) Lecture 1 hour; laboratory 4 hours; 3 credits.

For graduating seniors only. No textbook is required. Students will utilize a number of textbooks, course materials and additional references, as required. This course is designed to apply the scientific, engineering, technical and communication skills acquired in the four year university experience to a civil engineering related design topic. To make a preliminary design, including a summary of technical details, in a written and oral report.

1. Organization, selection of design project, design criteria
2. Problem statement, scope of work, schedule
3. Organization of manpower, teams, team leaders
4. Alternatives, preliminary designs
5. Selection of alternatives, advantages and disadvantages
6. Consultants input, how to use consultants effectively
7. Determine final design layout and design criteria
8. Final detailed designs
9. Final report preparation
10. Final oral presentation to faculty, consultants and others as invited
11. Critique of final written and oral reports

Two 2-hour lecture/laboratory sessions per week. The students are encouraged to use, as appropriate, state-of-the-art computer programs in all areas of the project [normally structural, water resources (including coastal), geotechnical, environmental, and transportation]. Final project reports are also submitted electronically and the oral presentation is PowerPoint based and this file is also submitted for record. One per student and one per team. There may be more than one team each semester, depending on the number of students. College-level mathematics and basic sciences: 0 credits
Engineering topics: 3 credits
General education: 0 credits This course will enhance the student's

1. ability to apply knowledge in mathematics, physics, and engineering science to areas of the civil/environmental engineering design problems,
2. ability to design and conduct experiments and to critically analyze and interpret data,
3. ability to develop design criteria to meet desired needs and to design a civil engineering system, component, or a process satisfying these criteria,
4. ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams,
5. ability to identify and formulate an engineering problem, to collect and analyze relevant data, and to develop a solution,
6. understanding of professional and ethical responsibility and of professional practice issues such as procurement of work, bidding versus quality based selection processes, and interaction between design and construction professional,
7. ability to present ideas and technical material to diverse audiences in writing, visually and verbally,
8. ability to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a societal and global context,
9. understanding of the importance of professional licensure and commitment to life- long learning,
10. knowledge of current issues and awareness of emerging technologies,
11. ability to use modern engineering techniques, skills, and tools including computer-based tools for civil engineering analysis and design
12. proficiency in civil and environmental engineering.

William A. Drewry <wdrewry@odu.edu> May 29, 2003