Civil Engineering Education and Complex Systems
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 134, Issue 2
Abstract
Civil engineering is an interdisciplinary field, and most of the projects designed and built represent very complex systems, both during the construction phase and in the built phase. This research describes how a course in land development that included engineering design elements, lectures that also touched on other related fields, and a field journal assignment at a “green” (sustainable) construction site facilitated students’ understanding of complex systems. Results suggest that this course design facilitates the development of students’ proficiencies in several skill sets, and can increase students’ understanding of the complexity involved in civil engineering projects.
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© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 16, 2007
Accepted: May 10, 2007
Published online: Apr 1, 2008
Published in print: Apr 2008
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